Haikou, capital of China's southernmost
Hainan Province, will begin construction of its first mosque
with approval from Hainan Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs
Bureau.
The preliminary work has been completed and construction will be
launched after the Spring Festival, namely China's Lunar New Year,
on Jan. 29.
The mosque will cover about 5,000 square meters and all funds
will come from donations from Islamic communities, according to
Haikou Municipal Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau.
The city claims that the mosque will meet the religious needs of
both the 1,300 Muslim residents in the city and an increasing
number of Muslim tourists.
(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)
