4/ The de-doming campaign has also picked up. Below, compare the Zhejiang Yiwu Mosque after its doorways were “renovated.” Its domes remain because the local government is low on funds, local businesses told me.

5/ Abroad, Chinese Muslims are closely watched. One Hui Muslim living in Egypt told me police officers from his Chinese hometown still send weekly "friendly" messages, full of smiley faces, heart emojis and stickers, and keep track of his Egypt address.

6/ I spent a month reporting this piece and traveling across China; sadly, many anecdotes and details here have not been published yet because of concrete state threats made to sources. I’m endeavoring to share those at a later point…