The main entrance to the mosque
The town of Zharkent is the last outpost of any size on the road from Almaty to the Chinese border crossing, Khorgos. A sleepy backwater in the heart of farming country, Zharkent has one remarkable building – a wooden mosque built in the nineteenth century by a Chinese architect.
The elaborate, Chinese-style decoration of the mosque
The mosque was constructed without the use of nails and has withstood earthquakes and the attentions of the Soviets. The mosque has a gateway reminiscent of the deliacte structures that adorn religious buildings in Kashgar and other parts of Central Asia.
The mosque's central tower with Russian-influenced windows
Inside the courtyard, the mosque itself is a riot of colour with the Chinese influence of architect Hon Pik allowed to run wild. The windows add a Russian-feel. All-in-all it’s a stunning fusion of Central Asian, Chinese and Russian influences.
Night falls on the mosque
Kazaxia 