Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim Friendly Sichuan: Mianyang Halal Food, Jiangyou Mosque and Li Bai Hometown Travel is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: This trip to Mianyang started because I have clients there. A while ago, they found me online to set up insurance for their family. My company happened to schedule me for training in Chongqing, and since it only takes two hours. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Mianyang Travel, Jiangyou Mosque, Halal Food.

This trip to Mianyang started because I have clients there. A while ago, they found me online to set up insurance for their family. My company happened to schedule me for training in Chongqing, and since it only takes two hours by high-speed train from Chongqing to Mianyang, I decided to take advantage of the work trip to visit.

It was past six in the evening when I arrived in Mianyang. Brother Mu and his family invited me to Yitianyuan, a very famous local halal restaurant, to welcome me.



Yitianyuan has been operating in Huagai Town for nearly twenty years and is considered a local institution. Huagai beef is one of the area's culinary calling cards. I have mentioned before that I love Sichuan-style stir-fries. Since there are no authentic halal Sichuan restaurants in Beijing, I really cherish the chance to eat them here in the land of Shu.

When we arrived at Yitianyuan, the owner, Mr. Ma, and his family had already arranged the menu. Every dish was a specialty of the chef and full of local character. Brother Mu has known the owner's family for years, so we sat around the table and listened to Mr. Ma share stories about his time running the restaurant.



Interestingly, Yitianyuan occasionally hosts Hui Muslims from Northwest China. Some friends (dost) who are unfamiliar with the level of religious practice among Sichuan Hui Muslims sometimes doubt if the ingredients are truly halal. In fact, Mr. Ma and his family are devout Muslims. They raise their own cattle and hire an imam to perform the slaughter, ensuring everything is halal. We all laughed when we heard this. The religious dedication of Sichuan Hui Muslims is often severely underestimated by outsiders, yet they make up a significant portion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage groups to Mecca.



The landlady mentioned that the painting of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca hanging on the wall was bought over ten years ago during a trip to Niujie in Beijing. It has been on that wall since the restaurant opened. During the Wenchuan earthquake, other walls in the shop cracked and items fell everywhere, but the wall with the painting remained completely undamaged.



Sichuan-style small barbecue, this is grilled fish.



Fragrant braised beef shank (xianglu jianzi niurou).

Huagai is a place name. The beef here is very famous in the Mianyang area. Locals know to go to Huagai Town to buy beef from Hui Muslims. People often wonder why beef and lamb from Hui sources are of such high quality. It is not because of some secret recipe, but because Hui Muslims insist on slaughtering live animals. They never use meat from animals that died of illness or other non-slaughter causes. They also ensure the blood is drained, as residual blood affects the quality of the meat.



Cold tossed beef (liangban niurou).



Tofu pudding beef (douhua niurou).



Boiled fish (shuizhu yu).

Boiled fish is a classic Sichuan dish. The key is to use fresh, live fish paired with fragrant and spicy Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers. I could eat a whole basin of this alone. After finishing the fish, there are crunchy bean sprouts underneath. Although many halal restaurants in Beijing serve boiled fish, it is hard to replicate the authentic Sichuan flavor.



Sticky rice dumplings (zongzi).

I happened to be in Mianyang during the Dragon Boat Festival and was lucky enough to eat local zongzi. They are similar to sticky rice cakes (ciba), sprinkled with brown sugar powder and quite sweet.



Mute rabbit (yaba tu).

Why is this dish called mute rabbit? It is because the dish is incredibly spicy and numbing, making people so hot they cannot speak, hence the name. Of course, becoming mute is an exaggeration; it is not actually that spicy, though it was still quite hot for me. A friend from Mianyang sitting next to me said he did not feel the heat at all.

Besides beef, rabbit meat prepared by Hui Muslims is a major local specialty in Sichuan. Some Hui Muslims in other provinces do not eat rabbit, believing it is not halal because rabbits do not ruminate. I have already clarified this in my article about which foods are not halal according to scripture. The concept of rumination is not part of Islamic teaching, but rather comes from the Old Testament of Judaism.



Young ginger braised duck (zijiang shaoya).

Young ginger (zijiang) usually refers to fresh ginger. This is a famous Sichuan dish. The preparation is complex and requires high culinary skill, especially in selecting local ginger and duck, and marinating the duck beforehand to ensure the flavor penetrates the meat.



Dongpo Mian-style pork trotter (Dongpo mianti).

The traditional way to make Dongpo cotton trotters (dongpo mianti) uses pork, but Hui Muslims have improved it by using beef trotters. You must steam the beef trotters first to make them soft and tender. After steaming, you pour sauce over them. They are full of collagen and melt in your mouth.



Sour soup beef tripe (suantang niudu)

I have eaten sour soup beef tripe at restaurants in Beijing, but this is my first time having authentic sour soup beef tripe in Sichuan. The taste is truly different. Sichuan food really tastes best when made locally in Sichuan. Some large halal restaurants in Beijing serve Sichuan dishes, but I always feel that Sichuan cuisine is very home-style. You can find Sichuan restaurants wherever there are Chinese people, so it is best to eat Sichuan food at small, home-style shops for the best flavor.



The next day, we arrived at the mosque in downtown Mianyang. The Mianyang mosque is currently under renovation, so all the shops on the ground floor are closed until the work is finished. I saw many local specialty shops there.









Luckily, there is still a breakfast shop run by local Hui Muslims. Brother Mu strongly suggested I try the Mianyang specialty breakfast, rice noodles (mifen).



Beef bun (niurou bao)



Mianyang rice noodles (mianyang mifen)

Mianyang rice noodles are unique in the Sichuan region. The noodles are thin, and the soup is rich in oil and salt with a strong flavor. Mianyang locals love them for breakfast. This small shop was packed with diners in the morning, and many customers even squeezed into the hallway behind the shop to eat. It felt very lively.



In 2001, an imam was murdered at the Mianyang mosque. The killer was a migrant worker who was unhappy with the imam's work. He killed the imam while he was sleeping, fled to Xinjiang, and was later arrested by the police. He was executed in 2004.

Similar incidents have happened more than once in China. The profession of imam is actually a vulnerable group in many parts of our country. They do not have high incomes and are rarely valued, yet they are indispensable mentors in our daily lives. Especially when a loved one passes away, imagine how a family would give them a dignified burial without the help of an imam.



The renovation of the mosque is not finished yet. I hope it is completed soon so the snack shops downstairs can reopen. I want to come back and taste the food next time.



After breakfast, we drove 50 minutes to Jiangyou City, the hometown of Li Bai. Jiangyou is under the jurisdiction of Mianyang. What attracts me here is not the so-called hometown of Li Bai, because Li Bai has many hometowns. What attracts me most is the mosque located on Zhongba Street in Jiangyou.





Taibai Hall (taibai tang)



Du Fu Hall (dufu tang)



The Li Bai Memorial Hall is a park built in the style of the Tang Dynasty. It is free to visit, and nearby residents come here to cool off in the summer. It is only one kilometer away from the Jiangyou Zhongba Mosque.



Jiangyou Mosque is the only mosque in Jiangyou. It is located in the area where Hui Muslims are concentrated near the North Gate of Zhongba Town, Jiangyou. The mosque was first built in the second year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1797 AD).



It is Jumuah today, and hundreds of people have gathered in the mosque. Most of them are local Hui Muslims. There are not many outsiders here, and you can tell the faith is strong by the number of people attending Jumuah.



The imam spoke in a local dialect, so I could not understand much, but I am used to it. Outside of North China and the Northeast, there are not many dialects I can understand.





Brother Mu's hometown is Jiangyou. After the Jumuah prayer, I saw his father and relatives there, which shows he comes from a family with a long tradition of faith and good family education.



The main building of the mosque is an old structure and has been designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.





The plaque reading 'True Spirit Lively' (zhenji huopo) was inscribed by Xia Yuxiu, a military commander from Songpan, Sichuan. The couplet was inscribed by Shao Bingwen of the Songpan Prefecture.



In the summer of 1935, the Red Fourth Front Army passed through Jiangyou during the Long March. Imam Xiao Fuzhen joined the Red Army and later died heroically in battle against enemy forces by the Suomo River in Jinchuan. In the summer of 1945, a massive flood hit Jiangyou. People used boats to ferry others on Zhongba Street. Because the mosque was on higher ground, the flood did not enter the main hall, and hundreds of Hui and Han compatriots took refuge in the mosque.



The prayer hall and the announcement hall were built during the Guangxu reign. The plaques inside, inscribed with phrases like 'Zhenji Huopo,' 'Guangda Jingwei,' 'Hunlun Haohan,' 'Erwu Zhi Jing,' and 'Qingzhen Yazheng,' are all artifacts from the Guangxu period.



Mianyang Science and Technology Museum

After leaving the Jiangyou mosque, we returned to Mianyang city. Brother Mu took me to the Mianyang Science and Technology Museum. This place is quite mysterious and few people outside know about it. Mianyang is China's only science and technology city and serves as a research base for nuclear weapons. The Mianyang Science and Technology Museum is a nuclear weapons museum that is not open to foreign nationals. Visitors cannot record audio or video, and mobile phones must be handed over. Inside, there are introductions to nuclear weapons research and exhibits of retired nuclear weapons, which is very impressive. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This mosque travel guide follows a halal trip east of Beijing through Yanjiao and Dachang, covering traditional Hui Muslim mosques, local halal food, village communities, and practical travel details.

When we mention Jingdong, we usually mean the area east of Beijing, typically referring to Langfang in Hebei. This is the birthplace of meat pie (roubing). Yanjiao and Dachang both belong to Langfang, about 50 kilometers east of Beijing's city center by car. Dachang is an autonomous county for Hui Muslims, where the Hui Muslim population makes up 20 percent, or about 20,000 people.

To get to Dachang from Beijing, you pass through Yanjiao first. Yanjiao is a small town bordering Dachang and is the most densely populated area in Langfang. Most people here work in Beijing, and nearly half the cars on the street have Beijing license plates. Yanjiao follows the same traffic restriction policies as Beijing, so if your car is restricted in Beijing, it is also restricted in Yanjiao. Friends (dosti), please take note if you are driving.

This article is a bit long. We will introduce the mosque first, then the halal restaurants.

Yanjiao

Starting from Beijing, you first reach Yanjiao Town. Currently, Yanjiao has only one mosque, located on Qingyuan Street in Sanjie Village. The original mosque was built in the Qing Dynasty but was destroyed.

Yanjiao Mosque



Yanjiao Mosque

The newly built mosque is very small and can hold 20 to 30 people for Jumu'ah. Next to the mosque are a few scattered halal restaurants with small storefronts selling traditional snacks. Although Yanjiao is crowded, there are few Hui Muslims. Aside from noodle shops, halal restaurants with local specialties are rare in the town.











However, I did find a few delicious places in Yanjiao, such as the halal light meal shop below.

Yanjiao Halal Food

Yunshang Light Meal



Beijing does not have halal light meal shops yet. This shop is run by Hui Muslims from Zhengzhou and is located in the commercial area at the bottom of the Shangshangcheng Phase 3 building on Yanshun Road. It has been open for over three years and business is stable. Light meals are low-calorie, simply cooked, and nutritionally balanced foods suitable for people who are dieting or exercising. This shop does not serve alcohol.





Chicken steak rice, buckwheat noodles, and black pepper beef sets are all around 20 yuan each, and you can add sauces yourself.



The drinks in the shop are also homemade soy milk and fruit tea, and you can taste the real ingredients with one sip.

Yezi Barbecue



Yezi Barbecue is a halal Qiqihar-style restaurant. It is quite popular in Yanjiao. Many people from Northeast China live in Yanjiao, but this is the only halal Northeast-style barbecue place.



People from Qiqihar are said to start eating barbecue from the day they are born and keep eating it until they are old.



After trying it, I found the meat quality and dipping sauces here are excellent. The steak and beef cubes are very tender. You come to a Qiqihar barbecue shop to eat beef, as grilled beef is the core of the meal.



Of course, a busy restaurant is not just about good barbecue; the seafood, fried rice, and cold noodles are also worth recommending.



Yanjiao is separated from Tongzhou, Beijing, only by the Chaobai River, but the prices are much cheaper. A hearty barbecue feast like this costs less than 100 yuan per person.







Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings (shaomai) / Hohhot Steamed Dumplings (shaomai)



These are two shops opened by people from Inner Mongolia. The Hohhot steamed dumplings here basically recreate the authentic Inner Mongolian taste, especially the lamb offal soup (yangza), which feels no different from what I have eaten in Inner Mongolia. Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings is the first shop, and Hohhot Steamed Dumplings is the second. I have been to both, but I think Mengxiang is better. The owner says the ingredients and seasonings are the same, so if you think the taste is different, it might be due to the preparation technique.







Inner Mongolian lamb offal soup is a clear broth with very generous portions. A bowl is packed with offal, and it feels like there is more meat than soup. It makes you feel warm all over after eating.



Authentic Hohhot steamed dumplings can be eaten in two ways: steamed or pan-fried. I love both, but pan-fried dumplings are not easy to find. Locals seem to prefer the pan-fried ones, and I recommend trying both.





Oat noodles (youmian) are also a specialty of Inner Mongolia. They are made from naked oats. The noodles are quite sticky, so you pick them up and mix them with sauce while eating.

These are the halal elements I have seen in Yanjiao so far, but there is much more to eat and explore in Dachang. After all, it is a Hui Muslim county, and it is a 15-kilometer drive from Yanjiao to Dachang.



Records show there are 16 mosques in Dachang, but a new one was built in Xiadian Village, so there are actually 17. I have visited all of them except for the North Wu Women's Mosque.

