Daweigeng Mosque in Weishan County, Dali

Daweigeng Mosque (大围埂清真寺) is located in Daweigeng Village (大围埂村), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). It was originally built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. Covering an area of about 10 mu (approximately 6,667 square meters), the total construction area reaches 3,156 square meters.

The main structure adopts a classical architectural style. The prayer hall features a double-eaved hip roof (重檐歇山式) and can accommodate up to 1,200 worshippers. It is one of the major religious centers for the Hui people in Yunnan. The village retains historical relics from the Du Wenxiu (杜文秀) uprising during the Qing dynasty and continues the tradition of Islamic scripture education. It currently hosts the Weishan Islamic Normal School (巍山伊斯兰师范学校).

Historical Development

The prayer hall was initially constructed during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. In the twelfth lunar month of 1872 (the 11th year of Emperor Tongzhi’s reign during the Qing dynasty), it was destroyed by fire during a siege by Qing troops. It was rebuilt in 1917, expanded in 1978, and fully reconstructed again in 1990. The minaret was first built in 1944 and is a three-story structure with a pyramidal roof.

The village has a strong tradition of religious learning and now has more than 100 imams (阿訇) and over 20 Hajj pilgrims (哈吉).

• Chinese Name: 巍山县大围埂清真寺
• Location: Daweigeng Village (大围埂村), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省)
• Postal Code: 672401
• Current Imam: Ma Xiangheng (马相恒)
• Current Head of Education: Ma Xiangwu (马相武)

Scale and Layout

Mosque Size

The total building area of the mosque is 3,156 square meters, with a total land area of about 10 mu. The flanking structures are wooden residential-style buildings serving as classrooms and dormitories.

Architectural Style

The overall architectural style of the mosque is harmonious, simple, and elegant. The layout is orderly, and the structure is meticulous. The mosque comprises the prayer hall, minaret, side rooms, and entrance gate.

The minaret separates the complex into two courtyards. In front of the mosque lies a square plaza of about one mu, where a large banyan tree with lush foliage offers expansive shade.

Key Structures

• Prayer Hall:
  The prayer hall features a double-eaved hip roof. It spans 11 bays (about 40 meters wide), has a depth of 5 bays (24.2 meters), and a total height of 18.2 meters across two stories. With a building area of 1,572 square meters, it can accommodate 1,200 worshippers simultaneously. The construction cost exceeded 700,000 yuan.
  On top of the kiln-style base, the front eaves are flanked by two three-story pavilions, each featuring five tiers of bracket sets (斗拱), flying eaves, and intricate craftsmanship, blending magnificence with elegance. It is considered a leading example of classical Islamic architecture in Yunnan.
• Minaret (宣礼楼):
  First built in 1944, this 14-bay minaret is a three-story structure with a four-cornered spire roof. It covers an area of 576 square meters. Tall and graceful, it is among the largest of its kind in China.
• Entrance Gate:
  The mosque gate is a two-story reinforced concrete building. The upper floor houses the meeting room of the Weishan Islamic Association (巍山县伊斯兰教协会) and a reading room for newspapers and books. The ground floor is used as commercial shops.

Religious and Educational Exchange

There are around 250 Muslim households in the village, totaling more than 1,500 residents. The area is part of the historic Gedi (格迪国) region and is a well-known Hui village in Yunnan. It was once part of the Dali regime established by Du Wenxiu and contains several historical sites.

The village has deep religious roots and has produced several scripture scholars. The tradition of scripture education has been maintained for generations, with many local imams hired to serve elsewhere. Especially after the Islamic middle school built under joint Chinese-Arab sponsorship in 1949 was relocated here, Daweigeng gained influence in the region and beyond.

Currently, the village hosts:

• 1 Islamic normal school (巍山伊斯兰师范学校)
• 85 scripture students (满拉)
• Over 20 Hajj pilgrims (哈吉)
• Over 100 imams (阿訇)

Geography and Transportation

Daweigeng Village (大围埂村) is located in Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). The village was named after a defensive embankment built here by a masked local leader (蒙面诏). It is situated on the east side of the Guanwei Highway (关巍公路), approximately 20 kilometers north of Weishan County town and just over 20 kilometers south of Dali City (大理市).