Haba Snow Mountain Mosque in Shangri-La, Diqing

More Picture

Shangri-La (香格里拉), often described as a “paradise on earth,” is home to a diverse religious landscape. While Tibetan Buddhism is predominant, other faiths such as Dongba (东巴教), Confucianism (儒教), Taoism (道教), Bön (苯教), Catholicism (天主教), Christianity (基督教), and Islam (伊斯兰教) also coexist in harmony. Among them stands a unique Islamic mosque located in Haba Village (哈巴村), Sanba Township (三坝乡), in the southeastern part of Shangri-La City (香格里拉市) — the Haba Snow Mountain Mosque (哈巴雪山清真寺).

Location and Establishment

Haba Snow Mountain Mosque is situated in Longwangbian Village Group (龙旺边村民小组), beneath the foot of Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山), within Haba Village (哈巴村), Sanba Township (三坝乡), Shangri-La City (香格里拉市), Yunnan Province (云南省). The mosque was built in 1997, covering an area of approximately 1,000 square meters. It is currently the only Islamic mosque in Shangri-La City, and one of nineteen officially recognized religious activity venues in the region.

Religious and Community Life

The mosque belongs to the Islamic faith and serves a community of around 400 Hui Muslim believers. It is staffed by 17 religious personnel. With its long-standing history and a strong spirit of patriotism and religious devotion, the mosque has become a spiritual and cultural center for the local Muslim population. It plays an important role in fostering ethnic unity and contributing to the harmonious development of the regional economy.

Community Engagement and Cultural Education

In addition to daily religious affairs, the mosque actively supports government initiatives such as targeted poverty alleviation, anti-crime campaigns, and rural revitalization. It regularly organizes educational and outreach events to promote ethnic and religious understanding, particularly during major Islamic festivals such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

Every summer and winter break, the Hui communities of Longwangbian (龙旺边) and Lanjia (兰家) Villages organize volunteer teaching programs, inviting Islamic students and teachers to provide education for local children. These efforts aim to expose the younger generation to both religious and cultural learning from an early age.

Role in Promoting Unity and Harmony

With the support and guidance of various levels of government, the mosque adheres firmly to the correct political direction. It upholds the banners of “Love for the Country and Love for Religion” and the “Four Consciousnesses,” while actively promoting the Islamic values of peace, moderation, unity, and tolerance. The mosque plays a constructive role in strengthening the socialist model of ethnic relations — characterized by equality, solidarity, mutual assistance, and harmony — and contributes significantly to maintaining ethnic unity, religious concord, and social stability in Shangri-La.