Dachang

1. Xiadian Mosque



Xiadian Mosque was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995. Xiadian Village is a village where Hui Muslims and Han people live together.









2. Xiadian Village Mosque



The imam of Xiadian told us about the hardships he faced while preaching in Xiadian. Fortunately, after years of effort, he managed to secure two mosques for Xiadian.







3. Xiaochang Mosque



Xiaochang Village Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty by Chang Yuchun and Hu Dahai under imperial order. It was rebuilt in 2006.



The imam at Xiaochang Village is from Yunnan. He is young but is said to be a very talented preacher. He has helped many villagers who were drifting away from their faith become firm in their beliefs, and he is highly respected by everyone in the area.









4. Dachang Mosque



Dachang Mosque was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. It did not look like this when I visited in 2017. It was recently renovated, and the dome was removed. Now, all 17 mosques in Dachang are built in a traditional style.







Dachang Mosque before 2017



Dachang Mosque before 2017

5. Dongchang Mosque



Dongchang Mosque in Dongchang Village was first built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. This "Dongchang" is not the same "Dongchang" run by the eunuchs in history.



The mosque is currently undergoing repairs. I met the resident imam, who is from Cangzhou.





6. Nanwangzhuang Mosque



Nanwangzhuang Mosque was first built during the Jianwen period of the Ming Dynasty by the Wang brothers, who followed the Prince of Yan on his northern military campaign. It was rebuilt in 2009.











7. Yangxinzhuang Mosque



Yangxinzhuang Mosque was first built in the second year of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and reopened in 1983.







8. Weizizhuang Mosque



The mosque in Weizizhuang Village was first built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1997.









9. Chenxinzhuang Mosque



Chenxinzhuang Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 2004 and is currently undergoing repairs again.









10. Manxingying Mosque



Manxingying Mosque was first built in 1927 and rebuilt in 1992.





11. Liangzhuang Village Mosque



Liangzhuang Village Mosque was first built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 2002.







12. Huogezhuang Mosque



Huogezhuang Mosque was first built in the early years of the Republic of China. It was destroyed in the Tangshan earthquake and rebuilt in 1992.











13. Luzhuang Mosque



Luzhuang Mosque was first built during the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1999.









14. Damazhuang Mosque



Damazhuang Mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995.







15. Nantitou Mosque



Nantitou Mosque was first built in 1403, funded by the Yang family of Muslims. It is currently undergoing renovations, so the main prayer hall is closed and namaz has been moved to the side hall.









16. Beiwu Mosque



Beiwu Mosque was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, as proven by the stone inscriptions inside. It covers 6,000 square meters. Beiwu is a village for Hui Muslims. Several imams at the Niujie Mosque came from Beiwu, so the tone of their chanting here is passed down from the same tradition as Niujie.



















The Beiwu women's mosque is right next to the men's main hall.



Beiwu Women's Mosque

Dachang Halal Food

Zhenwei Grilled Fish Bar



Zhenwei Grilled Fish is at the entrance of Nansitou Village. I went for lunch and they grill live fish to order, so it is very fresh.



You can choose two flavors for the grilled fish: spicy or scallion-scented. The Qingjiang fish costs 48 yuan per jin. Besides the fish, their freshly baked scallion pancakes (cong huabing) are also delicious.



TR Pizza Master



I have tried three pizza shops in Dachang County and think Pizza Master is the best. The shop is on the west side of Rongchang South Street, near the Dachang Mosque.







I personally tested the chicken cutlet rice and it is very tasty and cheap. We tried two pizza flavors, and I liked the Margherita beef sausage pizza better.



Margherita beef sausage pizza



Durian pizza

Meizhoujia Pizza



Meizhoujia Pizza is in the ground-floor shops of the Yongxiangyuan residential area on Yongan Road. Their pizza crust is thicker and has more toppings than Pizza Master, but the flavor is stronger and saltier.



Three-topping pizza



Chicken cutlet rice

Guozhiyi Italian Handmade Pizza



Guozhiyi Pizza is not far from Pizza Master, located on Yanling Road. This shop has the lowest prices, with a fruit pizza costing only 9.9 yuan.







Super Supreme Pizza

The pizza ingredient list specifically notes the use of Yuehua beef sausage. Yuehua is a well-known Hui Muslim enterprise in Dachang, and it is said the owner is very devout.



Halal Dicos

There is a halal Dicos near the street where Pizza Master is located. I ordered takeout, and I can confirm it tastes just as good as the Dicos in Xining.

Yuehuachun Barbecue City



Yuehuachun and Yuehua are different brands. A young owner started Yuehuachun, and it is the most popular barbecue brand in Dachang. If you come to Dachang for barbecue, Yuehuachun is the top choice.



Marbled beef steak (xuehua niupai)

The beef quality at Yuehuachun is truly good, and the barbecue dipping sauce is fragrant. There is a reason why business is so good.



Cold noodles (lengmian)

Cold noodles are also a signature dish at Yuehuachun. People in Dachang love cold noodles, and they even eat them for breakfast, though they use hot soup for the breakfast version.



Blooming steamed bun (kaihuamo)

For staples, I also recommend the stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan) and the blooming steamed bun. The blooming steamed bun is soft and fluffy, with a texture like bread. It is rare to find a restaurant that makes both its signature dishes and snacks taste so delicious.



Stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan)

Nanyuan Beijiao Chongqing Hot Pot



Dachang netizens recommended this place to me. When I said I wanted to eat something special, they suggested Chongqing hot pot.



This restaurant is also very popular in Dachang, and you need to wait for a table during meal times.



I chose a two-person set meal called the "Mercedes-Benz Pot" (benchi guo) for 135 yuan, and the taste was good.



This restaurant offers great value for money. It still cannot compare to the Huiwei Chuanyu hot pot I had in Chongqing, but since you cannot quench your thirst with water from afar, coming to Dachang for halal Chongqing hot pot is a good local option.



Tongxingshun Snack Shop



To try a traditional Dachang breakfast, I specifically met up with a Dachang friend (dost) and came to this old shop just to eat a bowl of hot cold noodles.



The cold noodles are topped with hot soup, and the noodles are quite chewy. Pair them with two sesame flatbreads (shaobing); the lighter-colored one has a meat filling. This is the standard breakfast for a person from Dachang.



Dehaozhai Snacks



You have to eat Jingdong meat pie (Jingdong roubing) when you visit Jingdong, but how do you choose from so many small shops? I heard the viral shop Damaqi charges 100 yuan per jin for their meat pie. My friend told me that place is just a trap for Beijingers, so I was not going to walk right into it.



We went to this old shop called Dehaozhai that locals visit often. People say it has been around for over ten years.



We ordered two pies, one beef and green onion and one chive and egg. The meat pies cost 15 yuan each. They had thin crusts and plenty of filling. The taste was just right and it was a great value.



My trip to Dachang helped me meet several devout friends (dosti). They invited me to their home for dinner. The host prepared a wonderful meal for us. A home-cooked meal like this means more than spending money at a restaurant. After dinner, we talked about the current state of the faith in Dachang. The locals are generally not very optimistic, but I am not pessimistic. Dachang is a lot like Niujie. If some people abandon their faith (imani), others will pick it up. This will happen over and over until the Day of Judgment, when everyone will be rewarded for their actions.



Beiwo Home Feast view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim Friendly Indonesia: A Chinese Hui Muslim Travel Account with Mosques and Halal Food is presented here as a clear English travel account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. The Muslim population exceeds 200 million. They mainly believe in the Shafi'i school of law. However, Indonesian Muslims have always. The article keeps the original place names, food details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Indonesia Travel, Hui Muslims, Halal Food.

Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. The Muslim population exceeds 200 million. They mainly believe in the Shafi'i school of law. However, Indonesian Muslims have always been marginalized in the Muslim world. However, since Indonesia became independent from the colonizers in 1945, this marginalized situation has gradually improved. Nowadays, hundreds of thousands of people in Indonesia go to Mecca for pilgrimage every year. They are called "the rice of Hijaz". Hijaz is Mecca and Medina.

Indonesia is currently visa-free for mainland China. You only need to bring your passport to enter the country by air. There is no need to apply in advance and it does not cost a penny. However, I saw many netizens complaining on the Internet about being asked for tips by the customs when entering Indonesia. I flew from Beijing to Jakarta and was not asked for tips. Maybe It is an isolated phenomenon. My consistent principle is that I will never give any customs tips. This kind of bribery and bribery are not allowed to be done by Muslims. The worst is the worst. Although the tip is only ten or twenty yuan, the issue of principle cannot be compromised. Moreover, this phenomenon only targets Chinese people, and we cannot encourage this unhealthy trend of discrimination.

When I went to Vietnam before, I heard that tipping was required, but I never encountered it. My approach was to prepare round-trip air tickets and hotel reservations in advance, print them out, and when I entered the country, the customs asked me what I was doing. I showed him the itinerary I had already prepared, which showed that my purpose of travel was clear. The customs officer knew immediately that he was an experienced driver, so he had no reason to ask for a tip before letting me enter the country.

Most of the online guides look at Indonesia from the perspective of non-Muslims. I read a lot of them and feel that they all use colored glasses to judge the main ethnic groups in Indonesia, which is neither superficial nor objective. Now I will introduce my halal trip to Indonesia from the perspective of a Chinese Hui.

Things you need to prepare before leaving for Indonesia:

1. Round-trip air tickets and hotel orders

, print it out for later use in case customs checks and asks for tips;

2. Mobile WiFi

, can be rented on all major travel websites, and the cost is about 10 yuan a day. Renting WiFi is more convenient than buying a local phone card. According to my past experience, mobile phone signals on many islands are not as good as WiFi. International roaming can be activated in advance, but its use is limited to receiving text messages. International roaming still cannot access websites such as Google when abroad, but mobile WiFi can. Google Maps is very important abroad;

3. Power conversion socket

, the power plug in Indonesia is wider than that in China and needs to be converted. You can buy a globally accepted multi-functional conversion power supply online;

4. Grab

, a popular taxi-hailing software APP in Southeast Asia, you must have this one, it is very easy to use, you can bind a credit card for payment, no cash is required, otherwise the probability of getting ripped off when taking a taxi is almost 100%;

5. Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, slippers

, are all necessities of tropical life.

6. Indonesian rupiah cash

, you can exchange it domestically or at the Indonesian airport. Indonesian money is relatively rough, 10,000 Indonesian rupiah is equivalent to about 5 yuan in RMB.

First stop Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia and the largest city in Indonesia. Many people only use Jakarta as a transit point for a short stay. In fact, there are many places to visit and play in Jakarta. It is a microcosm of Indonesia and you can experience various Indonesian cultures. If your schedule is not tight, you can choose to stay in Jakarta for a few more days. But for me, a food blogger, the most attractive thing about Jakarta is that you can eat halal versions of food from all over the world.



Xiamen Airlines halal meals

I need to praise Xiamen Airlines’ halal meals, which are better than the halal meals I’ve had on other domestic airlines. Here is a reminder: I did not book a halal meal in advance when I bought the Xiamen Airlines ticket this time. However, Xiamen Airlines will proactively provide halal and non-halal meal options for flights to Jakarta, so there is no need to book in advance.

In fact, except for low-cost airlines that do not actively provide catering services, almost all airlines have meal reservation services. There is no additional charge for reservations of religious meals, and the fees are included in the ticket. However, you need to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. You can use the airline's app to make reservations, you can also make reservations through the airline's customer service phone number, or you can also make reservations through the customer service of the platform where you buy air tickets. If you are not sure about the airline’s ingredients, you can also order a vegetarian meal. Some airlines can set food preferences in the app, so that whenever you buy a ticket from that company in the future, the system will automatically reserve halal meals.



DIGITAL AIRPORT CAPSULE HOTEL

After flying during the day, it was already 10pm when I arrived in Jakarta. My plan was to fly from Jakarta to Komodo Island early the day after tomorrow. In order to save time and money, I chose the capsule hotel on the first floor of Terminal 3 of the airport. This way I didn’t have to take a car to the city when I landed that night, and I didn’t have to get up early to catch the flight the day after tomorrow. It turned out that my choice was very correct. Although the capsule hotel is small and can only accommodate one person, the facilities inside are complete and clean, including bottled water, towels, lockers, charging power, and TVs. It is like lying in a space warehouse.



The lights in the space can be adjusted to change color, and there is also air conditioning.

The capsule hotel has a public bathroom. Although it is a public area, each room for bathing and washing is separate. The door is locked and it is like a separate bathroom. It does not feel awkward at all. I am very satisfied with my first experience in a capsule hotel. I hope this model can be promoted.



MALACCA TOAST airport fast food restaurant



egg sandwich



Halal paper in the bathroom

But it cannot be said that you cannot eat non-halal food in Indonesia. There are some restaurants in Indonesia run by non-Muslims such as Catholics and Hindus that sell alcohol, but they will prompt that the restaurant is a pork-free restaurant. There are also some hijab girls eating in such restaurants. I have only seen Chinese restaurants in Surabaya that sell pork. You will never see anyone wearing a hijab in such a restaurant. If the restaurant door is clearly marked with the HALAL certification mark, it must be a restaurant that does not sell alcohol.



Indonesian Halal Certification Mark

It looks like the picture above. The common halal certification mark in Indonesia is written in Arabic and Latin alphabet transliterations. HALAL also means halal in Indonesian. If the mark of some packaging is particularly small, it is better to simplify it and not write the letters HALAL, but also write حلال

, to help the identification of dostis in various countries.



SHABURI self-service Japanese hot pot restaurant

Located on the third floor of Soekarno Airport T3 terminal, a set meal costs RMB 60. It only has one plate of meat, vegetables, fruits, sushi, etc. You can eat as you like.



