30 JUNE    Arr. Beijing. Meet & transfer to check in to the hotel for rest. Beijing is fast becoming a popular and fashionable tourist destination. And for good reason too. Beijing is not only the modern political, cultural and educational center of China , but holds the biggest collection of ancient sites and relics in the nation. Beijing has been at the center of China and the heart and soul of politics and society for over 5000 years. If the pace of change in the city today is anything to judge by, Beijing is determined to stay at the forefront of Chinese civilization. Check in to the hotel for rest. Enjoy the Acrobatic Show after dinner.  D

 01 JULY    BEIJING    After breakfast,. We will be sightseeing at Tian’anmen Square the very heart of of Beijing , sits Tian’anmen Square , the largest urban square in the world. This vast space, measuring 40 hectares, has a historical significance to rival its size. Enlarged in the 1960s, Tian’anmen Square now measures 880 meters from north to south, 500 meters from east to west and can accommodate up to one million people. Tian’anmen Square is therefore, one of Beijing ’s most modern Sites and largely Mao’s creation. Then we walk to the Forbidden City (also known as the Imperial Palace (Gugong) and the Palace Museum is the largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings in China . This site is an image of China relayed throughout the world on national days and at public events. The Forbidden City was the residence of the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which was built in 1406 and 24 emperors lived here before. It covers 72 hectares with with more than 9,000 rooms. After lunch, we will proceed to visit NiuJie Mosque, located in the Muslim district . It is one of the oldest mosques in Beijing built in 996AD.Its façade looks like a Chinese Temple but the moment you step into the mosque are you will marvel at the Quranic inscriptions which line the malls of the Prayer Hall. Afternoon, we visit a Chinese Reflexology Centre whether you will get a free foot massage and a diagnosis by the Centre’s Traditional Chinese Medical doctors. Halal Peking Roast Duck dinner.  BLD

02 JULY   BEIJING    Today is our highlights tour to the Great Wall, totaling more than 12,000 kilometers, is Arguably the most famous image of China throughout the world. It is the only man made object visible from the moon, and as one of the Eight Wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China lives up to Its reputation. The Great Wall is a symbol of Chinese traditional culture and the pride of the Chinese nation. It’s worth taking a Hike and reflecting on this incredible feat of mankind. We will visit the Cloisonne Factory after lunch.   BLD

 03 JULY   BEIJING / XI’AN (night train)    Today we will visit the Summer Palace --- a magnificent imperial garden located 12 km west of Beijing City. This is the largest ancient preserved garden in China and a former summer retreat for Emperors! Occupying an area of 290 acres, the Summer Palace is as vast as it is spectacular. The site includes more than 100 ancient style pavilions, mansions, towers, halls, temples, bridges and enormous clear water – the manmade Kunming Lake . The garden was built in 1755 to celebrate the Empress’s birthday. From then on, every year from February to October, the royal family spent the summertime here where could escape from the heat. Then visit the Fresh Water Pearl Factory. Prayer at the Hidian Mosque. Take night train to Xian.  Stay overnight on the train.    BLD

04 JULY   XI’AN   ARR. XI’AN AM. Xi’an the ancient capital of China and the seat of 11 dynasties from 11th. century BC to 10th. Century .AD.  It is also one of the most fascinating historical cities in the world. Xian is the beginning of the SILK ROAD. Here the Arab merchants came to buy Chinese Silk and brought them back to Europe . Breakfast, then check into hotel for rest and fresh if the rooms are available at that time. Otherwise, sightseeing at the Bell and Drum Tower Square . After lunch, Visit the Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque. The Great Mosque is the most sizable of its kind in Xi'an ,and also one of the oldest and best-preserved mosques in China . The Stone Tablet on the Building of Mosque says that it was built in Tang Dynasty. However, judging from its architectural style, it was possibly built in Ming Dynasty .Its four courtyards cover an area of more than 12,000square meters, with building area of 4,000 square meters .The still intact wooden memorial arch in front yard was built at the turn of the 17 th century. With glazed tiles, spectacular corners, and upturned eaves ,it stands about 9 meters high ,and has a history of about 360 years. The Great Mosque is located in Huajue Lane , it is the major spot for the religious activities of over 60,000 Moslems in Xi'an .It is also an important historical monument in Shaanxi Province . Unlike Arabian mosques with splendid domes, skyward minarets and dazzling patterns this mosque possesses much Chinese tradition in both design and artistic outlook. It assumes the striking features of Chinese pavilions ,with painted beams and engraved ridgepoles. Free shopping at the nearby Muslim market. BLD

05 JULY    XI’AN   Morning Visit the Terracotta warriors 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. On the way back to downtown, visit the Madrsah.  BLD

06 JULY    XI’AN / LANZHOU (FLIGHT)   Free at own leisure in the morning. Take the afternoon flight to Lanzhou , capital of Gansu . The city covers about 13086sq.km with a population of 2.8 million.Lanzhou was an important strategic town on the ancient Silk Road . After lunch, visit the Xiguan Mosque of Lanzhou and prayer there also. Visit the Yellow River Park and Water Wheels. BLD

07 JULY   LANGZHOU / LINXIA (COACH)    We will drive for three hours to famous town of Linxia, known as the Mecca of China in the early morning. Visit a Muslim village where most of the children cannot afford the fees to go to school. See how Muslims live in poverty and simplicity. Visit a madrasah where Islamic education is taught. See the village mosque where farmers pray and manage to keep their faith alive throughout the centuries. Almost 90% of the population are Muslims. Some of the ancient mosques of China can be found here. Visit a “monastery-like” mosque where male Muslims live a life of piety and stay unmarried. Here you can hear the fateha recited the”qadim” way (quaint, old Chinese-style) Pious old men pray to the heavens with incense sticks at  interim hours throughout the day. At the backyard is a large cemetery colourfully decorated with cloth of different hues covering the tombstones.The façade of most mosques look like temples. It is blend of Chinese and Islamic culture. An interesting town to observe how Muslims have integrated Chinese and Islamic culture. The most famous mosque here is the Nangguan Mosque covering an area of 2180sq.km. with its unique blend of Arabic and Chinese architecture. BLD

08 JULY   LINXIA/ LANGZHOU   Morning activities in Linxia. Drive back to Lanzhou in the afternoon. BLD

09 JULY    LANZHOU / SHANGHAI    Take the flight to Shanghai in the morning. Dinner then check into hotel for rest.  BLD

10 JULY    SHANGHAI    Throughout the past century, Shanghai has had numerous name tags attached to it; the “ Paris of the Orient” and the “Pearl of China”. Images of Shanghai more than any other Chinese city are bountiful in the west. A visit here therefore, is naturally tainted to some extent, with a preconception of how the city will be. After breakfast, visit the Old City of Shanghai ---Chenghuangmiao, Yuyuan Garden . After lunch, we will visit Xiaotaoyuan Masjid, formerly named Islamic Western Masjid or Shanghai Western City Masjid, is a famous Islamic Msasjid in Shanghai as well as one of major buildings under municipal preservation. Following is the symbol of old and new Shanghai , the Bund is Shanghai ’s most famous landmark.  BLD

11 JULY   SHANGHAI  Whole day shopping in Shanghai at Nanjing Road , Xiangyang Market and etc.  BLD

12 JULY   SHANGHAI TO DEPART / Flight back to USA Transfer to the airport for flight back to sweet home. B.