Seeing China the Muslim way
By NORLIN WAN MUSACHINA has been an exciting destination for visitors since the days of Marco Polo but, for Muslims, travelling around can be a bit of a bother. There is much to see but, come meal time, there are few choices available, and there is always doubt as to whether the food served is halal. Some of the tourist attractions on the itinerary may also be inappropriate.
Now, Muslims can take in the sights, and the food, all with total peace of mind. Since October last year, Reliance has been offering packages to Beijing and Shanghai, specially tailored for Muslims.
The response had been positive, said Reliance Shipping & Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd marketing director Tan Kai Seng, adding that they recently introduced a similar package with Air China (CA) to meet growing demand.
‘‘China Air wanted to instil confidence among Muslims that it is capable of providing in-flight services that cater to their needs,’’ he said.
Providing halal food on board CA flights out of KLIA was not a problem since all flights out of KLIA get their food supply from Malaysia Airlines (MAS) catering. The challenge was in catering for the flight back from Beijing.
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HALAL GUARANTEE...Muslims can enjoy piping hot dishes such as shabu shabu, which is similar to steamboat. |
The five-day Reliance-Air China Muslim package to Beijing includes a four-night stay at a four-star hotel, Downtown Holiday Inn, return air tickets, three meals a day and sightseeing.
Breakfast is provided by the hotel, which serves halal food upon request. The breakfast menu includes scrambled or hard boiled eggs, fried noodles or fried rice, breads and rolls, cereals, fruits, tea, coffee and fruit juices.
Food served during lunch and dinner can be a hit or miss affair. A word of caution – the food may be halal but tends to be too salty and too oily at some restaurants. Even the soy sauce tends to be a bit too salty. So, be warned.
To be on the safe side, ask the tour guide to inform the kitchen if you have certain preferences. Those who cannot go without spicy food for even a couple of days should bring along some chilli sauce.
In general, the food should not cause any worries. There shouldn't be any doubts, as Reliance makes sure that for this package, the guests are taken only to Muslim restaurants.
Most restaurants served, meat, lamb, and chicken. Seafood is very rare and expensive in Beijing. Most dishes are either deep-fried or stir fried, and most restaurants serve at least six dishes at a meal. Usually, there are more.
Reliance tour manager David Yin said the Muslim packages are less hectic than the others. ‘‘This is because the tour does not include trips to the temples.”
However, he added, ‘‘As most of our Muslim clients enjoy shopping, we allocate more time for them to do so.''
Shopaholics can look forward to shopping at places like the Lido Market, Silk Street and Ya Sui market. Clothes, DVDs, VCDs, shoes, tablecloths, cushion covers, quilt; it really is a shopping haven.
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OFF THE BEATEN PATH: Muslims who go for the special package get to visit the Niu Jie mosque in Beijing, which is not on the normal tourist map. |
There are, however, places where the prices are fixed. These are normally the government-run places like some of the jade, silk and pearl factories. Shopping at these places comes with a guarantee that the items are original.
Other exciting places include the must-see Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, the Underground City and the Summer Palace. This part of the trip involves a lot of walking which means it is essential to bring along a comfortable pair of shoes.
Another part of the package that makes it different from other tours is a visit to Ma Tian and Niu Jie mosques, as well as a chance to meet the Muslim community there.
Air China now operates three direct flights a week from KLIA to Beijing but, beginning March 29, the airline will increase the frequency to four flights a week.
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