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Travel the world without compromising your faith.
Need Help?
+1 (848) 213-6121
Travel the world without compromising your faith.
From the imperial grandeur of Beijing to the ancient Hui Muslim quarter of Xi'an and the modern marvels of Shanghai — this carefully curated rihla traces China's living Islamic heritage across three iconic cities.
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
Select your departure below — your choice stays synced with the booking panel on the right.
We will confirm availability and send you a revised quote for your preferred dates.
✅ 7 nights accommodation (4-star Muslim friendly hotels)
✅ Inter-city transport: Beijing→Xi’an→Shanghai (economy flight or G-train)
✅ All airport/station group transfers
✅ Halal meals: daily breakfast + 6 group lunches/dinners as per itinerary
✅ English-speaking Muslim-aware tour guide throughout
✅ All entrance fees (Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, etc.)
✅ Huangpu River cruise (Shanghai)
✅ Mosque visits & prayer logistics coordination
❌ International airfare
❌ China tourist visa fees (~$60–$185 depending on nationality)
❌ Personal travel insurance (required)
❌ Optional excursions (Zhujiajiao Water Town, Shanghai Tower)
❌ Personal shopping & incidentals
❌ Gratuities for local guides & drivers
Most nationalities require a Chinese Tourist (L) Visa, applied for at your nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate. Key details:
Yes — travel insurance is mandatory for all Safira Tours guests. Your policy must cover:
✦ Fly IN to: Beijing Capital International (PEK) or Daxing International (PKX)
✦ Fly OUT from: Shanghai Pudong International (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA)
✦ This open-jaw routing avoids backtracking and works perfectly with the tour flow If you need to fly in and out of the same city, contact us — we can adjust the routing at additional cost.
Inter-city transport is included in the tour price. We use either domestic flights or China's famous high-speed G-trains depending on scheduling and group preference:
✦ Beijing → Xi'an: Domestic flight (~2 hrs) or G-train (~4.5 hrs — scenic and comfortable)
✦ Xi'an → Shanghai: G-train (~5.5 hrs) The G-train experience is highly recommended for the Xi'an → Shanghai leg — it passes through spectacular Chinese countryside and is a journey in itself.
The tour is led by a Safira Tours Tour Guide — present throughout the full 8 days — supported by professional English-speaking local guides in each city who are briefed on the needs of Muslim travelers.
✦ Group size: minimum 8, maximum 25 guests
✦ Small group format ensures a personal, spiritually attentive atmosphere
✦ Private coach for all ground transfers within each city
Yes. All group meals arranged by Safira Tours are served at certified halal restaurants — look for the 清真 (Qīngzhēn) sign, which designates halal establishments. Our itinerary is specifically designed around China's Hui Muslim communities, meaning we eat where the local Muslim population eats.
✦ Beijing: Niujie area restaurants — Beijing's oldest Muslim neighbourhood
✦ Xi'an: Huímín Jiē (Muslim Quarter) — arguably China's finest halal food scene
✦ Shanghai: Xiaotaoyuan area & Uyghur restaurants near the mosque Note: At tourist sites such as the Great Wall or Forbidden City, we provide halal packed meals or guide you to nearby certified options. We never ask guests to eat at non-certified venues.
Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are among the safest cities in the world for tourists in terms of personal safety and petty crime. China's Hui Muslim communities in these three cities are well-established, visible, and welcomed.
✦ The Hui Muslim minority (回族) has lived in China for 1,300+ years and is fully integrated into Chinese society
✦ Mosques in Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai are open, active, and government-registered
✦ Wearing hijab and Islamic dress is unremarkable in all three cities
✦ Political sensitivities exist regarding certain regions of China — our itinerary stays entirely within the three cities and their immediate surroundings Our tour manager provides a safety and cultural sensitivity briefing on Day 1 to ensure all guests feel confident and informed.
We select 4-star hotels that are halal-conscious in the following ways:
✦ Located within or adjacent to Muslim neighbourhoods (Niujie in Beijing, Muslim Quarter area in Xi'an)
✦ Halal breakfast options confirmed and available
✦ Qibla direction card and prayer mat provided in rooms (on request — we arrange this)
✦ Alcohol available in hotels (China norm) but not part of group dining Chinese hotels are not alcohol-free by default, but our group meals and gatherings are always alcohol-free environments.
Solo travelers are very welcome! The tour regularly includes solo guests who connect beautifully with the group. Options:
✦ Single room: Available with the single supplement (+$380–$480 depending on group size)
✦ Room-share matching: We can match same-gender solo travelers to share a twin room and avoid the supplement — subject to availability. Let us know at booking.
China operates the "Great Firewall" — Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube are blocked without a VPN. We strongly advise:
✦ Download a VPN app before you travel (e.g. NordVPN, Astrill) — VPNs cannot be downloaded once inside China
✦ Purchase a local Chinese SIM card or eSIM at the airport for data (we guide you through this on Day 1)
✦ Download WeChat for communication/payment inside China — it works without VPN
✦ Download Alipay for payments before arrival
China's currency is the Renminbi (RMB / CNY). China is largely a cashless society dominated by Alipay and WeChat Pay.
✦ Set up Alipay with an international credit card before travel — most foreigners can now use it
✦ Carry some RMB cash (¥500–1,000) for smaller vendors and markets
✦ ATMs are widely available China’s Major Banks; UnionPay cards work everywhere
✦ Visa/Mastercard accepted at most hotels and upscale restaurants Budget approximately $50–80 USD per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, and optional activities.
This is a moderate-activity tour. Expect 3–5 hours of walking/standing on most days. Key considerations:
✦ Great Wall (Mutianyu): Cable car available — no steep hiking required
✦ Terracotta Army: Flat paved walkways — accessible for most mobility levels
✦ All sites involve some walking on cobblestones or uneven surfaces — wear comfortable shoes If you have mobility concerns or health considerations, please inform us at booking so we can tailor support and suggest appropriate alternatives.
Modest dress is respectful and appropriate throughout, especially at mosques. Our packing recommendations:
✦ Sisters: Abaya, modest loose clothing, and hijab for mosque visits; modest casual wear for sightseeing
✦ Brothers: Long trousers and collared or modest tops for mosques; casual comfortable wear for touring
✦ Scarves/shawls available at mosque entrances if needed — but bring your own for comfort
✦ Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes are essential China is generally relaxed about clothing at tourist sites, but modest dress reflects the values of our community.
China's Muslim heritage produces some wonderful gifts and keepsakes:
✦ Xi'an Muslim Quarter: Silk Road dried fruits & nuts, Hui sweets, rose jam, saffron, persimmon cakes
✦ Arabic calligraphy art and Chinese Islamic ceramics (widely available in Xi'an)
✦ Pu-erh teas and jasmine teas from reputable tea houses
✦ Hand-painted Chinese porcelain and cloisonné (check for halal-appropriate motifs) ✦ Silk scarves — a beautiful and practical gift from the heart of the Silk Road
✦ Traditional Chinese calligraphy brushes and ink stones Your tour manager will guide you to trusted vendors and help you avoid tourist traps and counterfeit goods.
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