The study of Islam is encouraged in China with at least ten top institutes of Islamic higher learning around the country passing on knowledge of the Quran to Muslims. In Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one institute has been tutoring students for almost 30 years.

It’s 1:30 am local time in Urumqi. Students in Xinjiang Islamic Institute are having their first meal in a day. After this, they will start five rounds of prayers and learning the Quran, without food and water for over 17 hours during Ramadan.So the foods must be special.

"We are having foods that can save our physical strengths, for example, lamb pilaf, fried noodles, eggs and roast mutton..." said Nurahmat, student of Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

Some of the students have entered the Mosque here, reading their first scriptures of the day. With some sleep later, they will go into classes in the morning.

This is the only institute in China teaching the Quran in Uygur language. It was founded in 1987, it has over 1,000 graduates of ethnic minorities, including Uyghur, Kyrgyz, and Tajik.

They are serving in mosques across Xinjiang as worship leaders for general Muslims. This is to preserve and pass on the Muslim knowledge, and correctly interpret the Quran. The Dean of the institute said over the years it has over 70 staff, and a comprehensive curriculum system.

"We have four categories of religious learning here, and the most important, the learning of the Quran, including the way of reading, chanting, interpreting, and so on," said Abudurikip Temurniyaz, dean of Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

During the afternoon of Ramadan, students are free. But even ten hours after their first meal, some students still come out to read books and play basketball.And the most important, the knowledge of prayer. Learning here will help them become qualified worship leaders for Muslims.

"Our class have studied here for over four years. Now, we have a comprehensive understanding on the interpretation of the Quran," said Mamatsawut, student of Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

"When I return to my hometown in the city of Yining, I will explain the real essence of the Holy Quran to my fellow countrymen," said Yusupjan, student of Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

Deep at night, the students and their teachers gather in the canteen iftar, breaking the long fast with the meal that is easy to digest, to break the long fast.

With the fifth and the last round of prayer of the day, they conclude their learning today, and are  ready for tomorrow.