Arrive in Beijing

Acrobatic show.

Beijing

As an introduction to the imperial city, we take a stroll in Tiananmen Square, bordered by the Great Hall of the People and Mao’s Mausoleum. Then, we walk to the Forbidden City, the complex of imperial palace which were home to the Emperors for over 500 years. Grand halls and courts gradually give way to more intimate domestic quarters, giving an insight into the pampered isolation of the emperors. After lunch, pray at Haidian Mosque.

Beijing

Today is the highlight of our China tour, the climbing of the Great Wall of China which was first built in the Warring States period (475-221BC) as a series of earthworks erected by individual kingdoms as a defense against each other as well as from invasions from the north. The present day wall was left from the Ming dynasty. Night train to Xi'an.

Xi'an

Xi’an was the former capital of China from 1046BC-907AD for 13 different dynasties. Xian is also the starting point of the world famous Silk Road. Being homes to many Arabic traders from the 6th century to the 10th century AD, Xian is a city where you can find many ancient traditional Chinese style mosques. Visit Bell Tower and City Wall. Da Xuexi Xiang or Great Mosque which was built in 742AD in traditional Chinese garden style. Shopping at the Muslim Shopping Street. Night market (Optional Cultural Show). 

Xi'an - Visit Teracotta Warriors

Visit the Museum of the Terracotta warriors and Horses which are among the top archaeological excavations of  the 20th Century. The warriors are over 2000 years old and were originally constructed to protect the tomb of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The Warriors are now housed in a huge airplane hangar and despite  their fame and the throngs of tourists visiting the site, they are still incredibly impressive. These life size warriors stand on guard as if preparing for battle.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Lanzhou 6.30pm, Arrive in Lanzhou Airport 7.40pm  -Dinner then check into 3star Hotel. Lanzhou , capital city of northwest China, Gansu Province..The city covers about 13086sq. km with a population of 2.8 million. Lanzhou was an important strategic town on the ancient Silk Road. With mountains in the south and north of the city and the Yellow River flowing from the east to the west. 

Linxia - The Mecca of China

Today we visit the city of Linxia, the Mecca of China. Formerly an important stopping place on several silk route variations, a center for Muslim scholarship. Linxia is a stepping stone for Muslims’ spread through Gansu and beyond. Reached by Arab missionaries in the 7th century, Linxia is now overwhelmingly Muslim and named a Hui Autonomous Prefecture with a majority of Hui, and other Muslim groups such as the Dongxiang (Santa) and Baoan (Bonan). There are over 100 mosques and a great deal of Madrasahs here in this city. Today you will have chance to learn not only Chinese Muslim history but also to see the future of Chinese Muslim. Visit a State of the Art Preschool  where little elite tots from age 4-6 could amazingly be trained to be Hafiz Quran, besides learning English, Arabic and Chinese languages.  Overnight stay in Lanzhou.

Lanzhou

Visit Lanzhou literacy center cum Orphange, followed by lunch then Water Wheel Park, Yellow River Mausoleum. Night Flight to Urumuqi.

Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Ughur Autonomous Region

Morning drive to Tianchi-Heavenly Lake, a marvelous view of mountain lake formed more than million years ago in the 4th glacial epoch. It is named as the "Jewel in the Crown". The pine trees covering the hillsides and the snow capped mountains in the background makes the huge clear water spectacular sight-reminiscent of Switzerland or the Rocky mountains but somehow with more vibrancy and color.

Bogda Peak-the highest peak stands to the east of the lake in the east part of Tianshan Mountain which is capped by glacier and snow glistening in the sun, finely contrasted with blue lake water, forming fabulous scenery.

You will visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest Uygur bazaar in Urumuqi, where you'll find a bustling market filled with various types of fruits, clothing, crafts, knives, carpets, etc.

Proceed to Turpan

This city  survives with the assistance of karez, covered water channels that bring melt-water from the Tianshan mountains to the north and west into the Turpan basin. Turpan is famous in China for its grapes, and almost every house has a drying tower for turning them into the seedless raisins famous throughout China.

Visit Emin Minaret. This 40 meter-high brick minaret is part of a large mosque, built in 1778. The minaret has an elegant conical shape, its brick laid in patterns that make it looked knitted.  On the way back to Turpan, stop at a village named Tuyoq, people living here are 100 percent Uighur.

Turpan - Urumuqi

Visit the ancient city of Gaochang Ruin, the Uygur city-state around the 9th to 13th century, which was founded a few hundred years earlier, which gradually was known as a trading post on the Silk Road. Astana Graves, where the inhabitants of Gaochang were buried. The ancient tombs are clearly divided according to families and castes by gravel dividers.

Pass through the Flaming Mountains named of the red clay mountains reflect the heat and glow of the desert in the evening and have flaming appearance at different time of the day, especially in July. It is an intensely hot part of the desert without a single blade of grass. In the late afternoon, travel back to Urumqi. Take night flight to Kashgar Abakh Hoja Maosoleum in Kashgar.

Kashgar

Kashgar is a place of donkey carts, old men with white beards in traditional Uighur fur-trimmed hats, long coats and boots. Kashgar contains one of the world’s greatest bazaars-a meeting place for all of Xinjiang’s Muslim minorities and their neighbors from Pakistan and central Asian countries.

Visit Abakh Hoja Tomb, a tomb of Uygur woman living Qing Dynasty who was forced to marry the Qianlong Emperor. However, the tomb is actually the tomb of her grandfather and his family including Xiangfei.

Then visit the Id Kah Mosque built in 1442 for Shakesirmirzha, the ruler of Kashgar. It is the largest mosque in China and the religious center of Kashgar. The call for Prayer from the mosque can be heard throughout the city center.

The local famous Sunday Bazaar has been operating since the ancient time and the scale has become larger and larger, attracting merchants from all over Xinjiang and neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Kirghizstan.

Urumuqi

Visit Xinjiang Ethnic Street and Xinjiang Erdaoqiao Market. Flight back to Beijing. Visit Niujie masjid. Shopping.

Depart to homeland from Beijing

HOME SWEET HOME. ALAHAMDULLILLAH. A safe trip home.