Yongning Mosque in Kunming

Chinese Name: 永宁清真寺
Chinese Pinyin: Yong Ning Qing Zhen Si
English Name: Yongning Mosque in Kunming
Type: Mosque, Cultural Landmarks
Recommended Visiting Time: 1 Hour
Opening Time: 8:00-17:30
Tickets Fee: Free
Address: No.153, Jinbi Road in Xishan District

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Yongning Mosque (永宁清真寺) is located on the western section of Jinbi Road (金碧路), Xishan District (西山区), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省), China. It was originally built during the Zhiyuan reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) under the supervision of Sayyid Ajall Shams al-Din Omar (赛典赤·赡思丁), a prominent official of the Yunnan Province Administration. As one of the oldest Islamic religious sites in Yunnan, the mosque underwent a major reconstruction beginning on December 25, 2007, and was completed in December 2008. The renovation combined the original layout with distinct Arabic architectural elements.

• Address: No. 153, Jinbi Road (金碧路153号), Xishan District (西山区), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Original Construction: Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368)
• Reconstruction: December 2007
• Architectural Style: Fusion of Arabic and Classical Chinese
• Opening Hours: Open all year round
• Postal Code: 650024

Historical Background

According to the Kunming County Gazetteer (《昆明县志》), the mosque was established by Sayyid Ajall Shams al-Din Omar (赛典赤·赡思丁), a notable statesman of the Yuan Dynasty. It is recognized as one of the earliest Islamic religious institutions in Yunnan Province. The mosque was rebuilt after being damaged during conflicts in the Qing Dynasty. By the early 21st century, the structure had deteriorated, prompting a comprehensive reconstruction project that began on December 25, 2007, and concluded on December 5, 2008.

Architectural Features

The newly constructed main building rises four stories high and covers an expanded area of 1,200 square meters, built with a reinforced concrete frame:

• The dome is covered in peacock blue glazed tiles and has a diameter of 8.6 meters
• The walls of the prayer hall are decorated with Arabic calligraphy and traditional Chinese wood-carved screens
• The main entrance retains original Ming Dynasty (明代) stone-carved gate piers

Functional Layout

Religious Facilities

The primary religious space is the third-floor prayer hall, which can accommodate up to 500 worshippers.

Dining and Lodging

The second floor houses a halal food court serving local specialties such as Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles (过桥米线). The fourth floor includes a guesthouse with 32 standard rooms.

Administrative Areas

The mosque’s administrative office and the imam’s room are located in an attached annex on the west side of the complex.

Cultural Significance

Yongning Mosque has long played a vital role in Islamic cultural exchange in Yunnan Province. Since the 1980s, it has served as a training base for clerical personnel from other mosques across the province. Its distinctive dome, added during the reconstruction, has become a symbolic landmark of religious architecture in Kunming (昆明).

Location and Transportation

Yongning Mosque is situated on the western section of Jinbi Road (金碧路西段), in Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省), offering convenient access in the urban center.