The service in Indonesian restaurants is generally warm and considerate, especially the waiters’ sweet smiles.







The single-person pot is very similar to the domestic Xiabuxiabu.



Indonesian restaurant in Terminal 2



Indonesian fried rice

The most popular fried rice in Indonesia is this kind of fried rice, which is also one of my favorite Indonesian delicacies. It can be eaten for breakfast. The price ranges from 6 yuan to 30 yuan. It is very popular in Southeast Asia. The method is to add sweet soy sauce, tamarind, shrimp, etc. to white rice and fry it. It is served with a variety of ingredients, including satay skewers, cucumbers, Indonesian shrimp cakes and fried eggs.

Istiqlal Mosque (MASJID ISTIQLAL)



Jakarta's Istiqlal Mosque (Indonesian: Masjid Istiqlal, Arabic for "Independence") was built to celebrate Indonesia's independence. The foundation stone was laid on August 24, 1961, and it was opened on February 22, 1978. The architect Frederic Siraban was a Christian. the mosque was built next to the Jakarta Cathedral to symbolize the peaceful coexistence of religions.



When I came here, the whole place was under repair. It was the rainy season in Indonesia, and Jakarta had just experienced a flood. Many places were flooded. However, after the flood, everything was as usual. What impressed me most was that on the way the driver took me here, he talked about the floods in Jakarta. He pointed at the traces of water on both sides of the street and smiled stupidly. I was surprised that they could be so optimistic. The love of laughter is my deepest impression of Indonesians. Although Indonesians are poor, they have a high sense of happiness.



It is free to enter the mosque, but you need to take off your shoes and store them. The uncle at the door warmly welcomed me into the mosque and asked me to write down which country I came from and my religious belief in the registration book.



I have learned about this mosque on TV before. It is considered the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and cost a huge amount of money to build. However, after visiting it on site, I did not find it as beautiful as I imagined. It turns out that during subsequent trips, I saw more unique Indonesian mosques.



old jakarta

(Kota Tua Jakarta)



The Old City of Jakarta covers an area of ​​only 1.3 square kilometers, equivalent to the size of a square. There are many Dutch buildings in the Old City of Jakarta that were built in the 17th century. At that time, Jakarta was the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company for spice and other trade in Asia.



Let’s talk about the colonial history of Indonesia. A friend once asked me that there are so many Muslims in Indonesia. Why are their voices rarely heard in the world? The reason is that Indonesia has been colonized for a long time. From the 16th century to the 20th century, Indonesia has been colonized by the Netherlands. During World War II, the Japanese came and drove away the Dutch. Indonesia was colonized by Japan for several years. It was not until 1945 that Indonesia declared independence. Before that, Indonesia’s actual ruling class had never been Muslim, so Indonesian Muslims were marginalized internationally.



Jakarta old city street scene

Although Indonesia is considered a Muslim country, with more than 80% of the population being Muslims, it cannot be considered an Islamic country. Only countries whose state religion is Islam can be called Islamic countries, and Indonesia does not have a state religion. From this, we can also see the marginalized status of Indonesian Muslims in the history of the country. A country with 87% of the population being Muslim cannot actually establish Islam as the state religion. This can be done by Malaysia next door. The Muslim population in Malaysia is only 60%, but the state religion in Malaysia is Islam, so Malaysia is considered an Islamic country.



Performance in the Old Town Square

Indonesia’s constitution stipulates that citizens must have religious beliefs. The Jakarta Charter issued in 1905 clearly stated: “This country must be founded on the following principles: Believe in Shinto, and believers in Islam have the obligation to implement Sharia law in accordance with correct and moral humanitarian principles.

Indonesian citizens cannot believe in anything, otherwise they will be treated as materialistic XXists. You know, this is related to what people often say about anti-Chinese in Indonesia, because at that time, most Chinese in Indonesia were associated with that doctrine. The pro-Western Major General Suharto overthrew the pro-German Sukarno government, and then began the anti-German purge. When the incident occurred, it was against XXists, not specifically Chinese, so blindly emphasizing anti-Chinese ignores the background of the incident.

The Banda Aceh Special Administrative Region in Indonesia has implemented the second half of the "Jakarta Charter" and implemented Islamic law. Banda Aceh is in the northwest corner of Indonesia and is the city closest to Mecca in Indonesia. Indonesian people worship to the northwest, but it is not directly accessible by plane. Otherwise, I really want to go there to experience the atmosphere of Sharia.



Street food in the old town

There are a lot of street snacks in the old city. I am not used to eating these unfamiliar foods on the roadside. Friends who are interested can try it, but according to my guess, it will not taste too delicious. We may not be used to eating many specialties in Southeast Asia, and the hot weather may cause stomach upset.



Some poor toilets in Indonesia will put a mineral water bottle on the urinal. This bottle is used to flush the penis.

Grand Indonesia



Grand Indonesia is the largest shopping mall in Jakarta. It is really very big and is second to none in Asia. The mall has everything you need, including farmers' markets, and many restaurants and snacks. You can spend a day shopping here. If you don't want to walk around in the scorching sun, it is recommended to come here for shopping and leisure.



Supermarket on the ground floor



Indonesian specialty cat poop coffee beans

I carefully observed the products of various internationally renowned brands in the supermarket, and almost all the products I saw had halal certification marks.



Halal Yoshinoya



Japanese food in the mall

Japanese food is relatively common in Indonesia and is very popular among Indonesians. Often, you have to queue up to eat at such restaurants. The Japanese food in Indonesia is mostly related to Indonesia’s colonization by Japan during World War II. After the war, many Japanese companies still developed in Indonesia, bringing a large number of Japanese.



bookstore in shopping mall

There is a large section of the bookstore in the mall devoted to religious books. All major religious books are available. Islamic books are the most numerous, but they are mainly in Indonesian and cannot be read. Otherwise, I would buy a few books and take them back.



Italian Restaurant Popolamama

Among the Italian restaurants in shopping malls, Beijing has never seen a halal Italian restaurant, while the level of Western restaurants in Jakarta is world-famous.



italian pizza

A pizza, a salad, and a glass of juice cost about 60 yuan. This consumption level is relatively high in Indonesia. In some other small cities in Indonesia, the consumption will be even lower.

Second stop Komodo Island

Komodo Island is an important destination of my trip. I came here to fulfill my childhood wish as a natural science enthusiast. When I was in elementary school, my family gave me a set of natural encyclopedias. There are four volumes in total. The one I read the most is the natural science volume. I am deeply impressed by the various species of animals and plants in the world introduced in it. Komodo Island is a place with diverse species and frequently appears in animal world programs.



Komodo Island is located in the southeastern corner of Indonesia, and a little further south is Australia. It can be said that it is across the sea from Oceania. There is no direct flight to Komodo Island from China. You can only transfer from Jakarta or Bali. I took more than three hours of flight from Jakarta to reach the nearest Labuan Airport to Komodo Island. If I transfer from Bali to Lower Labuan, it only takes one hour.





The main road of Labuan Bajo town

From Labuan Airport, it takes half an hour to take a taxi to the town of Labuan Bajo, which is the most prosperous place in the surrounding area. The picture above shows the busiest neighborhood of this town. The town is sparsely populated and has backward commerce. It covers an area of ​​only two square kilometers. Many residents still retain their original lifestyle. Most of the residents make a living from fishing and tourism. The most common shops on both sides of the street are diving shops. Komodo Island has many high-quality diving spots, but the ocean currents are complex and suitable for professional divers. Beginners are not recommended to go there.



Sylvia Hotel & Resort Komodo Komodo Sylvia Resort Hotel

The hotel I stayed in has a private beach. There are many hotels with private beaches here. The price is cheap and the environment is beautiful. You can stay in a very nice hotel for two to three hundred yuan a night. However, I do not recommend this hotel because it is far from the center of the town. There are no businesses or public transportation around. You can't go out for a walk at night. I suggest staying in the town next time is more convenient.



hotel swimming pool



The only restaurant in the hotel



A steak set

A steak costs less than RMB 100. There are no decent restaurants in Labuan Bajo Town. Most of them are street shops. It needs to be emphasized that there are many Christians living in this town. Most of the restaurants on the island are opened by Christians. They will also mark it as halal and do not have pork, but they sell alcohol.



MASJID AGUNG NURUL FALAQ LABUAN BAJO Mosque

I took a taxi from the hotel and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in the town. The driver took me here. This mosque is not comparable to other places in Indonesia. The distribution density of Muslims in Indonesia decreases from northwest to southeast. The Aceh Special Administrative Region in the northwest is the most halal, and Bali in the southeast is the territory of Hindus.



Muslims in Southeast Asia are mainly followers of the Shafi'i school. Their prayer movements can be seen with three hand raises, but whether it is three or one hand raises, there is a correct basis for the hadith.



Indonesian BBQ

The simple Indonesian meal on the island is grilled chicken skewers with rice. The chili seasoning is very spicy. The chili in Indonesia is comparable to that in Hunan.



After passing through a residential area, I found a small mosque in the village. The conditions were very simple, surrounded by villagers' houses and chickens eating bugs.



What’s interesting is that there is a Catholic tomb built next to this mosque. It is pink in color. This is the first time I have seen this combination.



The tombstone depicts the Virgin Mary and Jesus



After a night of rest, I reported a one-day tour on Ctrip for the next day. The itinerary included Padar Island, Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Takamakasa Island, Manta Ray Snorkeling Spot, and Kanawa Island. It included lunch, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and an English-speaking tour guide. The cost was 789 RMB.



Masks provided with the tour

Departing at 5:30 in the morning, the driver arrived at the hotel on time to pick up people. Before leaving, the tour guide distributed a mask to each tourist. It was 2020-01-27, and an epidemic had broken out in China, but Indonesia was not affected in any way, so the tourists did not care. The traveling groups came from various countries, including Japanese, Koreans, Sichuanese, Taiwanese, Europeans and Americans.

Padar Island



View from the top of Padar Island

It takes about an hour to take a boat to Padar Island. There are no residents on this island and it is in a primitive state. You can climb all the way to the top of the mountain along the seaside and overlook the entire territory. Some tourists have brought drones for aerial photography.



Panorama of Padar Island

After a short stay on the island, continue by boat to the small island of Takamakasa.



Takamakasa Island

The island is a crescent-shaped island, which may be submerged when the tide rises, but the island is very beautiful, with blue water. When viewed from the air, it looks like a gem set in the sea. The sand on the island can already be seen in light pink, which is a characteristic of the Komodo area.



Takamakasa Island

You can snorkel around, it's very shallow, because the water is too clear, you can't see many fish, so be careful about sun protection.



pink sand beach

The beaches around Komodo Island are generally pink because they contain tiny coral particles. Since it was developed here relatively late, it has always maintained its original natural state and the water is crystal clear.





fine pink sand



The sea view of Komodo Island is endlessly beautiful.

Underwater fishing video I took with GoPro

KOMODO NATIONAL PARK



Next, continue to Komodo National Park. When we are about to land, we see a dark cloud floating over Komodo Island from a distance, making the atmosphere on the island even more eerie. This island is home to the world's largest venomous reptile - the Komodo dragon.



Komodo National Park consists of many islands, the larger ones including Padar Island, Rinca Island and Komodo Island. There are about 3,000 monitor lizards living on the islands. Indonesia established a national park to protect the Komodo monitor lizards, and it was then listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.



Entering the forest must be led by the park's ranger. Visitors cannot move alone, because all the monitor lizards on the island are wild, and the monitor lizards are poisonous and very dangerous. The long stick in the hand of the ranger can block the attack of the monitor lizards. It is said online that dragons like to eat carrion, so their saliva contains a lot of poisonous bacteria, which can cause infection and death after prey is bitten. This statement has been denied by scientists. In fact, Komodo dragons are born with venom glands, and it is the venom that kills their prey.



There was a reminder to keep quiet at the entrance of the park. Our group was cautious along the way, with our eyes wide open as we stared at the surrounding plants and trees.



The dead tree trunk, I imagined a picture of a dinosaur knocking down the tree trunk.



Komodo dragon nest

The tour guide reminded us that the dirt bag in the distance is the nest of the Komodo dragon, which is about one meter high and five or six meters wide. This scene looks too much like a scene from Jurassic Park.



Near a waterhole, the tour guide stopped and told everyone that monitor lizards often come here to drink water. Then I saw a deer limping towards the waterhole in the distance. The deer's head had been injured, probably by a monitor lizard. The tour guide said that deer are the main food of monitor lizards. This deer should die soon after being attacked.



monitor lizard in bush

We continued walking forward, and suddenly the tour guide stopped and reminded us that there was a monitor lizard in the bushes not far away. I followed the direction he pointed and took a photo of the back of the first monitor lizard I saw. This monitor lizard was about two meters long and lay motionless in the bushes. The panting of the monitor lizard could be clearly heard.



Then we saw three more monitor lizards in the rest area, lying in the corner of the pavilion where tourists were drinking tea. The crowd suddenly became commotion, and some people excitedly approached to take photos with the monitor lizards. At this time, the tour guide also became obviously vigilant and warned tourists in a stern tone not to get too close.



Komodo dragons are hermaphrodites and can reproduce parthenogenetically. They live in trees when they are young and move on the plains as adults. They can dive and run at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour. The mitochondria of Komodo dragons are different from ordinary cold-blooded animals. They can accelerate metabolism to the level of mammals, and then have amazing speed and endurance. It is rare for monitor lizards to attack people on the island. There have been cases of fishermen being attacked and killed by monitor lizards. Monitor lizards have no natural enemies on the island, but they will not attack humans when there is sufficient food.



