Kucha
Kucha/Kuchar (Chinese Simplified: ; Traditional: ; pinyin Kche; also romanized as Chiu-tzu, Kiu-che, Kuei-tzu. Also known in ancient China as: ; ; , also Po bai in pinyin?); 4139'N 8254'E} was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the northern edge of the Taklamakan desert in the Tarim Basin. (The area lies in present day Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China). Its population was given as 74,632 in 1990.Top photos chosen by u all:
The Grand Kuqa Mosque‖新疆阿克苏·库车大寺
Made by pingshang
【English】 It was the Grand Kuqa Mosque, first built in the 16th century and reconstructed in 1931 after being damaged by fire, that first signified dominance of Islam over Buddhism in Xinjiang. It is the region's second largest mosque after the Etigar Mosque in Kashgar and has capacity for 3,000 worshipers. Within its compound is Xinjiang's sole religious court. Kuqa is also site of the sacred Molanaershiding Tomb to which Xinjiang's Muslims make regular pilgrimages. 【Chinese】 库车大寺，位于库车老城偏西北，在新疆仅次于艾提尕清真寺。相传为公元16世纪新疆依禅派始祖伊斯哈克•瓦里创建的。现存寺为1931年被火烧毁后由库车人艾里木阿吉出资重建。大寺由礼拜大厅、小礼拜寺、宣礼楼、拱顶门楼、望月楼、宿舍等组成。大寺内设有宗教法庭，是目前新疆唯一的一处宗教法庭。整个建筑浑然一体，宏伟高大，宣礼楼高20米，上有穹顶及三个土拉。礼拜大厅分前后两厅，前大厅由88根下垫圆石盘的圆柱支撑，木柱着色并刻有各种图案，装饰富丽堂皇。大厅占地面积1165平方米，可同时容纳3000多穆斯林教徒做礼拜。整个大寺具有浓厚的维吾尔建筑风格。
Bus Stop
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If you know Chinese and if you read it from the right, you will understand it is a bus stop. Taken at Kucha (庫車), Xinjiang. Holga 120GN Fuji Reala June 2007
Relaxing
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The word reads Bathroom. Taken at Kucha (庫車), Xinjiang. Holga 120GN Fuji Reala June 2007
In the Old Town of Kuqa
Made by Benjamin Lyons
The Grand Kuqa Mosque‖新疆阿克苏·库车大寺
Made by pingshang
Nearest places of interest:
| ئاقسۇ (Aksu) Minfeng Huatugou Yumenguan, Jade Gate Pass | Korla Huashan High School 巩留 昭苏 |
