Beijing Muslim Tour 5 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Meals Included: No Meals
Activities: Meet & greet at the airport, transfer to hotel
Accommodations: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar

Day 2: Beijing, City Tours
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, Lunch & Dinner at local Halal restaurants
Activities: Pick up at hotel, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Bamboo Carbon Shop, Salat at Niujie Mosque, Tea House, Temple of Heaven, transfer back to hotel
Accommodations: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar

Tiananmen Square
Located in the center of Beijing, Tiananmen Square is the largest city square in the world with a capacity of holding one million people. Named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its north, separating it from the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square has great cultural significance as it was the site of many important events in Chinese history such Chairman Mao's declaration of the establishment of the People's Republic of China on Oct, 01, 1949. As a result of a major expansion of Tiananmen Square in 1958, in its southern edge, the Monument to the People's Heroes has been erected, the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum of China were erected on the western and eastern sides of the square. After Chairman Mao's death in 1976, a Mausoleum was built to the south of Monument to the People's Heroes, on the main north-south axis of the square.

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. It was constructed between 1406 and 1420 by the Ming emperor Zhudi and witnessed the enthronement of 14 Ming and 10 Qing emperors over the following 505 years. The Forbidden City is the supreme model in the development of ancient Chinese palaces, providing insight into the social development of late dynastic China, especially the ritual and court culture. The layout and spatial arrangement inherits and embodies the traditional characteristic of urban planning and palace construction in ancient China, featuring a central axis, symmetrical design and layout of outer court at the front and inner court at the rear and the inclusion of additional landscaped courtyards. Meanwhile, more than a million precious royal collections, articles used by the royal family and a large number of archival materials on ancient engineering techniques, including written records, drawings and models, are evidence of the court culture and law and regulations of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven was completed in 1420. The area that it occupies is almost square, the two southern corners being right-angled and those on the north rounded. This symbolizes the ancient Chinese belief that heaven is round and the earth square. The central building is a large rectangular sacrificial hall, where sacrifices were offered to heaven, with the Fasting Palace to the south-west. Pines were planted in the precinct of the Temple to emphasize the relationship between humankind and nature. The siting, planning, and architectural design of the Temple Heaven, and also the sacrificial ceremony and the associate music and dance, are based on the yin-yan and five-element theory of the ancient Book of Changes. This explains the understanding of the ancient Chinese people of heaven and of the relationship between human beings and heaven, as well as their wish to go to heaven.

Day 3: Beijing, City Tours
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurant
Activities: Pick up at hotel, Great Wall of China, Jade Museum, Salat at Golden Palace Restaurant, The Sacred Way of Ming Tombs, transfer back to hotel
Accommodations: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar

Great Wall of China
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 defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall begins in the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. Its main body consists of walls, horse tracks, watch towers, and shelters on the wall, and includes fortresses and passes along the Wall. The Great Wall reflects collision and exchanges between agricultural civilizations and nomadic civilizations in ancient China. It provides significant physical evidence of the far-sighted political strategic thinking and mighty military and national defence forces of central empires in ancient China, and is an outstanding example of the superb military architecture, technology and art of ancient China. The Great Wall embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and its people.

The Sacred Way of Ming Tombs
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 called the Great Red Gate. Construction of the Sacred Way started from 1435 and more buildings were added in 1540. The Stone Memorial Arch, Great Red Gate (with Dismounting Steles at both sides), Stele Pavilion of Divine Merits and Sacred Virtues, Stone Statues and Animals, Dragon and Phoenix Gate, Five-Arch Bridge and Seven-Arch Bridge line from the south to the north. Among them, Stele Pavilion of Divine Merits and Sacred Virtues, the Stone Statues and Animals and Dragon and Phoenix Gates are the core architectures of the Sacred Way. The stone carvings, gravely modeled, accords with the solemn atmosphere of commemoration of the tombs and achieve a very high artistic level.

Day 4: Beijing, City Tours
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel, lunch & dinner at local Halal restaurant
Activities: Pick up at hotel, Summer Palace, Salat at Madian Mosque, 2008 Olympic Venues of Bird Nest & Water Cube, Hutong Richshaw Tour, transfer back to hotel
Accommodations: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing or similar

Summer Palace
The Summer Palace integrates numerous traditional halls and pavilions into the Imperial Garden conceived by the Qing emperor Qianlong between 1750 and 1764 as the Garden of Clear Ripples. 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. Destroyed during the Second Opium War of the 1850s, it was reconstructed by Emperor Guangxu for use by Empress Dowager Cixi and renamed the Summer Palace. The Summer Palace in Beijing 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.

Bird Nest Stadium (China National Stadium)
Bird Nest Stadium is considered to be one of the top 10 new architectural miracles in China. Located at the Olympic Green, the stadium cost US428 million. The design, which originated from the study of Chinese ceramics, implemented steel beams in order to hide supports for the retractable roof; giving the stadium the appearance of a bird's nest. The Bird Nest Stadium hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, athletic events, and football final of the 2008 Summer Olympics from 8 to 24 August 2008.

Water Cube (China National Aquatics Center)
The Water Cube is the Beijing’s National Stadium in the Olympic Green designed for water sports during 2008 Olympics. The shape of the building is not as the name suggests, it is in cuboid shape (rectangular shape) enhancing the beauty of Beijing. It is the great structure from the outside and inside equipped with four slides, a wave pool and a meandering stream. At the night time, this place is totally different as they enlighten the Water Cube with colors lights, which gives different and wonderful look to the structure.

