12-Day In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta

Day 1 Arrival in Beijing, Greet & Meet at Airport, Transfer to Hotel

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Dinner at Halal restaurant
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

Your 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 at hotel to recover from the jet lag. Beijing was called Khanbaliq or Dadu of Yuan when Ibn Battuta arrived on the Grand Canal from Hangzhou in 1345. It was the winter capital of the Yuan dynasty founded by Kublai Khan.

Day 2 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Niujie Mosque, Fresh Water Pearl, Temple of Heaven

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Niujie Mosque
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

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.

Day 3 Great Wall, Jade Carving, Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, Photo Stop at Olympic Venues

Destination: Beijing
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Novotel Beijing Xin Qiao Hotel or similar

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).

Day 4 Summer Palace, High Speed Train to Shanghai (about 6 hours)

Destination: Beijing & Shanghai
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Pullman Shanghai Jing’an Hotel or similar

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 Shanghai in the afternoon.

Day 5 Yuyuan Garden, Silk Store, The Bund & Nanjing Road, People’s Square, Shanghai Museum, Bullet Train to Hangzhou

Destination: Shanghai & Hangzhou
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
Accommodations: Mercure Hangzhou West Lake or similar

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. Board second class bullet train to Hanghzou (approximately 1 hour).

Day 6 Cruise on West Lake, Dragon Well Tea Plantation, Six Harmonies Pagoda, Qinghefang Ancient Street, Bullet Train to Fuzhou

Destination: Hangzhou & Fuzhou
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Phoenix Mosque
Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Fuzhou Riverside or similar

Ibn Battuta reported that Hangzhou may have been the largest city in the world during the 14th century. He tells of staying with the Egyptian Muslim for a few weeks as he enjoyed banquets, canal rides, and magic shows. Cruise the West Lake in the morning. 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. Next, visit the Dragon Well Tea Plantation. This plantation is lying on Fenghuang Hill with a wide area of water and is rich in spring water. Known for its greenness, fragrance, mellow taste, and beauty of tea leaves, Dragon Well Tea tops the ten renowned teas in China. Salat prayer at the Yuan Dynasty constructed Phoenix Mosque. Afterwards, climb the Six Harmonies Pagoda for a beautiful view of Hangzhou with buildings and bridges lining the landscape on one side with the Qiantang River, and green verdant trees lining the other side of the pagoda. Continue with a walk on Qinghefang Ancient Street. This street is one of the oldest streets and is the only well preserved antique historic street in Hangzhou. Take the second class bullet train to Fuzhou (approximately 4 hours) later in the afternoon.

Day 7 Drum Mountain, Luoxing Pagoda, West Lake Park, Three Lanes Seven Alleys, Bullet Train To Quanzhou

Destination: Fuzhou & Quanzhou
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Pullman Shishi Mattison or similar

Ibn Battuta met someone whom he met when he passed through India. Now this man was rich. He “owned about fifty white slaves and as many slave-girls, and presented me with two of each, along with many other gifts.” Fuzhou is the capital city of Fujian province. Visit Drum Mountain, a huge ridge that overlooks Fuzhou and provides spectacular views. Then, Admire Luoxing Pagoda, once called China Tower by foreign sailors in ancient time. Wander through West Lake Park, the best well-preserved classical garden regarded as a bright pearl of Fuzhou gardens. Stroll along Three Lanes Seven Alleys, a living fossil of traditional Chinese urban dwelling dated back to the Tang Dynasty. Board second class bullet train to Quanzhou (approximately 1 hour).

Day 8 Quanzhou Maritime Museum, Luoyang Bridge, Qingjing Mosque, Bullet Train to Xiamen

Destination: Quanzhou & Xiamen
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat Prayer: Qingjing Mosque
Accommodations: Mercure Xiamen On The Bund or similar

Quanzhou is the city that Ibn Battuta first set his foot on China. Known as Zaiton or Zaitun during the 11th through 14th centuries, both Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta praised it as one of the most prosperous and glorious cities in the world. Ibn Battuta observed that “silk is used for clothing even by poor monks and beggars” and that the porcelain was “the finest of all makes of pottery.” Even the poultry amazed him: “The hens … in China are … bigger than geese in our country.” Quanzhou was designated as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road by UNESCO in 1991. Visit Maritime Museum to learn Quanzhou’s trading history, the development of Chinese shipbuilding and the kaleidoscope of religions in the port’s heyday. Stroll along Luoyang Bridge, China’s earliest stone bridge built in the seaport. Its construction stimulated the flourishing of Maritime Silk Road trade in Quanzhou. Salat prayer at Qingjing Mosque. Built by the Arabs in 1009 and restored in 1309, Qingjing Mosque is one of China’s only surviving mosque from the Song Dynasty. Take second class bullet train to Xiamen (approximately 30 minutes).

Day 9 Nanjing Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster, Yuchang Building, Taxia Village

Destination: Xiamen
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Accommodations: Mercure Xiamen On The Bund or similar

After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Nanjing Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster by a comfortable air-conditioned private vehicle (3 hours). Tianluokeng is home to a cluster of five tulous, four circular Tulou arranged around a square tulou, creating an architectural harmony that blends in with the surrounding landscape. Its unusual appearance has earned it the name “four dishes and one soup”, as it resembles the layout for an average family dinner in China. Visit Yuchang Building in the afternoon. Surrounded by a tiny village and rice paddies, Yuchang Building is one of the oldest Tulou as well as one of the tallest Tulou in China. Afterwards, wander through Taxia Village. Tucked away in the lush green mountains, the ancient Hakka village of Taxia is one of the oldest and most spectacular villages in China. The village is split by a river, which flows through the heart of the village and is lined by over 20 traditional Tulou.

Day 10 Bullet Train to Guangzhou, Waqqas Tomb, Yuexiu Park & Five Ram Sculpture

Destination: Quanzhou & Guangzhou
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Xianxian Mosque (Waqqas Tomb)
Accommodations: Grand Mercure Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town or similar

Take the second class bullet train to Guangzhou (approximately 4 hours). Admire the tomb of Sa’ad Ibn Abi Waqqas which looks like an ancient Chinese temple. 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. Then, visit Yuexiu Park & Five Ram Sculpture. Yuexiu Park is the largest park in downtown Guangzhou 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.

Day 11 Chen Family Temple, Memorial Hall of Sun Yat-sen, Huaisheng Mosque, Pearl River Cruise

Destination: Guangzhou
Meals included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at Halal restaurants
Salat prayer: Guangzhou Huaisheng Mosque
Accommodations: Grand Mercure Guangzhou Zhujiang New Town or similar

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. Perform Salat Prayer at the Huaisheng Mosque. Known as Guangta Mosque, this is one of the earliest mosques constructed by Sa’ad Ibn Abi Waqqas 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.

Day 12 Departure from Guangzhou

Meals included: Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight (without guide). Wish you a pleasant journey home and thank you for traveling with IslamiChina.