The adult monitor lizard is more than 3 meters long. It uses its tongue to identify odors and can smell the smell of blood within a radius of 10 kilometers. For small prey, the monitor lizard will bite it directly to death. For larger prey, the monitor lizard will bite and release it until the prey is poisoned and dies. The monitor lizard will then find the body by following the smell of blood.

After leaving Komodo Forest Park, we headed to the next scenic spot to prepare for snorkeling. The snorkeling area was home to another ancient giant beast, the manta ray, which was the same generation as the dinosaurs. Its scientific name is the ghost bat. It is the largest of its kind and can be up to eight meters long. It is said to be uncommon. Whether you can see it depends on luck, but we were very lucky to see a group of about four or five on the bottom of the sea, swimming back and forth under our feet.



Giant, weird-looking creatures like ghost bats have not grown according to the rules of evolution. They have been what they are today since the age of dinosaurs. They are absolute living fossils. These ancient strange creatures are what attracts me the most about Komodo Island. Creatures that were once only seen in the animal world are now alive in front of me. This feeling is so exciting.

The actual effect you see is roughly what it looks like in the photo. The water quality in the water where manta rays appear is not particularly clear. If the water is clear, there will be no fish. The brother in the video is more courageous and dares to get close to manta rays. In fact, it is still a bit dangerous. Although manta rays have a gentle temperament, they are afraid of divers when they lose their temper. Its two wings can break the diver's ribs.



Komodo Island is only an hour's flight from Bali, an Indonesian Internet celebrity tourist destination. To travel from Komodo Island to other cities in Indonesia, you have to transfer from Bali. Although I am not very interested in Bali, since I am here, I still decided to go to the island.

Third stop Bali



The Hindu-style gate in Bali symbolizes the transition from the secular to the sacred.

Bali is the only Hindu-dominated island in Indonesia, and Hindu gods can be seen everywhere on the island. Since we are on a halal trip, we are not very interested in these pagan cultural relics. We come here mainly to eat a decent halal seafood meal. If Dosti plans to go to Bali for vacation, he does not need to worry too much about eating. Halal restaurants on the island are relatively easy to find. The indigenous residents here have the habit of eating roasted suckling pig. Most restaurants sell wine and the consumption is very high.



Jimbaran Beach

Bali Airport is about three kilometers from Jimbaran Beach. In Indonesia, you must be careful not to talk to the drivers around the airport. The probability of being ripped off is almost 100%. There are two options for taking a taxi. One is that there are regular taxi ticketing points at the airport. The fare is prepaid. Just tell the staff your destination. That’s it. After paying, you can get a slip. You can take the slip and follow the staff’s instructions to find a driver to take the bus. There will be no arbitrary charges. you can use Grab to call a taxi. I strongly recommend using this software. The price is cheaper, and you don’t have to pay cash. You don’t have to worry about language barriers, just like Didi Taxi.



Exterior view of Jimbaran beach restaurant

Since I just came from the pristine Komodo Island, when I saw these commercial beaches, I felt that the gap was a bit big visually, and the water was far less clear than Komodo.



Freshly picked crabs

I told a Hindu driver to take me to a halal restaurant. He took me to this restaurant and charged me more than 100 yuan for less than five kilometers. Before I got in the car, I listened to the 100 he said and interpreted it as 10 yuan, so I got on the bus. I was in a hurry and didn't bother with him. I only regretted that I didn't install the grab software in China earlier. As a result, I couldn't log in to download the software when I was in Indonesia. I could only install the software through a VPN.



A squid weighing more than one kilogram



This seafood meal costs about RMB 500. The price is clearly marked, but it is obviously not as affordable as eating in China. Rice and side dishes are provided, and the taste is average. The seafood is boiled in plain flavor. You can add some weird seasonings, or squeeze a little lemon juice and mix it with the rice.



The residents of the island like to grow flowers.

The reason why I don’t recommend Bali is that it really doesn’t live up to its name. Prices on the island are more than double that of other places in Indonesia, and it is heavily commercialized. Many friends around me don’t think highly of Bali after visiting it, so I think it is suitable for people who only like to vacation in hotels, commonly known as hotel partying. But everyone has their own ambitions. Compared with Komodo Island, the hotel quality in Bali is much higher. As long as you are not afraid of spending money, you can find a good hotel here to stay for a few days.

Fourth stop Yogyakarta

I temporarily added a trip to Yogyakarta and Surabaya because of the sudden outbreak of the epidemic and the extension of the holiday, and my flight back to my country was cancelled. I heard a sister who was traveling with me praise Yogyakarta and Surabaya as fun. Her family of three had just come over there and strongly suggested that I go to Yogyakarta to experience the Javanese culture. So I simply bought a flight ticket from Bali to Yogyakarta and arrived in Yogyakarta in about an hour.

Yogyakarta is a famous historical and cultural city in Indonesia. Its status is roughly equivalent to ancient capitals such as Nanjing and Xi'an in my country. All the court arts in Java originated here. Historically, Yogyakarta was ruled by the Sultan. After Indonesia became independent in 1945, the Sultan of Yogyakarta declared his allegiance to Indonesia. The Sultanate of Yogyakarta was changed to the Yogyakarta Special Zone under Indonesia. The Sultan served as the governor of Yogyakarta and retained the hereditary system.



Hotel gardens and swimming pool

It was really a comfortable journey from landing to checking into the hotel, and everyone I met was very friendly. I remember I was sitting in a taxi, staring at the road outside the window in a daze. At this time, the car drove slowly past two girls. I was not sure if one of them was a shemale, but she felt like a transvestite. This person saw me looking at her, and she gave me a look.



I came for breakfast in the morning and it seemed that I was the only guest. The waiter greeted me very warmly and asked me what kind of breakfast I would like to have. There were two options: Western style and Indonesian style. Of course I chose the Indonesian style.



While dining, enjoy the scenery outside the window. The spire in the distance is Prambanan, a famous Hindu resort in Yogyakarta.



I always eat Indonesian fried rice for breakfast. The hotel breakfast is included in the room rate. All kinds of consumption in Yogyakarta are very cheap. A five-star resort hotel only costs more than 300 yuan a night.



Some TV stations in Indonesia will automatically broadcast Bunker during church hours.

MASJID RAYA ALMUTTAQUN Mosque



MASJID RAYA ALMUTTAQUN Mosque

I originally planned to go to nearby Prambanan, but when I walked to the entrance of the mosque, I saw a traditional Javanese mosque across the road. My attention was completely attracted by this mosque, so I decisively gave up going to Prambanan and started my Javanese halal journey.



The interior of the mosque is made of wood. The disadvantage of this dark-colored wood is that it makes the hall look dark. I have observed this problem in several other mosques.



Since Indonesian worship faces northwest, but buildings generally face north and south, the carpets in the main hall are laid along the direction of Mecca, which looks diagonal.



The main hall of the mosque is on the second floor, and the first floor is a classroom. The children are learning Arabic under the guidance of the teacher. It is raining outside. January and February are the rainy season in Indonesia. It rains almost every day, but it is always a thunderstorm and stops after a while.

Candi Prambanan



Prambanan Ruins

Yogyakarta has two internet celebrity check-in attractions. One is Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist architectural complex, and the other is Prambanan, the largest Hindu architectural complex in Southeast Asia. Both are world cultural heritage sites and were built at the same time. They were built around the 9th century AD. The builders were both ominous and were abandoned after completion. Prambanan People say Nan was probably built by the second king of the Mataram dynasty. Both building complexes were re-excavated and rebuilt in the early 20th century, so most of the buildings were newly built. Prambanan charges a 170 RMB entrance fee, and Borobudur is hundreds of kilometers away from me, so I only walked around at the entrance of Prambanan Temple.



You can see many tourists on the Internet taking some pictures of themselves in the temple, which I think is not good. After all, this is a religious holy place, and taking such pictures is a bit nondescript. A girl wrote in the guide that she was asked to take photos by many Indonesian girls in Prambanan. She felt that the Indonesian girls were interested in her hairstyle because they were envious of her freedom to show her hair. I really want to say, girl, you are overthinking. This is as ridiculous as some domestic rumors saying that the Hui Muslims envy the Han people for eating pork. Don’t you know that Indonesia does not force women to wear headscarves?

MASJID MATARAM



The cemetery of Suta Wijaya Senapati, the sultan of the Kingdom of Mataram, was found in Kota Gede, a suburb of Yogyakarta. Next to it was a mosque that combined Hindu architectural style and Javanese architectural style. The Kingdom of Mataram was the first Islamic kingdom established in Central Java, Indonesia.



Because the faith in Java was converted from Hinduism to Islam, the ancient buildings on the island retain many traces of Hinduism. The gate of this mosque is a type of Hindu architectural style.



It is said on the Internet that the Matalan Mosque charges an entrance fee, which is about 10 yuan. Anyway, I have not met anyone who asked me for entrance tickets. The mosque really should not charge tourists.



In the vestibule of the mosque, some tourists are taking a break from the summer heat. The main hall of the Matalan Mosque still adopts the Javanese architectural style. There is an vestibule, a main hall, and no minaret. Drums are played instead of the adhan.



Adhan drum

The muanli drum is usually played during gatherings or gatherings, and has distinctive Javanese characteristics.



Although the lights are turned on in the main hall, the light is actually very dark. I adjusted the photo to be brighter. This is indeed not as good as the lighting in a dome-shaped building.



The ritual of laying flowers in memory of the deceased is inherited from the Hindu tradition.



There is also a pond next to the cemetery, which is used as a bathhouse for washing and washing. It is probably no longer in use. There are many huge catfish in the pond, both black and white.

Yogyakarta Grand Mosque (Masjid Gedhe Kauman)



Yogyakarta Grand Mosque

The Yogyakarta Mosque (Masjid Gedhe Kauman) was built in 1773. It is located next to the Yogyakarta Royal Palace. It is a traditional Javanese-style building. When I went there, I happened to catch up with a bunch of students coming here to do activities. The teacher led the students to pray, and I followed him.



This architectural style in Java should also be influenced by the ancient Chinese architectural style. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He made many voyages to the West and came to Java Island, bringing many craftsmen with him and spreading Islamic culture and Chinese civilization.



lobby of the main hall



There is a sign in Javanese on the wall.





A group of religious school students worshiped, led by their teacher, with the boys in the front and the girls in a designated area at the back.



This is a place reserved for the Sultan to worship, and ordinary civilians cannot enter. By the way, this kind of privileged behavior is not advocated by Islam. Even the king should stand in a row with the people.



The Minbaer podium has a typical Javanese style pattern and is golden in color, the same color as the Thai Royal Palace.



Southeast Asian royal mihrab

Next to the mosque is the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta. The palace is divided into the South District and the North District. You have to buy tickets separately. Each ticket costs about three yuan. I went to the North District and I felt that it was not like the Royal Palace at all. It was too simple. There were only a few greenhouse-like buildings. I once doubted that this was really the Royal Palace?



Yogyakarta Royal Palace

Masjid Soko Tunggal Mosque



Masjid Soko Tunggal Mosque

Yogyakarta One Pillar Mosque (Masjid Soko Tunggal), Soko Tunggal means pillar in Indonesian, was built in 1972. The designer of this mosque was also the designer of Yogyakarta Royal Palace R. Ngabehi Mintobudoyo.



The main hall is supported by one pillar and four pillars, five in total, symbolizing the temptations of the five evil spirits from all directions. This is one of the characteristics of Javanese architecture. The flower patterns carved on the pillars indicate that praying in the mosque can obtain Allah's grace.



A pillar in the main hall

Yogyakarta is a city with a strong religious atmosphere. This can be felt from the hotel I stayed in in the suburbs. Every day when it is time to pray, the sound of bunker will be heard one after another around me. The sound can last for ten minutes intermittently. It may be because the clocks of various mosques are fast or slow.



I casually walked into a nearby village and wandered around. The sign at the head of the village said Selamat Datang. I thought it was the name of the village at first, but I thought it was wrong. I seemed to have seen this word in many places. After asking the villagers, I found out that it means welcome in Indonesian and is commonly used in Southeast Asia.



Masjid Nurul Falaq

The people in this village are very friendly. Everyone I meet on the road, regardless of gender, old or young, will smile and nod to say hello when they see me. The village loudspeaker was broadcasting the imam's sermon. I followed the sound and found the mosque. the mosque was not open. Before I could say anything, a villager next to me came over and opened the door for me. It turned out that the key was at the door.



Mosque nameplates, no matter how small the mosque is, are officially registered.



The details of the post are the same as those of Chinese temples.



BAITUSSALAM MADRAZA SCHOOL



BAITUSSALAM MADRAZA SCHOOL IN THE VILLAGE

There are many religious schools of this kind in Yogyakarta. The children inside look like primary school students. During class, the children are chasing each other and playing around, and some children are surrounding the teacher doing homework.



school main entrance



playground



Mosque inside the school



School mosque appearance



Masjid Nurul Iman Mosque in the same village

If this small mosque is in the city center, it can only be regarded as a Musholla, which means a dua room. Every mosque here has an official registration.





Masjid Jogokariyan Mosque



Masjid Jogokariyan Mosque

The mosque was built in 1967. Most people in this area are engaged in batik work, so the colors of the mosque are relatively bright. Note that the name of the mosque on the right side of the photo uses a variety of colors.



No matter what time of day, you can see people reading the Quran in the mosque, mostly women.



When I was sitting in a taxi heading to the mosque, the driver saw that I was only looking at the mosques along the way to take pictures, so he asked me if I was a Muslim. I blurted out Sailiang Mu, and he laughed when he replied, and then pointed at my beard and said that I looked like a Muslim. I said of course, having a beard is Sunni.