Hutong Tour (Pedicab Ride)
The term hutong appeared first during the Yuan Dynasty. It is a term of Mongolian origin meaning water well. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of Siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighbourhoods were formed by joining one Siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. Hutongs represent an important cultural element of Beijing because almost every hutong has its anecdotes, and some are even associated with historic events. You will enjoy an authentic Beijing experience in a pedicab as you tour the hutongs in the city's Shichahai neighborhood. Watch culture come alive through the stone drums located in front of each gate, and see the layout of traditional Beijing courtyards. You will even have the unique opportunity to meet a local family to see how they live their daily lives; interact with this family and form a connection between your cultures.

Day 5: Departure from Beijing
Meals Included: Breakfast at hotel
Activities: Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Performing Salat at Beijing Niujie Mosque
Beijing Niujie mosque was originally built by Nasruddin, the son of an Arabic priest who came to China to preach the Islamic faith in 996 (Northern Song Dynasty). Major renovation projects were carried out in 1442, during the time of Emperor Kangxi (1662-1722) of the Qing Dynasty. Niujie Mosque is the largest and oldest mosque in Beijing. The buildings inside the mosque are symmetrically arranged. The main buildings include a Minaret which is in traditional Chinese style, the Prayer Hall, the Stele Pavilion, and so on. Many important cultural relics, such as steles from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and cupreous hollowware from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), are preserved in the mosque. Now Niujie area outside the mosque is the residential place for more than 13,000 Muslims in Beijing.

Performing Salat at Beijing Madian Mosque
Beijing Madian Mosque is one of the famous mosques in Beijing with a long history. The area of Madian became a place where Chinese speaking Hui Muslims inhabitated in the Ming Dynasty. It is recorded that the number of Hui Muslims in Madian area was more or less the same like in Niujie area (the place with Niujie Mosque, the largest Hui Muslim commnunity in Beijing). Due to the large Hui Muslim population in Madian area, the mosque was built here during Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi's reign (1661-1772). During the Culture Revolution (1966-1976), Madian Mosque was closed for religious service and it was turned into a factory and the prayer room became the workshop. In 1982, the factory was moved away and Madian Mosque was returned to the local Muslim community. However, the prayer room was no longer suitalbe for salat. Local Muslims raised money to rebuid the prayer room and lecture rooms. Covering an area of 3,800 square meters, the newly renovated Madian Mosque is in traditional Chinese courtyard.

Performing Salat at Beijing Nandouya Mosque
Beijing Nandouya Mosque was first built in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1644) with a main entrance, prayer hall and other facilities. The original entrance of Nandouya Mosque had an Islamic lintel with crescent moon on the top. The traditional Chinese style screen wall of Nandouya Mosque was 395 meters wide, facing the main entrance of the mosque. In 2003, Nandouya Mosque was relocated to its current place which is about 100 meters southwest of its original site due to the improvement of Beijing’s infrastructure. With a total investment of eight million Chinese Yuan from Beijing city government and local Muslims’ donation, Nandouya Mosque was newly built in traditional Chinese courtyard house style covering a floor space of 1600 square meters. Nandouya Mosque is now the best example of how new mosque are built using modern material and technique while traditional Chinese and Islamic styles are still well maintained.

Fine Dining at Local Halal Restaurants
Breakfast will be both Western and Chinese buffet breakfast at hotel. Lunch & dinner will be at local Chinese Halal restaurants near sightseeing places. Please be assured that all lunch and dinner arranged by ICT will be at Halal restaurants. We don't arrange pork free meals. In Beijing you might taste Halal Peking Roast Duck, Halal Mongolian Hop Pot; In Xian, you might try the most famous local Muslim food of Crumbled Flatbread in Mutton Stew (locals call it Yangrou Paomo); In Shanghai, you may try Beef or Lamb Kebab and Lanzho Beef Noodles. If you have special request for Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian, Turkish, Arabian or other cuisines, please advise us in advance and we will arrange accordingly. Please note that Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian, Turkish, Arabian restaurants are always more expensive than Chinese Halal meals. Halal restaurants arranged by ICT must have Halal certificate issued by related government offices.

Transportations
ICT will provide private air-conditioned vehicle during tours with service of experienced drivers. For 2 travelers, we will arrange a private FAW Besturn B70 car; for 3-5 travelers we will arrange a private Refine MPV; for 6-9 travelers we will arrange Joylong 15 seater mini bus; for 10-15 travelers we will arrange Kinglong 21 seater bus or Toyota Coaster Bus; for 16-25 travelers we will arrange Kinglong 33 seater bus; for 26-35 travelers we will arrange Kinglong 45 seater bus.

Hotel: 4-star Sunworld Hotel Beijing 
Add: 88 Dengshikou, Dongcheng District , Wangfujing Street & Forbidden City, Beijing
Tel: +86 -010-58168999
Strategically placed in the heart of downtown Beijing, this 4-star luxury offers a full list of comfortable room accommodations along with professional services. Each spacious guestroom is equipped with the necessary modern amenities. Guests may savor Chinese dishes from the in-house Spring Garden Chinese Restaurant or enjoy exotic Thai cuisine at the Sawasdee Restaurant, once awarded as Beijing’s best Thai restaurant. International fare is also offered at the Song He Cafe. Guests may unwind at the Lobby Lounge with their favorite cocktails and drinks. Business travelers may utilize the fully-equipped function rooms equipped with meeting and banquet facilities. Sunworld Hotel also offers several recreational facilities, ensuring an enhancement to your trip to Beijing. The Ming Dynasty built Dongsi Mosque is just 15 minutes walk from this hotel.