Qibla · Jiangsu
Qibla direction in Jiangyin
To face the Kaaba in Jiangyin, turn to 284.0° measured clockwise from true north, which is west (14.0° north of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 7,903 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Jiangyin should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Jiangyin as a needle at 284.0°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 284°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Jiangyin
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 14.0° towards north: the result is the bearing of 284.0°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 14° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Jiangyin, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Jiangyin to Mecca points to 261.7° (west), a full 22.3° away from the true Qibla of 284.0° (west). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 158 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Jiangyin first heads west, and that is the direction to face.
The value of 284.0° is the direction in which the shortest route from 31.9110° N, 120.2630° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Jiangyin to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 7,903 km from Jiangyin as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 7,767 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 9 h 48 min, although most pilgrims from Jiangyin connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Jiangyin run 5 hours ahead of Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Jiangyin rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Jiangyin
On 110 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Jiangyin while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in May (31 days); for example, on 1 May 2027 it happens at 18:05 local time.
On 239 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in March (31 days), for instance on 1 March 2027 at 07:06.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | — | — |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 07:06 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 07:35 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 08:09 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 08:37 |
| 1 May 2027 | 18:05 | 09:08 |
| 15 May 2027 | 17:37 | 09:35 |
| 1 June 2027 | 17:13 | 10:01 |
| 15 June 2027 | 17:05 | 10:15 |
| 1 July 2027 | 17:10 | 10:17 |
| 15 July 2027 | 17:26 | 10:06 |
| 1 August 2027 | 17:53 | 09:40 |
| 15 August 2027 | 18:19 | 09:10 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 08:30 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 07:54 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 07:12 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 06:37 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | — |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Jiangyin: at 17:18 and 17:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Jiangyin compared with other cities
Compared with Beijing, 955 km away, the Qibla in Jiangyin is turned 5.1° further clockwise (284.0° against 278.9°), and Mecca is 518 km farther away. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Zhangjiagang (27 km), prays towards 284.1°, a difference of 0.1°.
Across the 612 cities in China on this site, the Qibla ranges from 249.0° in Tacheng to 286.5° in Suifenhe, a spread of 37.5°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for China.
Qibla in cities near Jiangyin
Qibla in Jiangyin: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Jiangyin?
It is 284.0° from true north, which is west: 14.0° north of west.
How far is Jiangyin from Mecca?
7,903 km in a straight line over the globe, and 7,767 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Jiangyin?
On 110 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Jiangyin not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 261.7°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Jiangyin at 284.0°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 284.0° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.