Shanghai & Yunnan: China’s Hidden Heart

Your adventure begins as you touch down in Shanghai, one of Asia’s most electrifying cities. After a warm welcome at the airport, you’ll be whisked to your hotel on the iconic Bund – the perfect base to rest, refresh, and prepare for the journey ahead. Tonight, step outside to catch your first glimpse of the glittering skyline reflected on the Huangpu River.

• This morning, slow down and soak in the charm of the Former French Concession, where tree-lined boulevards and art deco villas whisper stories of a bygone era.
• Join locals practising tai chi in Fuxing Park before visiting Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, the largest mosque in Shanghai and a quiet sanctuary amid the city’s bustle.
• In the afternoon, wander the classical courtyards of Yu Garden and lose yourself in the surrounding bazaar.
• As evening falls, stroll along the Bund and down Nanjing Road, where neon lights and skyscrapers reveal Shanghai’s modern soul.

• Begin your day at the Shanghai Museum, home to one of China’s finest collections of ancient art, bronzes, and calligraphy.
• Enjoy a hearty halal Xinjiang lunch at Yershari before ascending the Shanghai Tower, China’s tallest building – for jaw-dropping views across the megacity.
• Then it’s time to fly south to Lijiang, where a different world awaits. Arrive into the UNESCO-listed old town of Dayan, its cobblestone lanes glowing under red lanterns and the distant silhouette of snow mountains watching over you.

• Today, nature takes centre stage. Drive into the highlands to Ganhaizi Meadow, an alpine grassland sitting over 3,000 metres high, where the mighty Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rises before you like something from a dream.
• Be swept away by Impression Lijiang, a breathtaking open-air performance staged against the mountain itself, with hundreds of performers bringing the traditions of Yunnan’s ethnic peoples to life.
• Return to Lijiang to visit the tranquil Black Dragon Pool, where the snow-capped peak mirrors perfectly in the still water, one of the most photographed scenes in all of China. If time allows, visit a local mosque to connect with Lijiang’s Muslim community.

• Say goodbye to Lijiang this morning and travel south to Dali, a historic kingdom tucked between the towering Cang Mountains and the shimmering Erhai Lake.
• This afternoon, ride the cable car up Cang Mountain and breathe in the crisp highland air as the vast blue waters of Erhai unfold beneath you. It’s a view that has inspired poets, monks, and wanderers for centuries.

• Begin in Xizhou, a postcard-perfect town where the morning market buzzes with colour, scent, and chatter. Step inside a traditional Bai courtyard home, adorned with intricate woodcarvings, painted murals, and marble inlays – a living showcase of centuries-old craftsmanship.
• Watch artisans at work in a tie-dye workshop, where fabric is transformed into stunning indigo patterns. Later, make your way to Caicun Village on the shores of Erhai Lake, a peaceful wetland park where you can stroll, cycle, or simply sit and watch the world drift by. Visit Dali Ancient Town and its historic mosque, then unwind with a coffee on the famed Foreigner Street.
• Today you’ll also share in a truly special experience: A private cooking class with a local Muslim auntie, who will open her kitchen and her heart, teaching you to prepare traditional Yunnan halal dishes the way her family has for generations.

• Board a sleek bullet train this morning and glide through the Yunnan countryside to Kunming, the “City of Eternal Spring.”
• From here, journey to the extraordinary Stone Forest — a UNESCO Global Geopark where towering limestone pillars rise from the earth like a petrified army, carved by 270 million years of wind and water. Wander the pathways between these natural sculptures and marvel at one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth.
• Back to Kunming for Salaat at one of the largest mosques in the region, followed by free time for last minute shopping.

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye. You’ll be transferred to the airport with a heart full of memories, a camera full of stunning scenery, and perhaps a few new recipes tucked away to recreate back home. Until next time, ma’a salama.