Day 1 Arrival in Beijing, Greet & Meet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel
Our professional Muslim expert tour guide will meet you at the arrival hall of the airport with your private vehicle on standby and assists you to your hotel. Relax during the remainder of the day to recover from the jet lag.
Meals Included: Dinner at local Halal restaurant
Accommodations: 3 nights in Beijing
5-star Great Wall Hotel Beijing (former Great Wall Sheraton Beijing) or similar
4-star 5L Hotel Beijing (former Traders Hotel Beijing) or similar
3-star City Inn Happy Valley Beijing or similar
Day 2 Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Fresh Water Pearl, Temple of Heaven
Explore Beijing from Tiananmen Square in the morning. Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world and it has great cultural significance as it was the site of many important events in Chinese history such as Chairman Mao's declaration of the establishment of the People's Republic of China on Oct, 01, 1949. Next walk to the Forbidden City. As the royal residences of the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties from the 15th to 20th century, the Forbidden City was the centre of state power in late feudal China and witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over 505 years. Visit fresh water pearl shop and the Temple of Heaven after lunch at a local Halal restaurant and Salat at the 900 year old Niujie Mosque. The Temple of Heaven, built between 1406 and 1420 by the same emperor who was responsible for building the Forbidden City, is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties would worship the god of heaven and pray for good harvest. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site regarded as a masterpiece of architectural and landscape design.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Day 3 Beijing, Great Wall, Jade Carving, Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, Photo Stop at Olympic Venues
Visit the Great Wall of China and jade carving factory in the morning. The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of China as the great military defense project of successive Chinese Empires. Today, the wall is still impressive at 3,750 miles in length, stretching from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. The Great Wall embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and Chinese people. Visit the Sacred Way of the Ming Tomb after lunch and Salat at a local Halal restaurant. The Sacred Way is a stone paved path which stretches as long as one kilometer to the north of the main gate of the Ming Tombs. Next, make a photo stop at the 2008 Olympic Venues of Bird Nest (National Stadium) and Water Cube (National Aquatics Center).
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Day 4 Beijing, Summer Palace, High Speed Train to Xian (about 5 hours)
Morning visit to the largest and best-preserved royal garden in China, the Summer Palace. Using Kunming Lake and Longevity Hill as the basic framework, the Summer Palace combined political and administrative, residential, spiritual, and recreational functions within a landscape of lakes and mountains, in accordance with the Chinese philosophy of balancing the works of man with nature. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value. Board second class high speed train to Xian in the afternoon. Xian is the ancient capital city of China and the starting point of Silk Road.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Accommodations: 2 nights in Xian
Local 5-star Grand Noble Hotel Xian or similar
4-star Grand Dynasty Culture Hotel Xian or similar
3-star Xian Chenggong International Hotel (former Ibis Xian Heping) or similar
Day 5 Xian, Terracotta Warriors & Reproduction Factory, Great Mosque, Muslim Quarter
Morning visit to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses and its reproduction factory. Considered one of the foremost archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the 2,000-year-old Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974 by local farmers digging a well. The 8,000-plus life-sized figures are arranged in vaults to guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China, a major architect of the Great Wall and unifier of China. Visit the Bell & Drum Tower Square and Xian Muslim Quarter after lunch and Salat at Xian Great Mosque. The area north of the Drum Tower is the Muslim Quarter of Xian which covers several blocks with an estimated 60,000 Muslims in the region. There are about seven ancient mosques in the area, among which the Great Mosque built in 742 is most famous and popular among all. Experience a seemingly endless labyrinth of street food, restaurants and bustling local life at Xian's Muslim Quarter.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Day 6 Xian, Little Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Museum, City Wall, Fly to Zhangye
Visit Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum in the morning. With a history of more than 1,300 years, Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built to store the Buddhist scriptures delivered from ancient India. It is a perfect example of the multi-eaved square brick pagodas built in ancient China. Currently there are 13 storeys left as the top two storeys were destroyed in earthquakes. Continue to visit Xian Museum. Xian Museum boasts nearly 130,000 relics that all relate to the history of Ancient China and Xian specifically. Afterwards visit Xian City Wall. The City Wall of Xian is one of the oldest and best-preserved city walls in the world. Walking atop the Wall you can get the panorama of Xian skyline. Fly to Zhangye in the afternoon. Zhangye is famous for its Rainbow Colored Mountain, one of Allah’s creations mentioned in the holy Quran.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Accommodations: 1 night in Zhangye
