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)