Manluanhui Mosque in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna

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In Xishuangbanna (西双版纳), there exists a unique ethnic group known as the Hui-Dai (回傣). In Menghai County (勐海县), Menghai Town (勐海镇), there are two Hui-Dai villages: Mansai Hui (曼赛回) and Manluan Hui (曼峦回), both of which are located near Pu’er tea mountains. While the Dai people (傣族) in Xishuangbanna typically follow Theravāda Buddhism, these two Dai villages practice Islam. The festivals celebrated in Mansai Hui and Manluan Hui align with Islamic traditions rather than typical Dai festivities. Hui-Dai women dress in traditional Dai clothing while also wearing Muslim headscarves.

Manluan Hui Village

Manluan Hui Village, also known as Paxi Dai Village (帕西傣村), derives its name from Dai language. “Manluan” means grassy hills, and “Paxi Dai” is the local Dai name for the village, meaning “Dai people who believe in Islam.” The grandfather of the villagers originally came from Weishan (巍山) in Dali (大理) and settled here for trade, while the grandmother was a local Dai woman.

The Hui-Dai culture is characterized by duality: they retain Dai features such as speaking Dai language, using Dai script, adopting Dai names, and wearing Dai clothing, while also strictly observing Islamic teachings. This cultural fusion is also reflected in the architectural style of the village mosque’s prayer hall.

Mosque Construction and Features

The village currently has over 80 households and more than 400 residents. The mosque was originally built during the Daoguang period (道光年间) of the Qing Dynasty (approximately 1830–1840), rebuilt in 1943, renovated again in 1983, and reconstructed into a two-story structure in 1994.

Due to population growth, roof leakage, and wall damage, the old structure was demolished in October 2016, and new construction was completed in March 2018. The mosque now covers a total area of over 3,000 square meters and consists of a prayer hall and a comprehensive building. The prayer hall covers 500 square meters, and the comprehensive building over 400 square meters.

The reconstruction effort received strong support from government departments and various sectors of society. On March 17, 2018, the mosque was awarded the plaque of “Harmonious Mosque of Yunnan Province” by the Yunnan Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee.