Karakol Dungan Mosque

Дунган мечити

A wooden mosque built in 1904–1910 by the Dungans, descendants of the Hui people of China's northwest. It looks like a Chinese temple and is said to have been built without a single iron nail.

The Dungan Mosque stands in central Karakol and is the religious center of the Dungans, descendants of Hui people who migrated west from Shaanxi and Gansu in China in the late 19th century. Built in 1904–1910 under the direction of Chinese craftsmen, it uses Chinese timber-frame construction. According to legend, not a single iron nail was used. Its exterior has upturned eaves and painted brackets like a Chinese hall, and its minaret is shaped like a Chinese pagoda tower, which is very rare in Central Asia. The paintwork is mainly red, green, and blue, and the wood carvings feature dragons, phoenixes, peonies, and grapes. During the Soviet era it was closed and used as a warehouse, and prayers resumed in the 1990s. The Dungan community still keeps its Shaanxi and Gansu dialects and food traditions. Dungan restaurants in Karakol serve ashlyan-fu, a sour and spicy noodle soup and a local specialty. Admission is a small fee (check on site). Getting there: the mosque is in central Karakol, about 15 minutes' walk from the Holy Trinity Church. Visits are allowed outside prayer times. Women should cover their heads, wear long skirts, and remove their shoes before entering the prayer hall. Avoid visiting at midday on Fridays, the day of Friday prayers.

Karakol Dungan Mosque

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