12 Days Golden Triangle Muslim Tour

Our professional Muslim expert tour guide will pick you up at Beijing capital international airport and transfer you to the hotel. Relax during the remainder of the afternoon and evening to recover from the jet lag.

We will start to explore Beijing from the largest city square in the world; the impressive Tian'anmen Square. From there we will enter the "Imperial Palace" known as the Forbidden City to explore its many fascinating halls and pavilions. After lunch and prayer at Niujie Mosque we will visit the Temple of Heaven, the place where the Emperors worshipped the Heaven for good harvests. Today’s shopping stops are the Muslim Supermarket and Traditional Chinese herbal medicine of Tongrentang.

Today is the highlight of our China tour, the climbing of the Great Wall of China. In 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defense system against invasions from the north. Construction of the great wall continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when the Great Wall became the worlds largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance. In the afternoon we will visit the Ming Tomb Sacred Way where we will learn the ancient Chinese Fengshui Theory. On the way to the Great Wall, we will make a stop at Bona jade carving factory where we will learn the ancient art of jade carving skills.

In the morning we will visit the largest garden in the world, the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886, is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. 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. After afternoon prayers at Madian Mosque, we will fly to Xian, the ancient capital city of China as well as the starting point of the famous Silk Road.

After breakfast at hotel we will drive for about 45 minutes to the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shihuang. This is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world with three exhibition halls, the largest of which is 180 meters by 60 meters, housing the continuing excavation of an army of 8,000 terra-cotta soldiers and horses that guard the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of the unified China. It is a stunning exhibition of ancient artifacts that is well laid out and easy to view. Back to the city in the afternoon, we will visit Shaanxi History Museum, which houses a large collection of historic and cultural artifacts unearthed in Shaanxi Province.

We will visit the Stone Tablets Museum in the morning. Named by UNESCO as one of the 50 famous museums in the world, the Stone Tablets Museum was built on the site of the original Xian Confucius Temple constructed in the Song Dynasty (AD907-AD1279). This is the best known Museum in China for its collections of Stone Tablets where masterpieces of ancient Chinese calligraphers work were carved and Confucius classic works are preserved. In the afternoon, we will visit the most famous mosque in Xian, the Tang Dynasty constructed Great Mosque of Xian (built in 742) and its nearby Muslim community and Bazaar. At night we will enjoy a fantastic Tang Dynasty Stage Show.

Fly to Hangzhou in the morning. Upon arrival in Hangzhou we will have a cruise on the West Lake. Held on three sides in the embrace of hilly peaks, the West Lake has been an attraction for centuries and it had been a favorite imperial retreat in the ancient times. The lake and its environs have all the elements of a traditional Chinese garden but on a grand scale. The natural setting of strangely shaped peaks, serene forests and springs, dense foliage and a myriad of blossoms especially in springtime are enhanced by a treasury of sculpture and architectural features. After lunch we will visit the most famous mosque in Southeast China, the Yuan Dynasty (AD1279-AD1368) constructed Phoenix Mosque, General Yuefei’s Temple and Six Harmonies Pagoda.

We will visit the Longjing Tea Plantation in the morning. This plantation is lying on Fenghuang Hill with a wide area of water and is rich in spring water. Longjing actually means, "Dragon Well" and according to legend, the Dragon Well was discovered in about 230AD. Known for its greenness, fragrance, mellow taste, and beauty of tea leaves, Longjing Tea tops the ten renowned teas in China. After lunch in Hangzhou, we will drive to the picturesque water village of Wuzhen where local people still live in the traditional houses built near a river. Then we will continue our journey to Suzhou, the Venice of the Orient.

After breakfast we will visit the specially selected garden, the garden of the master of nets which is one of the smallest gardens in Suzhou. Being the most exquisite and the best-preserved garden in all old residential gardens in Suzhou, The most striking feature of Garden of the Master of the Nets is its use of space. Small as its size is, the scale of the building is large, but nothing appears cramped. Based on illusion, the garden is full of change, capturing the effect of boundlessness, and achieving a unity of part and whole. And then visit the Panmen City Wall and the Ancient Narrow Canal. After lunch and prayer at Taipingfang Mosque we will visit the Suzhou Silk Factory where we will learn the ancient art of making Chinese silk products by hand. Also, we will enjoy a silk fashion show and do some shopping.

Drive to Shanghai in the morning (about 1.5 hours). Upon arrival in Shanghai, we will visit the third tallest TV tower in the world; the Oriental Pearl Tower. We will also stroll along the Bund and Nanjing Road to appreciate early 19th century European Style architectures.

After breakfast at hotel we will visit the Yuyuan Garden, which is characteristic of the architectural style of the Ming dynasty. The highlight of the day is shopping at the Chenghuangmiao Market, a great place to test your bargaining skills. Being the center of silk production of China, a visit to local silk factory can not be missed. We will also visit the Site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Xintiandi, which is a newly developed recreation area in Shanghai with old styled buildings. We will be free at leisure in the afternoon.

After breakfast, we will be transferred to the airport for our homeward flight.