Sugong Tower (Emin Minaret) is a famous Islamic monument in Turpan, Xinjiang, China.
Basic Information
Location: 2 km east of downtown Turpan, adjacent to a large Uyghur mosque.
Built: 1777 (Qing Dynasty, Qianlong reign).
Builder: Ordered by Sulaiman, the second Turpan king, in memory of his father Emin Khoja.
Material & Height: All grey brick; 44 m tall, base diameter 10 m.
Structure: Tapered cylindrical body; 72-step spiral brick staircase inside (no wood used).
Decoration: 15 types of Uyghur geometric patterns (diamond, wave, floral, etc.) on the exterior.
Status: National Key Cultural Relic (since 1988); China’s tallest minaret.
Visiting Tips
Ticket: ~CNY 45.
Hours: 9:30–19:30 (summer); 10:00–18:30 (winter).
Note: The tower interior is closed for preservation; view from the mosque courtyard.
