Top Muslim Mosques in Kunming

Kunming’s mosques are a testament to the integration of Islamic civilization and Chinese traditions. Located along the ancient Southern Silk Road, these sacred sites are not just places of worship but also cultural landmarks. From the Yuan Dynasty’s Yongning Mosque to the Ming Dynasty’s Shuncheng Mosque, each of these mosques carries the history and religious significance of Kunming’s Hui Muslim community while reflecting the city’s diverse ethnic heritage.

Jinniu Street Mosque (金牛街清真寺)

Location:

Located at No. 41 Jinniu Street, Kunming, it is conveniently situated along the Panlong River with easy access to public transportation.

History & Culture:

Built in the Yuan Dynasty and rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty’s Xianfeng period, the mosque was bombed in 1941 by Japanese forces but was later restored. It was designated as a cultural heritage site in 1990.

Architectural Features:

The mosque has a traditional Chinese brick and wood structure, with a single eaves and a five-bay design, which accommodates up to 200 worshippers.

Social Functions:

The mosque has served as an important site for cultural exchanges, collaborating with local communities since 2000 to create a school promoting national and cultural civility.

Nearby Attractions:

Nearby landmarks include the Panlong River Scenic Belt, Old Kunming Streets, and Jinma Biji Square (金马碧鸡坊).

Nan Cheng Mosque (南城清真寺)

Location:

Located at No. 16 Zhengyi Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, the mosque is easily accessible from the city center.

History & Culture:

Originally founded during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty, the current building was extensively renovated in the Qing Dynasty (1898). It houses numerous important Islamic texts and once served as the center for Islamic education in Yunnan.

Architectural Features & Scale:

Spanning 2,229 square meters, the mosque features a palace-style architectural design, with a courtyard housing a printing house.

Social Functions:

The mosque serves as a center for worship, hosting weekly Friday prayers (Jumu’ah) and other important Islamic events. It is also open to visitors who wish to learn about the cultural and religious practices of the Hui people. As a symbol of ethnic unity, the mosque fosters cultural exchanges and promotes understanding among different communities.

Nearby Attractions:

Nearby attractions include Old Kunming Streets, Jinma Biji Square (金马碧鸡坊), and Cuihu Park (翠湖公园).

Yongning Mosque (永宁清真寺)

Location:

Located at No. 153 Jinbi Road, Xishan District, Kunming, it is easily accessible from the city center.

History & Culture:

Founded during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), the mosque has undergone several reconstructions and was rebuilt in 2008. It combines Arab and traditional Chinese architectural styles.

Architectural Features & Scale:

The mosque has a four-story reinforced concrete structure, with a distinctive peacock blue dome that stands as one of Kunming’s iconic religious landmarks.

Social Functions:

The mosque can accommodate up to 500 worshippers and serves as a training base for clerical staff within the province. It also houses a halal food court.

Nearby Attractions:

The mosque is located near Kunming’s commercial district, Jinma Biji Square (金马碧鸡坊), and Cuihu Park (翠湖公园).

Shuncheng Street Mosque (顺城街清真寺)

Location:

Located in Dunren Alley, Shuncheng Street, Kunming, this is the largest mosque in the city.

History & Culture:

Built during the Ming Dynasty (1425), the mosque has undergone multiple expansions and was damaged during wartime. It has been restored in modern times.

Architectural Features:

The mosque follows a traditional courtyard layout, with a single eaves and a wooden structure for the main prayer hall, blending Islamic and traditional Chinese architectural styles.

Social Functions:

Serving as the headquarters of the Yunnan Islamic Association, this mosque is an important place for prayers, religious activities, and Islamic education.

Nearby Attractions:

Nearby attractions include the Panlong River Scenic Belt and Old Kunming Streets.

Ciba Mosque (茨坝清真寺)

Location:

Located at No. 10 Ciba Road, Panlong District, Kunming, in the northern suburb of Ciba Town.

Architectural Features:

The mosque blends traditional Islamic architecture with modern design elements, showcasing an innovative approach to mosque construction.

Social Functions:

The mosque provides a space for religious activities and community services while promoting the transmission of Islamic teachings and cultural education.

Nearby Attractions:

The mosque is near Kunming Botanical Garden and Heilongtan (Black Dragon Pool), offering visitors a mix of nature and cultural exploration.

Yixi Gong Mosque (迤西公清真寺)

Location:

Located at No. 4, Nanchang Street, Wuhua District, Kunming, near the intersection of Nanping Street and Weiyuan Street.

History & Culture:

Built in the Yuan Dynasty, this mosque is one of the oldest in Kunming. It was designated as a cultural heritage site in 1986.

Architectural Features & Culture:

Constructed using a traditional timber frame, this mosque has served as a cultural exchange hub for the Hui Muslim community, blending traditional and modern design elements.

Social Functions:

This mosque remains an important gathering place for major Hui Muslim festivals and provides services for the local community while promoting Islamic cultural heritage.

Wayaogou Mosque (瓦窑村清真寺)

Location

Located in the heart of Wayaogou Village (瓦窑村) on Beijing Road (北京路) in Kunming’s Panlong District (盘龙区), this mosque is just 800 meters from the Jia Sanqiao Metro Station (交三桥站) on Line 2, and approximately 1.5 kilometers from the Tongde Kunming Plaza (同德昆明广场).

