Private Muslim Tour to Temple of Heaven & Shopping Markets

The Temple of Heaven was completed in 1420. The area that it occupies is almost square, the two southern corners being right-angled and those on the north rounded. This symbolizes the ancient Chinese belief that heaven is round and the earth square. The central building is a large rectangular sacrificial hall, where sacrifices were offered to heaven, with the Fasting Palace to the south-west. Pines were planted in the precinct of the Temple to emphasize the relationship between humankind and nature. The siting, planning, and architectural design of the Temple Heaven, and also the sacrificial ceremony and the associate music and dance, are based on the yin-yan and five-element theory of the ancient Book of Changes. This explains the understanding of the ancient Chinese people of heaven and of the relationship between human beings and heaven, as well as their wish to go to heaven.

Niujie Mosque is located in the Niujie area of Beijing's Xicheng District, the spiritual centre for the 10,000 Muslims living in the vicinity and it is the biggest and oldest one in Beijing. It was within the Xuanwu District before it merged into Xicheng in 2010. Niujie in Xicheng District, where the mosque is located, is the largest area inhabited by Muslims in Beijing.

The Niujie Mosque covers an area of approximately 10,000 square meters. The mosque reflects a mixture of Islamic and Han Chinese cultural and architectural influences. From the outside, its architecture shows traditional Chinese influence and the inside has blend of Islamic calligraphy and Chinese design. The main prayer hall is 600 square meters in area, and can hold more than 1,000 worshipers. The mosque, built out of timber, is home to some important cultural relics and tablets such as the upright tablet of an emperor's decree proclaimed in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty.

Silk Market Beijing, aka Silk Street, Xiushui Street or Xiushui Market, is a prosperous shopping market in the city, located at No. 8 East Xiushui Street, Chaoyang District. Used to be an outdoor market, it now becomes a shopping mall, which accommodates over 1,000 retailers and is regarded as one of the symbols of Beijing together with the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and roast duck. Many foreign visitors, including some celebrities, enjoy Silk Market Beijing for shopping or having their clothes tailor-made. The former president of the US, George Bush, once went there with his daughter to buy some silk robes, and the wife of Jacques Rogge (8th President of the International Olympic Committee) also went there to buy traditional Chinese dough figurines.

Pear Market address is No. 9 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District of Beijing, which is opposite to Tiantan Park. Also known as Hongqiao Market, it is a market famous for dealing with pearls around the world. More than 1,000,000 visitors come to Pearl Market Beijing to buy pearls yearly. Even the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been to Pearl Market three times as she was very impressed with the beautiful pearls. Apart from pearls, the market also offers seafood, digital products and silk.