You don’t need to emphasize your Muslim identity when traveling in Indonesia. From my experience, even if the other person only knows that you are from China, you still won’t feel any difference. Anti-Chinese is too alarmist. There are still a large number of ethnic Chinese living in Indonesia today. Many of them have ancestors who settled in Indonesia hundreds of years ago. They have been intermarried for generations. It is difficult to distinguish the ethnic groups in appearance.



SIX SENSES Spanish Restaurant

I saw on TripAdvisor that there is a very beautiful Spanish restaurant nearby. The environment is really beautiful. The interior is a manor, with fountains and gardens. There is no halal Spanish restaurant in China. This taste bud gap needs to be filled in Yogyakarta.



restaurant front porch



restaurant interior



Creamy Mushroom Soup

I originally wanted to have a Spanish paella, but after looking at the menu, the paella required a large portion. It couldn't be eaten by one person, and I didn't want to waste it. After all, the weather was hot and people's appetites were smaller, so I ordered a cream of mushroom soup and salmon salad.



Salmon salad, salmon on the bottom of the plate

The tableware in this store is particularly exquisite, and the waiters are very gentlemanly.



Lemon juice, the small cup on the side is honey

For such a high-end restaurant, the checkout, including service charge and tax, is less than 100 yuan, which is considered high consumption in the local area. Yogyakarta is so down-to-earth.



Fried chicken set next to the mosque

This portion costs about 5 yuan. Indonesians love to eat fried food, and all kinds of things can be fried. The waiter gave me a set meal without tableware, because everyone eats it with their hands, so I followed suit and finished it.

Fifth stop Surabaya

It takes one hour to fly to Surabaya from Yogyakarta, but afterwards I suggested that it would be better to take a train or bus. The ticket I bought was canceled once, and then I experienced delays when I bought a new ticket. The weather on Java Island is unpredictable, so it is really better to take the land route from the beginning, and the land transportation only costs a few dozen yuan, while the air ticket costs more than 300.

Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia. Indonesians call it Surabaya. Remember this name to help you ask for directions. Zheng He landed here when he sailed to the West and reached Java Island. Now this is also the place with the largest number of Chinese in Indonesia.

In 1520, the first Islamic dynasty that arose in central Java, Indonesia, was called the Demak Dynasty. Sultan Laden Bada (1475-1518) was a Chinese and the ancestor of the fourth president of Indonesia, Wahid. His surname was Chen. Wahid said that he had Chinese ancestry. His ancestor, Chen Jinhan, went to Java Island in Indonesia with a fleet during Zheng He's fifth voyage to the West in the 15th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1417), and settled in Surabaya.

MASJID NASIONAL AL-AKBAR SURABAYA



akbar national mosque

The landmark building in Surabaya feels bigger and more beautiful than the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta. The foundation of the mosque was laid in 1995. Construction was suspended for two years during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. It was completed in 2000. The then Indonesian President Wahid presided over the inauguration ceremony. President Wahid was also the chairman of the Indonesian Islamic Federation and was considered a leader in the Indonesian religious community. The fact that a descendant of a Chinese ancestor could achieve such achievements in Indonesia is enough to explain a lot of problems.



A cat in the hall





Mihrab



Minbaer



Adhan drum



Sunan Ampel Arch

north(

Sunan Ampel Tomb



Sunan Ampere (1401-1481) Gongbei

The Sunan Ampel (1401-1481) Mosque in Surabaya was built in 1421. Sunan Ampel was one of the important founders of the spread of Islam in Java. He had a prominent status, roughly equivalent to my country's Hudengzhou Baba. His ancestor was the famous Sufi master Ahmed Muhaji, an Iraqi. Ampel once married a Chinese woman Nyi Gede Manila, and they had two sons and two daughters. After Ampel passed away in 1481, he was buried in the mosque. Now it has become a place of pilgrimage for believers. When I came, I happened to catch up with a school organizing a tomb tour, so I followed the students to Ermaili and listened to their hymns in various tones. Although this is a holy tomb, it looks very simple. There is no tomb, and it is not as luxurious as the Gongbei of our country.



Sunan Ampel Mosque Main Hall

As early as the 13th century AD, Islam had been introduced to Indonesia. Marco Polo mentioned in his travel notes that when he stayed in the Kingdom of Basak in Sumatra and the Kingdom of Balara in the Malay Peninsula in 1292, he found that the people there believed in Islam. At the same time, Chinese historian Ma Huan recorded what Zheng He saw in Sumatra during his voyage to the West. He said that at that time in Palembang, West Sumatra, Aceh and other places on the northeastern coast of Sumatra, "all the people in the king's country were Hui people", as well as businessmen from Guangzhou, Zhangzhou, Quanzhou and other places in China.



The students came one after another to sit on the floor and praise the Lord and Saints under the leadership of the teacher.

Indonesia established the first Islamic sultanate in the 13th century, on the island of Sumatra, named Samudera Pasai. The founder, Mirah Silau, was a descendant of the royal family and converted to Islam under the influence of the Arab businessman Sheikh Ismail and the South Indian mentor Sultan Muhammad.



After the boys finish reciting, the girls continue to recite



No matter whose tombstone it is, it is such a small space.

Zhenghe Mosque

There is a Zheng He Mosque named after Zheng He in Surabaya, which was built by Chinese Indonesians. There are more than 200,000 Chinese Indonesian Muslims. More Chinese Muslims have already integrated into the Indonesian community. Some have changed their Indonesian surnames and are difficult to distinguish from the outside. These phenomena show that it is difficult to succeed and unpopular in both theory and practice to exclude Chinese in Indonesia.



Zhenghe Mosque

The architectural style of the Zheng He Mosque was based on the style of the Niujie Mosque in Beijing. Since then, seven more Zheng He Mosques have been built in Indonesia. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on October 15, 2001, the day of the night walk to the sky.



Islam mainly spreads in Indonesia in a peaceful way. At present, academic circles believe that there are several main channels. The first is that Arab, Indian, and Chinese merchants brought Islam into Indonesia through business. On May 22, 2006, the British "Daily Telegraph" reported that after 18 months of salvage, Europe and Indonesia discovered about 250,000 cultural relics in an ancient shipwreck in the Java Sea. They came from China during the Tang and Song Dynasties. The cultural relics contained a large number of Islamic items. It can be seen that China has exerted an important influence on the Islamization of Indonesia. Zheng He had frequent activities in Southeast Asia, actively engaged in Islamic activities there, built mosques, and established Chinese Muslim communities. Even today, Chinese Muslims in Indonesia still commemorate Zheng He.



The second missionary channel is Sufi preaching. Sufi mysticism is easily accepted by local residents who believe in Hinduism. Before the introduction of Islam, Hinduism was the mainstream in Indonesia. As the activities of Sufi scholars became more frequent, a large number of residents and the upper-class ruling class gave up their original polytheistic worship and converted to Islam, which recognizes one God.



The red lanterns and muanja drums are a perfect combination of Chinese and Indian culture. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Mosque Near Me in Shanghai: Xiaotaoyuan, Huxi and Authentic Halal Food Map is presented here as a clear English travel account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: Shanghai currently has 7+1 mosques, one of which is the Female Mosque in Xiaotaoyuan. Except for the Jinshan Mosque in Jinshan District, which is far away from the city, the other seven mosques are all within. The article keeps the original place names, food details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Shanghai Mosques, Halal Food, Muslim Travel.

Shanghai currently has 7+1 mosques, one of which is the Female Mosque in Xiaotaoyuan. Except for the Jinshan Mosque in Jinshan District, which is far away from the city, the other seven mosques are all within a radius of ten kilometers. The transportation is convenient and very easy to find.

As an international metropolis, Shanghai has added more and more types of halal restaurants in recent years. I remember that five years ago when I came to Shanghai, there were not many flavor restaurants to choose from. Now I am spoiled for choice. Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, Western, local, etc. all have halal versions, and the richness is second only to Beijing.

For Muslims who come to Shanghai for travel and accommodation, I recommend the Pearl Hotel near Jiashan Road, because this is a halal hotel invested by the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission. It has halal breakfast and dinner. It has an excellent location. Jiashan Road subway station is just outside the door, and it is very close to bustling areas such as Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. The price is not expensive.

Table of contents

Part One Catering

1. Pearl Hotel

2. Yelishali

3. Ma Kee beef fried buns

4. MAKAN Dubai Restaurant

5. Yang Tongxing

6. Shunhe Restaurant

7. Yixinzhai

8. Guan Guanji

9. Hong Changxing

10. Lebanese food

11. Efes Turkish Restaurant

12. BALI Indonesian Restaurant

13. Mizutani Japanese Restaurant

Part 2 Mosque

1. Huxi Mosque

2. Xiaotaoyuan Mosque

3. Songjiang Mosque

4. Pudong Mosque

5. Jiangwan Mosque

6. Jinshan Mosque

7. Fuyou Road Mosque

1. Pearl Hotel





Atlantic Restaurant is located on the third floor of the Pearl Hotel. It is a high-end halal restaurant serving Shanghai-style cuisine. The Pearl Hotel is on Muslim Road. In the past, there was a Rihuigang Mosque where the hotel was located, nicknamed "Moslem Villa". Nearby was the Huihui Cemetery. After Shanghai was liberated, it was placed under the management of the Shanghai Islamic Association. Later, the mosque was demolished. Therefore, there was no Muslim on the Muslim Road. The Pearl Hotel was later built with compensation.



The cafeteria on the fourth floor was being renovated when I went there, and breakfast was on the fifth floor.





The room is decorated in the style of an old state-owned hotel, and even the smell is familiar. There is a sign with the direction of Mecca inside, which is rare in China.



The buffet breakfast on the fifth floor costs 50 yuan per person. The variety is less than that of a five-star hotel. After all, this is a three-star hotel.





Both Chinese and Western flavors are available. The dishes are vegetarian and taste pretty good.





Dinner is served at the Atlantic Restaurant on the third floor. You can also order food in the room and ask the waiter to deliver it.



There is a lobby and private rooms. The environment is very good and quiet. Most of the people who come to eat are local Shanghainese.





Shanghai-style cuisine, you can eat all kinds of precious seafood.





The beef in local sauce is tender and the sauce is slightly sweet.



The signature dish is plum lemon shrimp. People say locals like this cold dish very much.



The salt and pepper fish fillet is not spicy at all and is still slightly sweet.



Red dates and peach gum stewed in peach gum. It was the first time I ate peach gum. It was the sticky gelatinous substance that flows from peach trees and tasted like white fungus.



Scallion pancakes are crispy and one of my favorite snacks.



Green onion lamb chops, made in Shanghai style, is still a bit sweet, so you can try it if you haven’t tried it before.



Serve asparagus in soup, the soup is chicken stock. This calculation works out to 180 yuan per capita.

2. Yelishali



Yelishali Xinjiang Restaurant has been open in Shanghai for more than ten years. There are more than ten chain stores. It is the most popular place for dusty dinners in Shanghai. It is comparable to Bayi Master in Beijing.





The decoration style is slightly more Western-style than Mr. Bayi's (although the word "foreign-style" sounds tacky).



Yelishali's dishes are more exquisite and slightly innovative than traditional Xinjiang dishes.



Grilled lamb chops in tin foil, with hot stones underneath.



Burqin pike, Burqin is a place name in Xinjiang, close to Kanas, where eating pike is popular.



The spicy chicken is actually not spicy and tastes very fragrant.

3. Ma Kee beef fried buns



There is a Henan snack window very close to the Huxi Mosque. Just search for Maji Beef Fried Buns on the map. Hu spicy soup and fried buns are only sold in the morning.





At noon, there are only this kind of sesame cakes and tofu cakes. This is a kind of sesame cakes that I like to eat very much. It is best if they are freshly baked. There are two kinds, sweet and salty. I like to eat salty ones, which have chopped green onions in them.

4. MAKAN



MAKAN is an Arabic restaurant in Dubai recommended by the Dubai Tourism Bureau. Shanghai has added many halal foreign food brands in recent years.



The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor of the base office building near Xujiahui Subway Station.



Fatuxu salad, topped with fried crunch similar to Hui snacks.



The name is Royal Dessert, which is probably how it was eaten in the palace. Desserts from the Western Regions are too sweet.



Okra and mutton, the soup is rich in flavor.



Arabic fragrant rice sprinkled with coriander powder.



Charcoal grilled half chicken is half a chicken. You can squeeze lemon juice on the chicken and serve it with French fries.



Cream of Mushroom Soup is one of the famous Arab dishes in the Middle East. According to the Jewish dietary precepts of the Old Testament, milk and mutton cannot be eaten together, but Muslims do not have to do this.



Arabic toast with hummus is my favorite Arabic dish and probably the most popular Arabic food. It is one of the staple dishes that must be ordered in Arabic restaurants.



Hummus drizzled with olive oil and dipped in freshly toasted Arabic bread, I could eat three in one meal. The price of MANKAN is relatively expensive. It should be said that the overall level of catering consumption in Shanghai is higher than that in Beijing. You can buy set meals in groups on Dianping. The per capita consumption is about 160 yuan.

5. Yang Tongxing



Yang Tongxing is a time-honored halal brand in Shanghai. It is located on Shimen 2nd Road near the Natural History Museum. It specializes in various local snacks and hot pots, but I recommend his snacks.







The old store reopened and a well-known designer was hired to decorate it.



Breakfast is available from 7:00, and there are many kinds, including pasta, steamed buns, pot stickers, steamed dumplings, etc.



I tried a bowl of beef wontons, the soup was thicker, the skin was thin and the fillings were big, with the flavor of five-spice powder.

