The yellow-tiled Id Kah Mosque, which dates from 1442, is the spiritual and physical heart of the city. Enormous (it's the largest mosque in China), its courtyard and gardens can hold 20,000 people during the annual Qurban Baiyram. Also known as Eid, or Id, celebrations they fall in September for the next few years.
Non-Muslims may enter, but not during prayer time. Dress modestly, including a headscarf for women. Take off your shoes if entering carpeted areas and be discreet when taking photos.
The stalls outside the mosque are a good place to pick up a striped khalat (cloak) or traditional Uighur doppi (skullcap).
