10 Day Beijing, Shanghai & Guangzhou Halal Tour

Day 1: Day 1 Arrival in Beijing

Arrive at Beijing Airport, where you will be met and greeted by your English-speaking guide before transferring to your hotel. After dinner at a halal restaurant, check in to your 5-star DoubleTree by Hilton Beijing East Third Ring Road (or similar). Meals: Dinner (halal)

Day 2: Day 2 – Beijing: Imperial Heart of China

Visit Beijing’s most iconic imperial and civic landmarks. Tiananmen Square is the world’s largest public square, surrounded by monumental government buildings and serving as a central hub of Chinese political history. Continue to the Forbidden City, the vast imperial palace complex built in 1420 and home to 24 Ming and Qing emperors. Now known as the Palace Museum, it houses more than one million artifacts. Stop for salat at a local Beijing mosque. Later, visit the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Ming and Qing emperors prayed annually for good harvests. The complex dates to 1420 and symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal restaurants)

Day 3: Day 3 – Beijing: Great Wall & Olympic Legacy

Visit the Great Wall of China at the Juyongguan section, one of the best-preserved passes of the Great Wall. Built in 1368 under the Ming Dynasty, Juyongguan served as the northern gateway defending Beijing. Stop for salat at a mosque. Continue to Olympic Park, home of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and featuring the iconic Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. Later, explore Wangfujing Street, one of Beijing’s busiest shopping streets, known for department stores, snacks, and pedestrian-friendly browsing. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 4: Day 4 – Beijing: Imperial Gardens & Old Beijing Life

Transfer to the railway station and board the bullet train, approximately five hours, from Beijing to Shanghai. In the afternoon, visit The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic 1.5-km waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. Once part of the British Concession, it features 52 Beaux-Arts and neoclassical buildings that earned it the nickname “Oriental Wall Street.” Continue to Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s busiest pedestrian shopping avenue, lined with flagship stores, department stores, and time-honoured Shanghai food shops. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 5: Day 5 – Beijing → Shanghai by Bullet Train

Transfer to the railway station and board the bullet train, approximately five hours, from Beijing to Shanghai. In the afternoon, visit The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic 1.5-km waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River. Once part of the British Concession, it features 52 Beaux-Arts and neoclassical buildings that earned it the nickname “Oriental Wall Street.” Continue to Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s busiest pedestrian shopping avenue, lined with flagship stores, department stores, and time-honoured Shanghai food shops. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 6: Day 6 – Shanghai: Old City & Islamic Heritage

Visit Yuyuan Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden built between 1559 and 1620, featuring ornate rockeries, ponds, and pavilions. Originally created as a private gift to Pan Yunduan’s parents, it is now a peaceful oasis in downtown Shanghai. Continue to Chenghuangmiao Market, the traditional commercial district surrounding the City God Temple, with more than 100 shops selling local crafts, snacks, and souvenirs. Visit Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, Shanghai’s historic mosque, originally built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1927. It served as a gathering point for Chinese Muslims departing for Hajj. Later, visit the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai’s futuristic 468-metre television tower, completed in 1994 and once the tallest structure in China. It features observation decks, a glass skywalk, and panoramic views of the Huangpu River. End the day in Xintiandi, a trendy, car-free lifestyle district blending restored shikumen lane houses with modern shopping, dining, and entertainment. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 7: Day 7 – Shanghai: Water Town & French Charm

Travel to Zhujiajiao Water Town, an ancient canal town approximately 1,700 years old, with 36 stone bridges, riverside Ming and Qing architecture, and well-preserved historic streets. It is often known as Shanghai’s “Venice.” Continue to the former French Concession, a tree-lined district with European-style villas, boutique cafés, and well-preserved architecture from the 1920s and 1930s. Explore Tianzifang, an artsy enclave in the Old French Quarter featuring hundreds of craft shops, art galleries, cafés, and boutiques in renovated traditional alleyways. Later, enjoy shopping at AP Plaza, a popular marketplace for electronics, souvenirs, and travel goods. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 8: Day 8 – Shanghai → Guangzhou by Flight

Fly to Guangzhou. Visit Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou’s largest urban park, featuring lakes, pavilions, and the historic Five-Ram Sculpture, a symbol of the city. Continue to the Tomb of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas, the shrine of the Islamic sage who is said to have brought Islam to China during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. Revered as the Shrine of the Islamic Sage, it has been a pilgrimage site for more than 1,000 years. In the evening, enjoy a Pearl River cruise, showcasing Guangzhou’s colourful neon-lit bridges, Canton Tower, and riverside skyscrapers. Cruises typically run from White Goose Pool to Guangzhou Bridge. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 9: Day 9 – Guangzhou: Canton Culture & Shopping

Visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a Qing Dynasty masterpiece built between 1888 and 1894 and funded by 72 Chen family counties. Originally an academic temple for imperial examination students, it is now a folk art museum known for its intricate wood and carved stonework. Continue to Huacheng Square, Guangzhou’s largest city square, covering 56 hectares in Zhujiang New Town and featuring fountains, a man-made lake, and modern city views. It is often called the “new living room of the city.” Stop for photos at Canton Tower, a 600-metre observation tower with the world’s highest horizontal Ferris wheel. It is best admired from the outside for photographs. Later, explore Shangxiajiu Shopping Street, a historic pedestrian area known for traditional Lingnan architecture, local snacks, clothing, and regional goods. Meals: Breakfast (hotel), lunch and dinner (halal)

Day 10: Day 10 – Depart Guangzhou

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, time permitting, before transferring to Guangzhou Airport for your departure flight. Meals: Breakfast, Time Permitting