6. Shunhe Restaurant



This is a local noodle restaurant run by a Shanghai Hui couple. It has been open for more than ten years and has a good reputation among nearby residents.



There are several local halal noodle restaurants like this in Shanghai, but some of them have questionable halal issues.



You can choose beef noodle soup ranging from 2 liang to 3 liang, and add toppings. The toppings are the side dishes placed in the noodles. I recommend the orchid dried tofu, which is eaten by the most people.



This noodle soup can be regarded as an improved version of ramen. The recipe is the same as ramen, but the taste is different. The soup of Shanghai noodle soup is sweet. There are all Shanghainese eating in the store. The diners seem to be familiar with the food. The old lady is too busy, and the diners even help to greet the customers.

7. Yixinzhai



If you come to Shanghai and want to eat authentic local snacks, but are afraid of stepping into the trap, I recommend Yi Xin Zhai, which contains halal versions of the main Shanghai snacks.



There are many certificates hanging at the door of the store, especially the beef fried buns that have won many awards.





Basically, Shanghainese eat breakfast in the store. To buy fried buns, you have to queue outside. However, the elderly have the privilege of having the waiter deliver it directly to their seat.



Beef offal soup tastes good and has a light texture.



There are many kinds of steamed buns. These are steamed buns. They are big and you will be full after eating one. In fact, I prefer Xiaolongbao, but the Xiaolongbao at Yixinzhai is only available after 9 o'clock in the morning. If you come early, you can only eat steamed buns and fried buns.



Most of the people queuing up are here for the beef fried dumplings. The fried dumplings are huge and not as small as Henan fried dumplings. If you come to Isshinsai in the summer, you can also eat shaved ice and stir-fry dishes for dinner. There are many chain stores in Isshinsai. You can search the address online.

8. Guan Guanji



Guan Guanji is very famous in Shanghai, specializing in northwest cuisine, but the breakfast is a combination of Cantonese and northwest cuisine, which is also an innovation. This restaurant is non-smoking and alcohol-free, and it tastes very solid.





The waitresses all wear headscarves and look friendly.



There was beef soup and beef noodles for breakfast. I had beef soup.



Beef pot stickers, the cooking method is very southern, and it is an excellent combination with northwest ingredients.

9. Hong Changxing



Hong Changxing is a well-known time-honored restaurant in Shanghai run by Ma Lianliang's relatives. It has a history of 100 years. It was originally Ma's kitchen, specializing in hot pot, as well as cooking and pastries for takeout.



The main store is located in the core area of ​​Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, and there are also branches.





I came to Hong Changxing specially to buy halal pastries to take back to Beijing. There are many varieties here.



There are also granules such as sesame and walnut powder, which the elderly like.



I bought golden sand cakes, minced beef cakes, coconut tarts, rose cakes, etc. The waiter was an enthusiastic old Shanghai auntie, and she even helped me write out the names of each snack so that I could introduce them when I went back.



After eating them all, I liked the shredded coconut tart the best.

10. Lebanese food



There is a Lebanese restaurant in Beijing called Alameen, which is very good. I didn’t expect that you can also eat extremely delicious Lebanese food in Shanghai. The name of this restaurant is “Lebanese Food” and it is located near People’s Square.



The area is small, but the decoration is exquisite and warm. The waiters are Chinese and the boss is a Lebanese Muslim.



Lebanese cuisine is second to none in the Middle East and is a perfect example of combining East and West.



Halal tips are written on the menu, and the ingredients include no alcohol, no pork, no bacon, no ham, etc.



Barbeque platter, the white one is garlic sauce.



Quinoa Salad



The Arabic flatbread comes with a sauce platter, and you can try four dipping sauces at once.



Chicken pizza, thick cheese is my favorite.



After-dinner ice cream, there are a variety of flavors to choose from. It has a rich milky flavor and can be eaten without ice. The price is not expensive, about 100 yuan per person, and the most important thing is that it tastes good.

11. Efes Turkish Restaurant



A Turkish restaurant one kilometer away from the Pudong Mosque. The environment is really nice and there is a fountain at the door.



Like some unlisted restaurants in Xinjiang, some Turkish restaurants do not have halal certification. It is better to ask before eating. However, this restaurant has a certificate and you can eat with confidence.



Won an award on TripAdvisor, a popular foreign review software.





This time I came alone to eat, and I had to rush to eat. I only ate one pide. The taste was okay, but not amazing. I still miss the Turkish restaurants in Yiwu more.



The bread is given as a gift before the meal. The service in this store is very attentive. Of course, the price is not cheap. The per capita consumption is more than 150 yuan. I am used to the low price level in the imperial capital, but I feel that the price is still high when I come to Shanghai.

12. BALI Indonesian style restaurant



Southeast Asian halal restaurants in Beijing such as Nanyang Festival Walk in Malaysia, Batang Indonesian Cuisine, and Sukhothai Thai Restaurant have all been closed, but they made up for my loss of taste in Shanghai.



BALI is Bali, this is a fast food restaurant, clean and tidy.



There are several tables on the second floor, and the waiter is Indonesian and can speak Chinese.





Indonesian black tea.



Fruit served before meal.



A signature fried rice set includes grilled skewers, satay sauce, vegetable salad, and shrimp crackers. Indonesians like to eat fried things. The taste is okay, and the per capita consumption is about 60 yuan.

13. Mizutani House



You can’t go wrong eating halal Japanese food in Shanghai. Shanghai is influenced by Japanese culture. Walking on the streets of Shanghai feels like walking in Tokyo. eating seafood in Shanghai is convenient and the ingredients can be kept fresh. This is very important for Japanese people who are used to raw food.



The location is on Yuyao Road. When I walked in and asked if it was halal, the waiter immediately looked at me and showed me the certification mark. I felt at ease now. I heard that the owner is from Henan, and when it opened, he went to the Huxi Mosque to ask the imam to help promote it.



The space in the store is very large. You can eat alone at the bar on the first floor, or you can go to a private room on the second floor.





Spicy snail meat, just slightly spicy.



Tuna and Avocado Salad.



Samurai Chicken Nuggets.



Sushi platter.



Octopus sashimi.



Snow Beef Roll, the picture shows raw beef, the waiter will tell you whether it is cooked or cooked.



Nagoya grilled chicken wings.



Seafood steamed egg, mini small portion. The overall evaluation of Mizutani House is very good. The level of Japanese food in Shanghai is still good. The price is not expensive compared to the level in Shanghai. The per capita consumption is 160 yuan, which is not expensive in the Japanese food industry.

1. Huxi Mosque



Huxi Mosque, formerly known as "Yashui Nong Mosque" and commonly known as "Old Mosque", is located at No. 3, Lane 1328, Changde Road. In 1914, it was initiated by the Hubei Hui Muslims to rent a small house in Yaoshui Lane and use it as a temporary place of worship. In the 10th year of the Republic of China, Jin Zhi'an, Ma Yitang, Jiang Xingjie and the Shanghai Muslim Board of Directors decided to donate 2,000 yuan to build the mosque. In 1992, it moved to Changde Road. The current imam is Bai Runsheng.



When the Huxi Mosque was built in 1990, the Putuo District Government required that the new mosque should have Islamic architectural features and comply with modern architectural standards that are consistent with the new district's layout.









Huxi Mosque has a Zhuma Bazaar on Friday, and it is very large. I came here once five years ago. The Zhuma Bazaar was only one street in size, but now it has developed into two streets.

2. Xiaotaoyuan Mosque



Xiaotaoyuan Mosque, commonly known as "Xicheng Mosque", is located at No. 52 Xiaotaoyuan Street, Huangpu District. In 1917, Shanghai Muslim Board of Directors Jin Ziyun invested 12,000 silver dollars, and with the support of Ha Shaofu, Ma Yitang and others, funds were raised from various places and the construction was completed.



The mosque is in a West Asian style, with a verse from the Koran embedded across the door, which translates as "The religion that pleases Allah is indeed Islam."





The Xiaotaoyuan Mosque once housed an Islamic Normal School, a Muslim National Primary School, a Mingcheng Primary School, a Chongben Primary School, and a Shanghai Muslim Orphan Correctional Institution. During the Republic of China, it served as a transit point for pilgrims traveling abroad by sea. Da Pusheng, Hade Cheng and Zong Ditang followed the example of Liu Guan and Zhang Taoyuan and became sworn sworn brothers here. They were called the Xiaotaoyuan Three Brothers.









Next to the Xiaotaoyuan Mosque is the Mosque for Girls. It was founded in 1933 as a Shanghai Muslim Kunning Tongde Girls’ School funded by the Kunning Tongde Association.



3. Songjiang Mosque



Songjiang Mosque was built in the Zhizheng period of the Yuan Dynasty (1341-1368). It is the oldest mosque in Shanghai and the most worth visiting. Songjiang was originally part of Jiangsu Province and was placed under Shanghai City in 1958. There are no traces of Huihui descendants who settled in Songjiang during the Yuan Dynasty. It is known that the first Muslims to settle in Shanghai were after the opening of Shanghai, that is, on November 17, 1843. According to the provisions of the "Treaty of Nanjing" and the "Five-port Trade Charter", Shanghai was officially opened as a port. Since then, Shanghai has transformed from a small county into an international metropolis.









The original mosque was surrounded by Huihui cemeteries. Now the mosque is also a combination of temples and tombs, including the tomb of Daru Huachi, the governor of Yuan County. There are 4 inscriptions from past dynasties preserved in the mosque, including the "Inscription of the Reconstruction of the Zhenjiao Mosque" from the 16th year of Kangxi's reign, written by Yang Caigui, a professor of Songjiang Fuxue and a scholar in Huai'an, and erected by Sai Yinchang, the dean of the mosque.





One of the highlights is the Kiln Hall without Beams, which has both Chinese and Western characteristics.

















4. Pudong Mosque



The Pudong Mosque was founded in 1935. Hong Changjin, a Shandong Muslim, rented a house in Lannidu, Pudong as a temporary place of worship. The current Pudong Mosque was built in 1999. There is also a bazaar in front of the main Mari Mosque, and the scale is not small.









The bazaar in front of Pudong Mosque is only open on Fridays and mainly sells Xinjiang specialties and delicacies.

5. Jiangwan Mosque



Jiangwan Mosque in Shanghai, commonly known as Jiangsu Mosque, was named after the construction initiated by Muslims from Northern Jiangsu. It was built in 1928. It was built by Huaiyin and Siyang Muslims in Jiangsu Province in the early days. Imam Dai Yiheng from Jiangyin presided over the teaching affairs. Later, Imam Zhou Shizhao, a Zhehe Renyemen eunuch, presided over the teaching affairs.











6. Jinshan Mosque



Shanghai Jinshan Mosque is actually a fixed place. The Islamic Association purchased and renovated the health products waste warehouse of Jinshan Petrochemical Pharmaceutical Company, and opened it in 2010. This is the first mosque approved to be established in Shanghai since its reform and opening up.



Jinshan Mosque is far away from downtown Shanghai. You need to take a one-hour subway ride from Shanghai South Railway Station. It is very close to the only beach in Shanghai. You can come here to watch the sea in summer.









7. Fuyou Road Mosque



The Fuyou Road Mosque, commonly known as the North Mosque, was built in 1870 and was spearheaded by the Hui Muslims of Nanjing. It was once the location of the first Muslim school in Shanghai, namely Wuben Primary School, and the Shanghai Halal Board of Directors was also established here. Imam Dapu Sheng once served as the imam. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim Friendly Hangzhou: Historic Mosques, Halal Food and Local Travel Guide is presented here as a clear English travel account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: I have been to Hangzhou many times. This city in the south of the Yangtze River has left a very good impression on me. The citizens are polite and courteous, the girls are nice to talk to, and the vehicles. The article keeps the original place names, food details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Hangzhou Mosques, Halal Food, Muslim Travel.

I have been to Hangzhou many times. This city in the south of the Yangtze River has left a very good impression on me. The citizens are polite and courteous, the girls are nice to talk to, and the vehicles will actively yield to pedestrians. This has only been experienced abroad before. Hangzhou is the first city in China to implement "cars to let people". As early as 2010, Hangzhou included "cars to let people" into traffic regulations for mandatory promotion. Vehicles that violate the rules will be deducted 3 points and fined 100 yuan.

As a pedestrian, of course I feel that this measure is very popular with me, but after listening to the complaints from several drivers in Hangzhou, I realized that the force is not sweet. The drivers believe that some pedestrians are unscrupulous when crossing the road because they are protected by traffic regulations. They lower their heads, play with their mobile phones, and cross the road slowly, making passing vehicles angry and afraid to speak. In fact, the improvement of quality should be from the inside out. Vehicles should give way to pedestrians out of courtesy, and pedestrians should also express their gratitude. This is a naturally civilized behavior. If it is forced to give way, it seems that the quality has been rapidly improved, but it is unwilling to do so. Instead, it will lead to resentment. Once there is no supervision, it will immediately return to its original shape.

None of the above is the reason why I like Hangzhou the most. What attracts me most about Hangzhou is that it has the Phoenix Mosque, one of the four ancient mosques in the south of the Yangtze River, a mosque that can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty, and several ancient tombs of Hui sages close to the West Lake. These extremely precious ancient cultural relics silently record the glorious history of Islam in Hangzhou.

1. Halal snacks



The name of this shop is "Halal Snacks". Halal Snacks have been operating in Hangzhou for at least 7 years. It is located at the back door of the Phoenix Mosque. The owner is a local Hui in Hangzhou, and I heard from the village elders in the mosque that he has a good religious background. The shop is non-smoking and alcohol-free. It specializes in various Jiangnan specialty snacks and some northwest delicacies, because most of the shop staff are from the northwest, and the waitresses also wear headscarves.







