Emin Minaret (1777-1778) 

Emin Minaret is one of the distinguished landmarks of the Turpan. It is located a short distance east of the city of Turpan (Turfan, or Tulufan) and near the ancient Uighur capital of Idiqut (Gaochang in Chinese) and the cave temples of Bezeklik along the ancient Silk Road.

The minaret had its beginnings in 1777 during the reign of Turfan’s ruler, the hereditary headmen, Emin Khoja (or Goja). It was completed in the next year by his son, Sulayman. It was designed by an Uighur architect Ibrahim in a pre-Safavid Iranian, some suggest Afghani, style. It was build to commemorate and praise his father Eminhoja who achieved brilliant military success in suppressing the armed rebellion raised by the Jungar aristocrats.The minaret is a circular strongly-tapered structure with its sun-dried bricks arranged in sixteen different geometrical and floral patterns throughout its 144 ft (44 m) height, including its almost 33 ft (10 m) base. The minerat has 14 windows opened in different directions and at different heights and a seventy-one-stepped spiral flight of stairs leading to the top. Next to the minerat is the biggest mosque in the Turpan area, and the two form an integral whole. The rectangular mosque has a hall in its   middle and an arched gate with a pointed top.The hall can hold up to one thousand people attending service. The interior of the mosque has a simplicity with its wooden pillars and beamed ceiling. From the top of the mosque there is a good view of the surrounding vineyards and mountains.

Also known as, "The Tower for Showing Gratitude to Eminhoja", this mosque was built in 1777 to commemorate a Uighur military victory. That statue is of Eminhoja.

Looking at the minaret from behind the Emin Ta mosque. Those are graves in the foreground.