Xincun Mosque in Weishan County, Dali

Xincun Mosque (新村清真寺) is located in Xincun Village (新村), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The exact year of its initial construction is unknown. It was destroyed in 1872 (the 11th year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign during the Qing dynasty) and has since been rebuilt multiple times, with the most recent reconstruction completed in 1988. The mosque currently covers approximately 3 mu of land (about 2,000 square meters), with a total built area of 994 square meters.

• Chinese Name: 巍山县新村清真寺
• Location: Xincun Village (新村), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Current Imam: Yang Xiufang (杨秀芳)
• Current Head of Education: Ma Wenwei (马文位)

Historical Development

The original construction date of the mosque’s prayer hall is unknown. It was destroyed in 1872 during the Qing dynasty and subsequently rebuilt. It was expanded in 1973, and in 1994, a new site was selected for male worship. The current minaret was newly constructed in 1988.

Scale and Layout

The mosque occupies around 3 mu of land and has a total construction area of 994 square meters.

• Prayer Hall:
  The prayer hall adopts a double-eaved hip roof style (重檐歇山式), with a building area of over 300 square meters.
• Minaret:
  The minaret features a four-cornered pyramidal roof (四角攒尖式) and is uniquely built against the hillside. It covers an area of 208 square meters and stands out for its distinctive structure.
• Additional Facilities:
  There are several wooden residential-style buildings used as classrooms and dormitories.

Religious and Educational Exchange

The mosque serves around 70 Hui households, totaling more than 400 individuals, all belonging to the Gedimu (格迪目) tradition. The village has 1 Hajj pilgrim (哈吉) and 10 imams (阿訇). An Arabic elementary school (阿文小学) offers classes in the morning and evening.

Geography and Transportation

Xincun Village (新村) is located in Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The village lies in the upper reaches of the Gua River (瓜江), to the northwest of Yongjian Basin (永建坝子). It was named “Xincun” (literally “new village”) because its residents originally migrated from other villages to form a new settlement.