The beef fried buns in Hangzhou are relatively large and have thick skin, and are not as small as the fried buns in Henan and Shandong.



I recommend trying the steamed beef dumplings, which are more delicate than the fried dumplings.



Casserole comes in many flavors and tastes good.



Beef vermicelli soup, this is closer to Nanjing’s beef vermicelli soup.



The mutton siomai is my favorite snack in this store. It has a nice shape and the meat is fresh and tender. It should be the mutton purchased from the northwest.

2. Northwest people



If you want to eat authentic Halal Hangzhou cuisine, I recommend you to go to Northwest Restaurant by the West Lake. Although it is owned by Northwest, this restaurant opened in Hangzhou in 1992. It has been deeply rooted in Hangzhou for more than 20 years, and the Hangzhou cuisine they make is really delicious.



West Lake Fish in Vinegar is a famous dish in Hangzhou, and it is quite satisfying to be able to eat the halal version next to the West Lake.



West Lake Beef Soup is one of the must-try dishes in Hangzhou. Although I have had it in restaurants in Beijing since I was a child, when I drink it in Hangzhou, it feels thicker.



Blanched chicken is also one of the common dishes in the south. The chicken in the south is more delicious than the chicken in the north.



Fruit shrimp

3. Gulanxuan



Gulanxuan is a halal Northeastern restaurant in Hangzhou. The owner is a Hui from Qiqihar. The store is relatively large and specializes in Northeastern-style stir-fries, hot pot, and seafood. It ranks first in Northeastern cuisine in Jianggan District on Dianping.com.





When eating shredded sweet potatoes, the shreds will come out. Dip them in the water on the side. The shreds will break. Eat them while they are hot.



Braised beef, with pancakes wrapped around various side dishes like roast duck, very fragrant.





Sticky bean buns are a Northeastern home-cooked snack that is always mentioned by actors in Northeastern film and television dramas.

4. Maizhou·Yilongxuan



This restaurant is also a Northeastern restaurant opened by the Hui Muslims of Qiqihar. After asking, I found out that this restaurant is related to Gulanxuan.





This store is located on the Wen 1st Road of Gaoxin Cultural and Educational District, far away from the West Lake. The store often receives African students, as you can tell by looking at the event photos on the wall.





The roasted lamb trotters have received good reviews. Northeastern barbecue has never let me down.



The leek box is also one of the more popular staple foods in the store.



Guobaorou, a famous Northeastern dish, is made in almost every Northeastern restaurant. However, the meat slices in the Guobaorou here are too thin, making it unsatisfying and tastes sour and sweet.

5. Huaidian Wangpo prawns



The owner of Huaidian Wangpo Prawns in Hangzhou is a Hui nationality in Sanmenxia, ​​Henan. It is a chain brand with its head office in Huaidian Hui Town, Shenqiu, Zhoukou, Henan. The shrimp frying technique there has also been registered as an intangible cultural heritage.



Brown sugar glutinous rice cake



It is served in a small pot, and the amount is very sufficient. You can eat the shrimp directly and rinse the vegetables after eating.

6. Majia Shaomai·Xiaoshan Airport Store



If you are flying from Hangzhou, you can go to Majia Shaomai near Gate 14 on the domestic arrivals floor of Xiaoshan International Airport. It tastes pretty good and is the same as the Majia Shaomai in Capital Airport T3. A set meal of 48 yuan includes two drawers of Shaomai, one meat and one vegetarian, and a bowl of beef offal soup.







The above is the information on the more distinctive halal restaurants in Hangzhou. It should also be emphasized that some Xinjiang restaurants in Hangzhou are not halal. Although these restaurants do not sell large amounts of meat, the sources of ingredients are questionable. I know of Beijiang Restaurant and Seven Guests. More and more Xinjiang restaurants are opening now, but there are fewer and fewer halal restaurants. For example, the Quality Yili Xinjiang Restaurant in Beijing does not have halal certification, and according to their chef, they will add some halal things when grilling, so be careful when eating.

7. Phoenix Mosque





The location of Phoenix Mosque is very advantageous. It is the first ancient building at the north entrance of Nansong Royal Street, a famous pedestrian street in Hangzhou. There are currently two mosques in Hangzhou, and the other newly built one is called Hangzhou Mosque, located on Yunhe East Road, Jianggan District. To the northeast of Phoenix Mosque, there was a mosque called Huihui Worship Hall in history. The original site of Huihui Worship Hall was next to Huihui New Bridge. Now the mosque has been demolished, and only the place name "Huihui New Bridge" remains.















The back hall of Fenghuang Mosque is the essence of the mosque. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty and was built using the beamless hall technique and has a West Asian architectural style.





Phoenix Mosque is currently not open to tourists. It is only used for daily worship by Dosti. It is closed on Fridays. It is arranged to gather at the newly built Hangzhou Mosque for worship. Friends traveling to Hangzhou must pay attention to the time.







8. Tomb of Buhe Tiar, the sage of heaven



There are two ancient tombs on the edge of the West Lake in Hangzhou. One of them is that of a Persian named Bhotiyar. He came to China to practice medicine and preach in the Southern Song Dynasty. He returned to life here and his two followers were also buried with him.

Bukhtiyar, whose full name is Emil Bukhtiyar Selonia Naronik, died in 1329 (the second year of the Yuan Dynasty). He was a native of Bukhara, located in present-day Uzbekistan. The epitaph records that his family had been officials for generations and had a prominent status.



The cemetery is usually closed, but there is a contact number at the door. The administrator lives nearby and is not a Muslim. He will open the door soon.













9. Ding Henian’s Tomb Pavilion



Another Huihui ancient tomb beside the West Lake is the tomb of Ding Henian. Ding Henian (1335-1424) was a very famous Huihui poet in the Yuan Dynasty and the founder of Heniantang Pharmacy in Beijing. Heniantang was founded in 1405-1408, more than 200 years earlier than Tongrentang, and even earlier than the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.



Ding Henian also came from a wealthy family and had been officials for generations. His father was Wuchang Daru Huachi. The Ding family had spent huge sums of money to support the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, so he was entrusted with important tasks. Ding He settled in Hangzhou in his later years and studied the teachings until his death at the age of 89.













Heniantang is located in Caishikou, Beijing, where beheadings were done in ancient times. According to legend, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, before the execution, some family members of the prisoners bribed the executioner in advance and asked him to stuff the deceased with steamed buns when the head fell to the ground. This may be the origin of what Lu Xun said about "human blood steamed buns". He Niantang first provided human blood steamed buns, but they were not for eating. Later, it was said that human blood steamed buns can cure diseases, and people started to snatch them. He Niantang will also provide funds for the burial of prisoners who have no family members, which is of a charitable nature.

When I was a child, I heard an old man tell another legend about Heniantang. Someone knocked on the door in the middle of the night and asked for medicine for a knife wound. The clerk found out the next day that he was given a ghost coin, and then he realized that he had seen a ghost last night. Therefore, there is a saying in old Beijing: "Go to Heniantang to ask for medicine for a knife wound - death is imminent." If it is explained from the Islamic point of view, what the clerk saw may not be a ghost, but may be a nun... view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.

The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.

The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.



















Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.

While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.



















The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.



















Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.



















Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.

















At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.



















Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.

The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.























A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.



















Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.

Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.

During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.



















The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.









At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).

Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.















Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.

The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.

Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.



















Accommodation

Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.

The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.



















The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.



















The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.

We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.



















Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.



















Food

There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.

They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.









The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.







The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.



The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.

Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.



Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.



















Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.

The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.





















El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.



















Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.



















At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.



















When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.



















Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.















Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town. view all

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Summary: Halal Travel Guide: Fengcheng and Dandong - Mosque Visit and Liaoning Food is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear, natural English. The account focuses on Fengcheng, Dandong, Liaoning Travel while preserving the names, places, food, photos, and historical details from the Chinese source.

On June 9 at noon, we headed east from Dalian toward Dandong. We arrived at Fengcheng East Station at 12:14 and took a taxi to the center of Fengcheng for lunch. We first went to a restaurant called Nanlaishun, but we found braised lamb blood on the menu, so we went to another place called Wenbin Snack Bar instead.

We ordered the local Dandong specialty stir-fried corn noodles (chao chazi), along with eight-treasure porridge with corn grits (dazhazi babaozhou) and a 6-yuan vegetable platter. The vegetable platter included stir-fried potato, eggplant, and pepper (di san xian), cucumber with scrambled eggs, and stir-fried dried tofu. I noticed other people just ordering one vegetable platter with rice, which is a great deal.

Stir-fried corn noodles (chao chazi) are made by fermenting corn and grinding it into a liquid, then taking the settled corn starch residue and pressing it into noodles before stir-frying. These noodles are a classic example of turning coarse grains into a refined dish. They have a smooth, delicate texture without any of the usual grittiness of corn flour, and they taste quite good.

Zainab really loved their eight-treasure porridge with corn grits (dazhazi babaozhou). She even said it was her favorite thing she ate during her entire trip to Liaoning. The eight-treasure porridge with corn grits (dazhazi babaozhou) contains almost no rice, just a wide variety of beans. They are very generous with the ingredients, making it a perfect choice for people who want a healthy meal.













After finishing our stir-fried noodles (chao chazi), we went to Fengcheng Mosque to pray. The imam at Fengcheng Mosque is also from Cangzhou.

Fengcheng Mosque was first built in 1775, during the 40th year of the Qianlong reign. It was renovated in 1862, the first year of the Tongzhi reign. In 1876, the second year of the Guangxu reign, the north lecture hall was rebuilt and side rooms were added. In 1890, the 16th year of the Guangxu reign, the Moon-Sighting Tower (Wangyue Lou) was built, giving the mosque its current size.

The most unique part of Fengcheng Mosque is the Moon-Sighting Tower, built during the Guangxu reign. It has a double-eaved, four-cornered, pointed roof with beautiful upturned eaves, brackets, and intricate openwork carvings.



















The mosque features 300-year-old cypress trees and a stone tablet from the Guangxu renovations. The wood carvings on the brackets and the brick calligraphy carvings on the wall corners are also very beautiful.



















Outside the mosque, there are shops selling beef, pastries, roasted chicken, and instructions on how to boil sweet rice balls (yuanxiao). We bought some old-fashioned Northeast-style plain biscuits (guangtou bing). They get tastier the more you chew, with a subtle sweetness that lingers.















We left Fengcheng East Station at 3:39 PM and arrived at Dandong Station at 3:56 PM. We then walked to Pier 2 to take a Yalu River cruise. From the boat, you can see the shipyards, amusement park, old paper mill site, General's Building, schools, and various hidden and visible guard posts in Sinuiju, North Korea, on the other side. We were surprised to see a person swimming across the Yalu River all the way to the North Korean side, and he even waved at us.























Dandong Mosque (Dandong Si) was first built in 1876, and the current building was rebuilt in 2004. The sign at the entrance of the mosque is very rare.

The storefronts of Dandong Mosque are very busy. On the first floor are two old shops, Yixiang and Yiguang, which sell various traditional pastries, mooncakes (yuebing), and sticky rice dumplings (zongzi). Upstairs is the Yixiang Nursing Home, which is open to elderly people of all ethnic groups.



















In the afternoon, we had dinner at the long-established Jinlongge Restaurant in Dandong. They serve a wide variety of traditional stir-fried dishes and seafood. We ordered oyster soup (ligeng tang), braised mixed fish (jiangmen zabanyü), and Northeast-style cold noodles (dongbei da lengmian), and we also drank the local Yalu River soda. Northeast Chinese food comes in huge portions! We used our fists to compare the size of the plates, and one dish is more than enough for two people.

The food here tastes great overall; the large cold noodles (lengmian) are chewy, the fish is fragrant, and the meat quality is excellent. The oyster soup (ligeng tang) is very savory and does not have a fishy smell. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Beijing Winter Diary — Mosques, Halal Food and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Everything I ate in Beijing between December 2021 and February 2022, starting with the resumption of Jumu'ah prayers in Beijing and ending with the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) dinner. The account keeps its focus on Beijing Mosques, Halal Food, Muslim Heritage while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Everything I ate in Beijing between December 2021 and February 2022, starting with the resumption of Jumu'ah prayers in Beijing and ending with the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) dinner. Thinking about winter during the summer, it feels so good to dine in at restaurants.

December 3, Xinyuezhai at Douban Hutong.

Alhamdulillah, the mosques in Beijing have finally opened. I attended Jumu'ah at Nandouyacai Mosque, then went to the nearby Xinyuezhai for beef noodles and a small bowl of beef.











December 4, clear-stewed lamb spine (yangxiezi).

I bought some lamb spine at the entrance of the Chaoyangmen Life Supermarket and made clear-stewed lamb spine at home.









You can add green beans and mushrooms to the leftover clear-stewed lamb spine.



December 9, Gulou Chimian at Jinbao Street.

After work, I went to Gulou Chimian on Jinbao Street to have my favorite braised lamb and Sichuan peppercorn noodle soup (huajiao cuamian). I never get tired of it, and even though they have so many kinds of noodles, I rarely try anything else. I also had the newly added deep-fried crispy pork (xiaosurou), which was quite fragrant and worth ordering again.







December 10, Longxianghui's flatbread stew (hubo).

The Gansu Pingliang restaurant Longxianghui on Dongsi North Street added flatbread stew, meat sauce noodles (saozimian), and cold noodles to their menu. I tried the flatbread stew last night, and it really suits my taste. Pingliang flatbread stew is the opposite of lamb pita soup (yangrou paomo). For lamb pita soup, you have to eat the semi-leavened bread quickly after soaking it, but for flatbread stew, the longer the fried dough sticks (youbangzi) soak, the better they taste.