History and Culture

The mosque was rebuilt in the 1980s, maintaining the traditional architecture of Yunnan’s mosques. The main prayer hall features a wooden Arabic inscription created in 1987, with selected verses from the Qur’an (古兰经) and a local imam’s inscription.

Functions

The mosque hosts over 200 worshippers every Friday for the Jummah prayer, with a designated area for women. Additionally, it houses a Hui (回族) cultural reading room and regularly holds events to celebrate ethnic festivals.

Innovations

In 2021, a water-saving courtyard renovation was completed, incorporating a rainwater recycling system for irrigation. A bilingual (Chinese and Arabic) electronic display board has been installed at the entrance, showing prayer times and community announcements.

Travel Tips

Open daily from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Non-Muslim visitors are advised to visit between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. You can walk to the nearby Lianmeng Road Food Street (联盟路美食街) to try local snacks. The mosque is part of a recommended cultural route that includes Kunming Expo Garden (昆明世博园) and Golden Temple (金殿) scenic area.

Qingzhen Ancient Mosque (清真古寺)

Location

Located at No. 17, Beimen Street (北门街) in Chenggong District (呈贡区), Kunming, this mosque is near the San Tai Mountain Park (三台山公园) and approximately 25 kilometers from the eastern shore of Dianchi Lake (滇池).

History and Culture

This mosque was built during the late Yuan (元) to early Ming (明) dynasties. It blends traditional Chinese architectural styles with Islamic elements. The mosque was historically an important religious site during the Duwensiu Uprising (杜文秀起义).

Functions

Regular prayers are held at the mosque, and it features an attached school for training religious scholars.

Innovations

The mosque follows the traditional Chinese courtyard layout, with the main prayer hall at the center. It is also adorned with a plaque bearing the inscription “Qingzhen Buer” (清真不二), emphasizing the fusion of Islamic and Chinese cultures.

Travel Tips

The mosque is open year-round. It is highly recommended to visit alongside San Tai Mountain Park (三台山公园) and Dongxiang Pavilion (东骧阁) for a half-day cultural exploration. Local delicacies are available nearby.

Guandu Mosque (官渡清真寺)

Location

Located at No. 259, Xiuying Village (秀英村), Guandu District (官渡区), Kunming, the mosque is about 1,406 meters from the Guandu District Government and 824 meters from Baoxiang River (宝象河) near the ancient Guandu Town (官渡古镇).

History and Culture

The mosque blends Islamic architectural style with elements of traditional Yunnan residential homes. It bears witness to the local adaptation of Islam throughout history.

Functions

The mosque regularly hosts prayer services and runs an Arabic school that trains religious scholars.

Honors and Achievements

As a key cultural node in the Guandu Ancient Town (官渡古镇) tour route, the mosque plays a role in promoting local snacks such as Guandu Ba Ba (官渡粑粑) and pea powder (豌豆凉粉).

Travel Tips

The mosque is open for free visits. It is best combined with a visit to the nearby Jin’gang Tower (金刚塔) and Miaozhan Temple (妙湛寺) for a half-day cultural itinerary. You can also enjoy the local snacks like Yunnan over-the-bridge rice noodles (过桥米线) and fried potatoes (炸洋芋) nearby.

Taoyuan Mosque (桃园清真寺)

Location

Located in the Tianyu Lanshan B District (天宇澜山B区) of Panlong District (盘龙区), Kunming, this mosque is about 1.8 kilometers from the Linyu Bridge Metro Station (霖雨桥站) on Line 2.

History and Culture

With a modern minimalist style combined with traditional Islamic elements, the mosque is easily identifiable by its green dome and white walls. Inside, Arabic calligraphy (阿拉伯文书法) decorates the space, highlighting the Hui culture of central Yunnan.

Functions

The mosque hosts weekly Friday prayers for the surrounding Muslim community and has a separate prayer area for women.

Innovations

The courtyard features peach trees, creating a “Urban Peach Blossom Paradise” (都市桃源) atmosphere. The mosque also uses digital screens to display prayer times.

Travel Tips

The mosque is open for visits outside prayer times, with appropriate attire requested. Visitors can also explore the nearby Junfa East Coast Park (俊发东海岸公园) for a relaxing half-day outing.

Songming Daying Mosque (嵩明大营清真寺)

Location

Located in Daying Township (大营乡), Songming County (嵩明县), Kunming, this mosque is about 15 kilometers from the county seat.

History and Evolution

Originally built in 1851, the mosque was destroyed in warfare but was rebuilt in 1893 and expanded in 1923. It was later reconstructed in 1983 with funding from local Muslim communities. The mosque now covers 1,500 square meters.

Functions

The mosque holds regular prayers and features a scripture school to promote Islamic education.

Travel Tips

The best time to visit is in the spring or autumn. Nearby attractions include the Songming County Halal Food Street (嵩明县清真美食街) and the Jiali Ze Wetland Park (嘉丽泽湿地公园).

The mosques of Kunming offer a unique window into the harmonious coexistence of Islamic and Chinese cultures. From historical structures to modern-day spiritual hubs, each mosque stands as a testament to the rich history, vibrant culture, and religious practices of the Hui Muslim community in Kunming. These mosques not only provide sacred spaces for worship but also promote intercultural understanding and exchange.