CHENG HO MOSQUE

          Cheng Ho Mosque Palembang is a mosque which is built in Chinese architecture style, Arabic, and Palembang. The full name of this mosque is Al Islam Muhammad Cheng Ho Sriwijaya mosque. You can walk to the south from the central of Palembang exactly in Amin Mulia housing, Jakabaring. There is a mosque in bright colour with the Chinese architecture style.
          Cheng Ho Mosque Palembang was built with the background to keep in touch between the Chinese and the Palembangnesse and also as place to study about Islamic and introduce it to the societies out there.
          Cheng Ho was known as a chinese force commander of the sea from XV century. It was trusted to lead the commerce expedition went along the archipelago by using a very big fleet although at first the tour that Cheng Ho did was a commerce expedition but undirectly, he himself introduced Islam to the area where he stopped in. Because of his good behaviour, Cheng Ho got many followers.
          The construction of this mosque is dominated by red and green. It's around 625 m2. It has two floors and obtains around 600 congregations. There are two towers in the mosque designed as a chima temple in China. The mosque which is combinated by the three nations is also completed by a libary, office, and another multi functional rooms. The children are also able to study in Qur'an Education Centre Park freely.
          The both tower of Cheng Ho mosque Palembang has 5 floors that simbolize the amount of Shalat in a day. The tower is 17 m high, it simbolizes the amount of rakaat that must be done by moslem in a day. In the outside of the tower, there's Palembang traditional ornament, it is " The horns of the goat ".
          Right now, besides in Palembang. There are some Cheng Ho mosques in Indonesia. They are in Surabaya, Pasuruan and Makasar. Cheng Ho Mosque in Surabaya is the first Cheng Ho Mosque in Palembang.
          Based on the data, the number of chinese ethnic who become a moslem in South Sumatera is approximately 4000 people. While the moslem chinise who live in Palembang are approximately 2000 people.
          That's why this place becomes a tourism destination place in Palembang. Many people come here to see the uniqueness of this mosque.

Source : https://www.google.com/search?q=masjid+cheng+ho+palembang&client=ms-opera-mobile&channel=new&espv=1&prmd=minv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1lIaWtefSAhWDa7wKHWiwCyUQ_AUICCgC&biw=360&bih=485#imgrc=bUOfCbr0AXVIyM:

KUTO BESAK FORT

       
          Talking about Tourism Destination means that we are talking about the places in each cities in order to attract tourists to visit them as tourism destination places. In Palembang, there are some places that can be tourism destination, such as Kuto Besak Fort, Ampera Bridge, Kemaro Island, Siguntang Hill, Kampung Kapitan, Agung Mosque, and so on.

          One of tourism destination places in Palembang is Kuto Besak Fort. Kuto Besak Fort is the central name of Palembang Darussalam Sutlanate. Kuto means a high wall fence in Sanskrit. This fort was built by Sultan Mahmud Badarrudin I  in 1780 and then it was continued by his grandson Sultan Mahmud Bahauddin and it waa finished by 1797. At that time, Palembang was famous as the literature central and Islam religion. The main material of this fort construction is made of the combination of the stone chalk  with the egg whites which are brought from all over areas or villages.
          It has the shape of square with 288 m in length, 183 m width, 6,20 m high, 2 m thickness, and the areal capacity is 50 hectare. This fort has been attacked for many times by the dutch colonies which was famous  in a battle in 1819 and 1821.
        The most terrifying battle was going on for 13 days in 1821. The dutch mobilizied 500 formations, 118 battleships. Although the resistance of Sultan with his citizenries was strong enough but the fort could be won by the dutch and then Sultan Mahmud Badarrudin II was arrested and isolated to Ternate (Maluku Utara) SMB II died on September 26th 1832. That's history of Kuto Besak Fort.
           Kuto Besak Fort is located not far from the Ampera bridge. It'¢ located in the central of Palembang near Agung mosque. Many people and tourists come here to see the fort. It's opened everyday. You can come into this fort with just only 5 thousand rupiah. You can see the war equipments, the heroes' attires, and so on. You can take a photoshoot here because the scenery is very good especially in the afternoon. The way how to get here is easy so you can get here by car or public transportation, motorcylce, or bycle you can choose whatever you want. So, don't forget to come here to this fort if you come to Palembang, because thia fort is very historical for Palembang people to memorize our heroes' struggle to defend this fort.
          

PASAR 16 ILIR

 

          Pasar 16 Ilir is the most crowded and the biggest market in Palembang. it has four floors that is modern and clean. it isn't quite so far from Ampera bridge. so, the tourist can go there easily. we can find some trade activities here. Start from clothes, foods, until souvenirs are available here. This place is also famous in Palembang because we can get many kind of things in low price although sometimes it's expensive but in this place we can do negotiate with the sellers. We also have to be a little bit smart in negotiating the stuffs and choose which one is good so that the sellers can't decieve you in any ways.

          we can see Pasar 16 from Ampera bridge clearly. we can find many customers here not only for Palembang people but also the societies in all over South Sumatera. It is opened everyday start from in the morning until afternoon you still come to this market. in the Basement, we can feel comfortable with the ceramic floor and the lighting. there are many shops that sell branded stuffs, such as branded shoes, branded clothes, and some other accessories. Many people from different ages come here to buy many things as they want, start from the teenagers until the old men or women. Especially for the girls, we know that they might love shopping very much to satisfy themselves. 

          After going around in the basement, we can go to the aisles on the first floor. there will be many kinds of Palembang traditional products, such as Songket and so on. Songket is a Palembang industry handmade which is made of silk fabric or kemas fabric that is dipped with the colour substance based on the people who weave it. It's available in red, green blue, and so on. After getting dipped, let the thread dry and then make it weaved in different  designs combinated with the gold thread. There are many kind of songket, such as Silungkang, Ulos, Kain Bugis, and Kain Samarinda. They are offered in some different prices start from 1 until 20 millions.

          It's not only about the new stuffs that we can find here but also the second stuffs or we call it as Barang BJ in Palembang. if we can be more careful in choosing these import products, we can get the quality stuffs in a good condition with low payment. 

         If you feel exhausted after going around here, don't worry because there are many small shops with a tent that sell many kinds of delicious foods. we can eat here while enjoying the situation nearby the Musi River. There are also floating restaurants. These restaurants are very famous in Palembang. People call them as Rumah Makan Apung because people can enjoy their meals while sitting on the small boat floating in the Musi river. it will be great.

         We can take a taxi, public  transportation, bus, or ship if you want to shop here. it's very easy to go here. if we leave from the airport, we get to Jendral Sudirman street and Kolonel H. Burlian street by Trans Musi. you don't need to be worry to get the public transportation to reach this place. you can ask the people where Pasar 16 is. they will let you get to know where it is.