Arrive Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) — group transfer to hotel in central Beijing
Check-in at halal-friendly hotel
Welcome dinner at a Hui Muslim restaurant in the Niujie area — explore Beijing's oldest Muslim neighbourhood
Evening orientation walk, Niujie Street — historic Hui quarter dating to 996 CE
Niujie Mosque (牛街礼拜寺)— Fajr/Subh prayer, guided visit to Beijing's oldest mosque (996 CE), Tang-period architecture with Arabic inscriptions
Great Wall of China(Mutianyu section) — less crowded, stunning scenery, cable car option
Halal packed lunch or roadside restaurant en route
Forbidden City / Palace Museum— 9,999 rooms, Ming Dynasty grandeur, 600 years of imperial history
Optional: Tiananmen Square at dusk — the symbolic heart of China
Temple of Heaven— where emperors prayed for good harvest; stunning circular architecture
Summer Palace— imperial retreat with Kunming Lake, Long Corridor, and Marble Boat
Lunch at recommended halal restaurant, Wangfujing area
Brief visit to Wangfujing Street — Beijing's main shopping boulevard with Muslim-friendly food stalls
Evening flight to Xi'an (~2 hrs) or overnight high-speed train (G-train, 4.5 hrs)
Great Mosque of Xi'an (清真大寺)— one of China's largest and most beautiful mosques, founded 742 CE during Tang Dynasty; a masterpiece of Sino-Islamic architecture
Muslim Quarter (回民街 Huímín Jiē)— immersive walk through the 1,000-year-old Hui neighbourhood; taste roujiamo (Chinese halal "burger"), biangbiang noodles, lamb kebabs, persimmon cakes
Terracotta Army (兵马俑)— 8,000+ life-size warriors, one of humanity's greatest archaeological discoveries
Dinner at a traditional Hui restaurant — Xi'an's Muslim cuisine is arguably China's finest halal food
Ancient City Walls— bus ride through the best-preserved city walls in China (14th century Ming Dynasty, 14 km circuit)
Shaanxi History Museum— world-class collection of Tang Dynasty artefacts, many with Islamic influence from Silk Road trade
Visit Xi'an Drum Tower & Bell Tower— historic towers that once marked prayer times in the Islamic quarter
Halal lunch in the Muslim Quarter — stock up on dried dates, nuts & Silk Road sweets
Afternoon high speed train to Shanghai (~4 hrs)
Optional: Live Silk Road Play
Arrive Shanghai — transfer to hotel; recommended: Jing'an or Luwan district (accessible to mosques)
Xiaotaoyuan Mosque (小桃园清真寺)— Shanghai's most historic mosque (1917), beautiful green-domed architecture
The Bund— iconic waterfront promenade; Art Deco colonial buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline
Evening Huangpu River cruise — sunset views of both Old and New Shanghai
Halal dinner — Shanghai's diverse restaurant scene; many certified halal options available
Yu Garden (豫园)— classical Ming Dynasty garden; surrounding bazaar with halal street food
French Concession— elegant tree-lined streets, Art Deco villas, boutique cafes; a glimpse of Old Shanghai glamour
Huxi Mosque (沪西清真寺)— active local mosque with large congregation
Shanghai Tower observation deck(632m) — second tallest building in the world; breathtaking 360° views
Nanjing Road— Shanghai's famous pedestrian shopping street
Farewell group dinner at upscale halal restaurant — celebrate the rihla
Optional morning excursion: Zhujiajiao Water Town(~1 hr from Shanghai) — ancient canal town, stone bridges, Ming-Qing architecture; an idyllic farewell to China
Duhr/Asr prayer at local mosque before departure transfer
Last-minute halal snack & souvenir shopping: dried longan, Silk Road nuts, Chinese teas, calligraphy
Transfer to Pudong International Airport (PVG) — departures
Du'a of safe travels — may Allah accept this rihla as a blessed journey