4-star Dinghe International Hotel Zhangye or similar
Day 7 Zhangye, Rainbow Colored Mountains, Bullet Train to Lanzhou
Morning visit to Rainbow Colored Mountains located inside Zhangye Danxia Geopark. Covering 200 square miles, Zhangye Danxia Geopark was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The Rainbow Mountains are considered one of the geological wonders of the world. These mountains take their colors from the colorful rock formations. No one would think of any mountains to take such amazing colors but the Quran mentions the existence of colorful mountains as one of Allah’s creations. Here is the verse of the Quran: “Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black." Take second class bullet train to Lanzhou in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Accommodations: 1 night in Lanzhou
4-star Gansu International Hotel or similar
Day 8 Lanzhou, Gansu Provincial Museum, Water Wheel Park, Xiguan Mosque, Fly to Guangzhou
Visit Gansu Provincial Museum in the morning. There are more than 140,000 collections in the Provincial Museum including the world-famous bronze Galloping Horse's Hoof Stepped on a Flying Swallow. The galloping horse is honored as the mysterious and rare treasure in the history of Chinese ancient sculpture art. Next, visit Water Wheel Park by the Yellow River. Waterwheels are ancient irrigation devices that use flowing water to create power by means of a set of paddles mounted around a wheel. The force of the water moves the paddles and the consequent rotation of the wheel is transmitted into machinery via the shaft of the wheel. Take the old-fashioned sheepskin rafts for a ride down the Yellow River as an optional tour if you are adventurous. After Salat at Xiguan Mosque which was recently renovated according to traditional Arabic style, fly to Guangzhou in the afternoon.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Accommodations: 2 nights in Guangzhou
5-star China Hotel Guangzhou or similar
4-star Ocean Hotel Guangzhou or similar
3-star Furama Hotel Guangzhou or similar
Day 9 Guangzhou, Chen Family Temple, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Huaisheng Mosque, Pearl River Cruise
Visit Chen Family Temple in the morning. Also named Guangdong Folk Art Museum, this 100-year-old temple was once the ancestral temple and study of 72 Chen families in Guangdong in the Qing Dynasty. It is now the largest and best preserved and decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong Province. Next, visit the Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Perfrom salat at the Huaisheng Mosque. Known as Guangta Mosque, this is one of the earliest mosques constructed since Islam came into China in the fifth century. Afterwards, cruise on the Pearl River. The Pearl River has a length of more than 2,000 kilometers and is the third longest river in China. A charming one-hour cruise may be a most romantic way to enjoy the appealing city views of Guangzhou. On the water you will get a refreshingly different and open panorama of the city; the picturesque and diversified waterfronts and river views are a feast for the senses during the day, at sunset, or at night.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Day 10 Guangzhou, Yuexiu Park, Five Ram Sculpture, Waqqas Tomb, Fly to Shanghai
Visit the Yuexiu Park and the symbol of Five Ram Sculpture in the morning. Yuexiu Park is the largest park in downtown Guangzhou. This park is made up of three artificial lakes and seven hills of Yuexiu Mountain reputed for its pretty water and hills as well as cultural relics. The Five-Ram Sculpture is the emblem of Guangzhou at the top of Yuexiu Hill inside Yuexiu Park. The legend behind the sculpture is something about five celestial beings riding through the air on rams to bring rice to the first settlers of the area. Perform Salat at Waqqas Tomb which looks like an ancient Chinese temple, with walls surrounding its four corners. History recorded that Nabi Muhammad (s.a..w), at the age 57 sent his uncle Sad ibn Abi-Waqqas to Guangzhou. The Muslim Sage’s Tomb was to commemorate Sad ibn Abi-Waqqas who died in Guangzhou. Fly to Shanghai late in the afternoon or at night.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Accommodations: 2 nights in Shanghai
5-star Crowne Plaza Shanghai or similar
4-star Ambassador Hotel Shanghai or similar
3-star Holiday Inn Express Putuo Shanghai or similar
Day 11 Yuyuan Garden, Silk Store, The Bund & Nanjing Road, People's Square, Shanghai Museum
Morning visit to Yuyuan Garden. This garden is a maze of Ming Dynasty pavilions, elaborate rockeries, arched bridges, and goldfish ponds, all encircled by an undulating dragon wall. Then spend some time shopping at the Chenghuangmiao market located outside the garden. Afterwards, stroll along the Bund and nearby Nanjing Road. The Bund refers to Shanghai's famous waterfront stretching for 1.6km along the west shore of the Huangpu River. Nanjing Road is the main shopping street of Shanghai and one of the busiest shopping streets in the world. Continue with a visit to silk store, the People's Square and Shanghai Museum after lunch and Salat at Xiaotaoyuan Mosque. The People’s Square was once the finest racecourse in Asia before 1949, it is now a large open space in which locals hang out all day, every day, practicing Tai Chi and flying kites. Shanghai Museum is specially celebrated in the world for its rich and high-quality collection of 120,000 precious works of art including ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, painting and calligraphy.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurants
Day 12 Departure from Shanghai
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (without guide). Wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for traveling with IslamiChina.
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel