Sugong pagada

The pagada was built in 1778, over 200 years ago in honor of a great Turpan general -Emin Khoja and his great contribution to the unification of China. It is an elegant-shaped Muslim minaret, is located some 2 kilometers to the east of Turpan.

The tapered minaret is 44 meters (144 ft) high with a base of 10 meters (32.8 ft) in diameter. It has no stories, only a brick-piled pillar with 72 steps around the centre, allowing visitors to climb to the top for appreciating the complete view of Turpan. 14 elongated windows were open at different levels and directions as a result of the need for the building to get enough sunshine and ventilate. The surface of the tower is carved with more than 15 different patterns such as waves, flowers and rhombuses.

These elegant patterns are the highlights of the art of the Uygur.

Sugong pagada is the largest ancient tower in Xinjiang as well as the only Islamic old tower among China's one hundred famous towers. It is very popular among local Muslims and visitors alike, throngs of whom come to visit it all year around.