Songmaopo Mosque in Yanshan County, Wenshan

Songmaopo Mosque (松毛坡清真寺) is located on Dalan Road (达兰路), Pingyuan Town (平远镇), Yanshan County (砚山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The village of Songmaopo was established in 1970 by Hui residents relocated from Tianxin Village (田心村) and Maolong Village (茂龙村). It grew from a single household to over 280 households. In 1975, a small mosque accommodating 150 worshippers was built. After the 1978 reversal of the “Shadian Incident” (沙甸事件), residents raised funds and the government provided 80,000 yuan in subsidies. Over time, major structures were completed, including a main prayer hall (accommodating 700 worshippers), side rooms, minaret, meeting rooms, offices, ablution facilities, storage rooms, imam’s office, and classrooms, totaling 64 rooms. A women’s prayer hall was also built.

Architectural Description

Songmaopo was developed in 1970 by Hui people who moved from Tianxin Village (田心村) and Maolong Village (茂龙村). The community grew from one household to over 280.

• In 1975, a small mosque with a capacity of 150 worshippers was constructed.
• After the 1978 rehabilitation of the “Shadian Incident” (沙甸事件), local donations and government support (80,000 yuan) enabled the gradual construction of a larger complex.
• The project eventually cost 500,000 yuan and included the main prayer hall (700-person capacity), side rooms, minaret, meeting room, office, ablution rooms, storage, imam’s room, and classrooms—64 rooms in total.
• A women’s prayer hall was later added.

Scale and Layout

The mosque complex covers a total area of 6 mu. The prayer hall combines Chinese and Western architectural styles, with a floor area of about 500 square meters. The total building area of the mosque is 2,000 square meters.
The local Muslim community consists of 317 households with 1,485 Hui people. The mosque has 5 imams (阿訇), 80 mullahs (满拉), and 5 mosque directors (学董).
There are more than 30 individuals who have completed the Hajj pilgrimage. Since 1980, the mosque’s Arabic school has graduated 7 classes totaling 150 students. Currently, two classes for middle-aged and elderly students are ongoing, with about 100 participants.

Notable Inscriptions and Couplets

1. “Unity is Strength” (众志成城)
2. Left couplet: “Follow the pure truth and study with endless understanding.” (奉清真明理义学无止境)
3. Right couplet: “Uphold the Quran and spread the way of the Lord, united as one.” (举古兰扬主道众志成城)
4. “Refined and Unique” (唯精唯一)
5. “Straight Path to Heaven” (直达天路)
6. “Praise to Allah” (感赞安拉)
7. “Virtue and Wisdom Shine Together” (德智兼辉)
8. “Revitalize Women’s Education” (振兴女教)
9. “Allah is the Greatest” (真主至大)

Location and Transportation

Songmaopo Mosque is located on Dalan Road (达兰路), Pingyuan Town (平远镇), Yanshan County (砚山县), Yunnan Province (云南省).