Dangui Mosque in Xundian County, Kunming

Dangui Mosque (丹桂清真寺) is located in Dangui Village (丹桂村), Kedu Town (柯渡镇), Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County (寻甸回族彝族自治县), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省). Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it is a significant historical site along the route of the Red Army’s Long March. The mosque consists of a minaret, the Prayer Hall (朝真殿), and side rooms on both sides, covering an area of approximately 600 square meters.

On April 30, 1935, during the 24th year of the Republic of China, the Central Red Army entered Kedu Town (柯渡镇), and some troops were stationed at Dangui Mosque. General Zhu De (朱德) ordered the propaganda team to write slogans such as “The Red Army absolutely protects the interests of Hui (回) workers and peasants.” The mosque stands as a testament to the Red Army’s presence in Xundian (寻甸), serving as a living example of ethnic unity and carrying substantial historical and research value.

On February 21, 2019, Dangui Mosque was designated as one of the eighth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units by the People’s Government of Yunnan Province (云南省人民政府).

Historical Background

Construction and Renovation

The exact founding date of Dangui Mosque is unknown, but it was rebuilt in 1896, the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign in the Qing Dynasty.
On April 30, 1935, during the Red Army’s Long March, part of the Central Red Army stayed at the mosque.

Architectural Layout

General Layout

Dangui Mosque comprises a minaret, the Prayer Hall (朝真殿), and three rooms on both left and right wings, occupying an area of about 600 square meters.

Main Structures

Minaret

The minaret has a four-story structure with a triple-eaved pavilion and a four-pointed hip roof. The ground level functions as the main entrance. The minaret is over 30 meters tall, with a total width of 12.5 meters and depth of 10 meters. On each side are three wing rooms. In front of the right side of the Prayer Hall stand two inscribed steles.

Prayer Hall (朝真殿)

The Prayer Hall is built in the traditional Chinese tailiang beam construction style with a single-eaved hip roof. It measures 13.3 meters in width and approximately 11 meters in depth. The hall features distinctive arch rafters and 14 intricately carved panel doors. Some doors display the “Eight Immortals Hidden” (暗八仙) motif, and the wooden walls are decorated with murals.

Side Rooms

The mosque includes three rooms on each of the left and right wings of the main hall.

Cultural Relics

Red Army Slogans

During the Red Army’s stay, General Zhu De (朱德) instructed the propaganda team to write the slogan: “The Red Army absolutely protects the interests of Hui (回) workers and peasants.” After the army left, the local imam and Hui villagers risked their lives to protect the slogan from enemy discovery.
Another slogan, “The Red Army absolutely does not conscript forced labor” (红军绝对不拉伕), is written on the crossbeam of the second floor of the minaret.
These slogans are not only revolutionary relics but also symbols of ethnic unity, witnessing the shared development of the Hui and Han communities in the village.

Historical and Cultural Value

Dangui Mosque is a key site commemorating the Red Army’s passage through Xundian (寻甸) and serves as a powerful example of ethnic unity education. It holds high historical and academic research value.

Protection Measures

• On May 23, 2003, Dangui Mosque was listed as the fourth batch of municipal-level cultural relic protection units by the Kunming Municipal Government (昆明市人民政府).
• On February 21, 2019, it was designated as part of the eighth batch of Yunnan provincial-level cultural heritage sites by the Yunnan Provincial Government (云南省人民政府).

Honors and Recognition

In 2021, Dangui Mosque was designated by the United Front Work Department of the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee (云南省委统战部) as a demonstration site for patriotic education in religious circles.

Visitor Information

Location

Dangui Mosque is located in Dangui Village (丹桂村), Kedu Town (柯渡镇), Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County (寻甸回族彝族自治县), Kunming City (昆明市), Yunnan Province (云南省).