December 17, home-cooked meal.

I made braised pomfret with diced potatoes, carrots, and cucumbers. Zainabu made braised eggplant with green beans and onions (piyanzi) with wood ear mushrooms. Zainabu's braised eggplant and green beans capture the essence of our Beijing home cooking, and I love it so much.







December 18, Urumqi Office in Beijing.

After visiting the Xinqiao Market at noon, I went to the Urumqi Office in Beijing at Chegongzhuang. I realized I hadn't been there in seven years. This was the Xinjiang restaurant I visited most when I was a kid. Most of my childhood memories of Xinjiang food come from here. I definitely didn't expect back then that I would eventually become a son-in-law from Urumqi, haha.

I ordered horse sausage (machangzi) and vegetable pilaf (zhuafan) to make my own horse sausage pilaf. The pilaf was oily and delicious, but the horse sausage wasn't oily enough and felt a bit dry. The grilled meat (kaorou) tasted great. The baked buns (kaobaozi) weren't very crispy, and I finished by ordering a mixed vegetable stew (huicai).















December 26, chain restaurant Quanzhou Beef House Niujiufen.

Passing through Xihongmen in Daxing, I ate at the chain restaurant Quanzhou Beef House (Niujiufen) inside the Livat shopping center. The famous Xue Family (Xuejia), known as the number one hot pot in southern Beijing from the Hui Muslim village of Xueying in Daxing, has opened three halal restaurants in Livat: Speed Pizza, Niujiufen, and Lou Sanshao. They are all halal, though you cannot tell from the outside.

I ate Quanzhou-style beef ribs, beef soup, abalone sauce vermicelli (mianxian), and drank seaweed jelly (shihuagao) made from agar-agar. Zainab really likes the taste of the Quanzhou-style soy-braised beef; it is not greasy and a little sweet.



















December 27, Muyixuan Lamb Spine Hot Pot.

In the evening, I ate lamb spine hot pot at Muyixuan in Ping'anli.





January 9, Ali Restaurant on Shenlu Street.

Ali Restaurant on Shenlu Street uses pilaf (zhuafan) inside their rice sausages. It is the most authentic I have had in Beijing, and the other dishes were quite good too. The meat in the pilaf was very fragrant, though the liver slices were a bit tough.















Account.

January 10, Syrian restaurant One Thousand and One Nights.

It is my second wedding anniversary with Zainab, so we celebrated at One Thousand and One Nights after work. One Thousand and One Nights is a long-standing Arabic restaurant in Beijing. The owner is Syrian, and the shop opened in 2004, making it 17 years old now. When I was in middle school, I would pass by their place every time I went home from Chaoyang Park. Back then, they were the symbol of a high-end restaurant in my mind, perfectly matching the vibe of the embassy district. At that time, the major shopping malls in Sanlitun had not been built yet, so their place was really eye-catching. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed, and I can finally afford to eat at One Thousand and One Nights.

To this day, One Thousand and One Nights remains the highest-class, most diverse, and best-tasting Arabic restaurant in Beijing. We ordered seafood soup, Kofta meatball soup, pine nut hummus, mozzarella cheese salad, Kashkash kebab, lamb mandi rice in a tagine, and cauliflower with eggplant. Except for the cauliflower and eggplant being a bit oily, everything else was delicious. Their lamb mandi rice is definitely the best I have had in Beijing. The lamb is fresh and tender, and the rice is filled with saffron, raisins, cashews, and various spices, making it smell amazing. The Kashkash kebab is made with parsley, green and red peppers, and garlic, which I think is a Syrian specialty.

















January 14, Madeburg inside Chaoyangmen.

My second visit to Madeburg inside Chaoyangmen; I ordered a whole chicken, fries, and milk tea. I have fallen in love with their freshly made whole chicken. It is much better than burgers, haha. Putting on gloves and tearing it apart to eat is very satisfying. Freshly fried french fries are, of course, both fragrant and have a great texture. Boss Zhang said he found that pizza baked a little longer tastes even better than the standard way, so he shared one with me. I found that pizza baked a bit longer has a scent like naan bread and is both crispy and crunchy, haha.

Before leaving, I received a distributed Islamic calendar from Maidebao. When I got home, I took down the one from last year issued by the Grace Bookstore on Niujie Street and put up the new one. I feel that changing the Islamic calendar every year gives a special sense of ritual that a year has passed. The second month is Isra and Mi'raj, the third is Bara'at, the fourth is the start of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr, the fifth is Eid al-Fitr, the seventh is Arafah, Eid al-Adha, and the Islamic New Year, the eighth is Ashura, and the tenth is Mawlid. A new year begins just like that.











January 15, Indian food Mirch Masala.

I ate Indian food at Mirch Masala on Xiushui Street; the shop name 'mirch' means chili pepper. The restaurant is quite small, with two Indian guys, one as the chef and one as the waiter. It is not big but the food is delicious, reminding me of the South Asian eateries found everywhere in Dubai.

We ordered lamb korma curry, chicken biryani rice, masala tea, kadhai paneer (curry tofu), and their homemade yogurt. Putting the curry, rice, and yogurt on a plate and eating them together is especially fragrant. Finally, we packed the korma curry to take home, planning to add a little bit when we stir-fry dishes over the next few days.

Korma is a type of curry stewed with coconut milk or yogurt. The etymology of 'korma' comes from 'Qawirma' in Turkic, which originally meant to fry, but after evolving into the Urdu word 'Qormā', the meaning changed to stew. Korma is a classic Mughal court dish that started in the 16th century. People say Shah Jahan and his guests ate Korma at the banquet for the completion of the Taj Mahal.

Biryani is a Persian loanword in Urdu, also likely originating from the Mughal court. People say the Mughal imperial chefs created it by combining Indian spicy rice with Persian pilaf. In Mughal dynasty documents, the terms 'biryanis' and 'Pulao' (pilaf) appeared separately, and at that time, the two could be used interchangeably. It is generally believed that biryani is mixed with more spices than pilaf and has a stronger curry flavor.

The recipe for masala tea is not fixed, but it basically includes black tea, milk, sugar, cardamom, black pepper, and ginger. Other spices include cinnamon, star anise, fennel seeds, cloves, and so on.

Kadhai comes from 'Kataha' in the ancient Indian Prakrit dialect, meaning iron pot, which was even mentioned in the Ramayana. This cooking method is relatively popular in northern South Asia and Afghanistan.















January 16, Kashgar Mahmuti Restaurant.

In the afternoon, I went to the Kashgar Mahmuti Restaurant near Baiyun Temple. It is a restaurant that opened in 2005, yet this was my first time eating there. I used to stop at Jiasan and never walked any further. Who knew there was such a restaurant right next to Jiasan!

First, look at the shop name, then look at the freshly baked naan at the entrance, and then look at the interior decoration; it is absolutely like arriving in Erdaoqiao in a second. The staff are all Uyghurs, and when we walked in, a large Uyghur family was celebrating a birthday. We ordered yogurt, roasted lamb chops, lamb liver, lamb skewers (chuanr), Kashgar stew (Kashi duncai), and guirou langman. We wanted to order pigeon soup, but the waiter heard dough drop soup (gedatang) instead. Later, he told us they were out of pigeon soup and swapped it for lamb skewers.

Their yogurt is the most authentic thing on the menu! I have never had such authentic Xinjiang yogurt in Beijing. This homemade yogurt is twenty times better than the packaged Xinjiang brands in supermarket freezers, ten times better than the yogurt at chain restaurants like Bayi Laoye, and five times better than the yogurt at Uyghur spots like Baizuan. I would even say that many restaurants in Urumqi don't have yogurt as good as theirs.

The roasted meat is very fragrant and tender, and the liver is better than the one at Ali on Shenlu Street. The lamb chops are a bit tough, but some people love them that way. The meat in the guirou langman is very authentic; it is the kind that is a bit hard after being deep-fried. The noodles (langman) are a bit soft and average, not as good as the ones at Baizuan. The meat in the stew is a bit hard, maybe because they used air-dried meat, so we packed it to go to stew it again at home. Also, they didn't have the meat jelly (jiasha) listed on the menu and used fried tofu puffs instead, but the flavor was still very authentic.

Overall, I think this place is top-tier among Uyghur restaurants in Beijing, right up there with Ali and Baizuan. Next time I want to try their pilaf (zhuafan) to see how it tastes.

















January 19, Kuqa Uyghur Restaurant, Crescent Moon (Wanwan Yueliang)

I ate at the Kuqa Uyghur Restaurant, Crescent Moon, on Dongsi Liutiao before seeing a play in the evening. This is truly the oldest Uyghur restaurant in Dongsi; I have been eating here for over a decade, ever since I was in middle school. To be honest, their quality isn't as good as what I've had in Xinjiang. In Beijing, they only rank as mid-tier, behind Baizuan, Ali, and Maihemuti.

This time I ordered my usuals: kebabs (kawapu), pilaf (poluo), and stew (huo'erdun). The roasted meat is great, no complaints there. The rice in the pilaf is fine, but their minced meat has always been too dry. The stew is the opposite; the potatoes and carrots are delicious, but the lamb chops are too tough and have very little lean meat.

In short, if I want to satisfy my longing for Xinjiang, I would definitely choose Ali or Baizuan first. But if I am in the Dongsi area for an exhibition or a play, grabbing a meal at Crescent Moon is fine too.













January 21, Yangfang Shengli Hot Pot, Liujiayao branch

It rarely snows, so tonight we had a hot pot at Yangfang Shengli Shuanrou in Liujiayao, which opened in 2021! Although Yangfang Shengli Shuanrou is very famous, this was my first time eating there. I used to think they were mostly in the north, so I was surprised to see one open in the south.

To give a quick introduction, the main branch of Yangfang Shengli Shuanrou is located in a place called Xiguanshi. Hui Muslims from Xiguanshi followed Prince Yan north to Beijing in the early Ming Dynasty. Because they lived near the main trade route from Beijing to Zhangjiakou and were skilled in martial arts, many Xiguanshi Hui Muslims opened security escort agencies outside Qianmen during the Qing Dynasty. They specialized in protecting goods across the five northwestern provinces, mainly serving wealthy Shanxi merchants. People say Li Wuye, the master of the magic pellet in the novel 'Shi Gong An', was a Hui Muslim from Xiguanshi. The depictions of Li Guoliang, the 'Little Hero of the Golden Bow', and the Dongguangyu Escort Agency outside Qianmen in the novel 'Yongzheng Jianxia Tu' vividly show the life of the Xiguanshi Hui Muslim escort agencies during the Qing Dynasty. Because it sits on the essential path to the Mongolian grasslands, the mutton hot pot here is also very famous.

I feel that the Yangfang Shengli Shuanrou in Liujiayao is excellent in terms of environment, service, meat quality, and vegetable freshness. Our family was very satisfied, and we will come here often for gatherings. We ordered their whole lamb combo (lamb brain, 'half-side cloud' flank, lamb tendon, lamb spine, lamb 'emperor' cut, lamb rib, and lamb shoulder), a vegetable platter, crunchy tripe mushrooms, and frozen tofu. First, they opened a bottle of Nongfu Spring water and poured it into the pot, which felt very sincere, haha. They use 6-8 month old black-headed white lambs from Xilingol. The meat is truly fresh, and I personally feel the quality is better than the hot pot places I usually visit near Dongsi (I won't name them). Their pickled garlic (tangsuan) is also homemade, and the flavor is noticeably richer than the store-bought garlic at most hot pot restaurants.

Also, even though the place was very noisy during the dinner rush, the servers came immediately whenever we called. They never ignored us, so it feels like they really know how to run a business.



















January 27, Qiqihar BBQ at Toupiqi.

In the evening, we went to Toupiqi BBQ in the Weilaiyu area of Changying. It is a chain of Qiqihar-style BBQ, and this Changying branch is halal. We ordered freshly sliced family-style marinated meat, beef tongue, pickled cabbage (suancai), Dandong yellow clams, Jixi cold noodles (lengmian), and grilled vegetables. At the front desk, we helped ourselves to shredded tofu, peanuts, Korean kimchi, cantaloupe, oranges, and pumpkin porridge. The dipping sauces were also quite varied.

I really liked their yellow clams. When the cold noodles arrived, they were clumped together, likely because they had just come out of the fridge, but the taste was quite good. The marinated meat was okay, but the beef tongue felt a bit tough and the texture wasn't great. Overall, their food is decent, but I personally think their BBQ isn't as good as Qingu (though Qingu's fried chicken isn't great), I still prefer Qingu's BBQ. Speaking of which, Beijing now has Heilongjiang iron pot stew (Hao Shu) and BBQ, we are just missing a traditional Heilongjiang home-style restaurant! There used to be a Heilongjiang restaurant in Xihongmen called Xingyuege. I had their sweet and sour pork (guobaorou) and steamed dumplings (shaomai) there, but unfortunately, they have closed down.



















January 29, Uyghur restaurant Xiapuna.

After ice skating in the afternoon, I ate stir-fried lamb liver, braised lamb chops with green beans, and home-style mixed noodles (banmian) at the Uyghur restaurant Xiapuna on Shenlu Street. We arrived at Xinjiang lunch time, and sure enough, all the diners in the room were Uyghur, haha.

Their stir-fried lamb liver is super delicious and incredibly tender. It is better than any grilled liver I have had at restaurants in Beijing, and after eating it, I do not even want to eat grilled liver anymore. The braised lamb chops with green beans (jiangdou) are also great. The beans are actually yardlong beans, and they are crispy and fragrant after being fried. The lamb must be from Xinjiang because it lacks the gamey smell found in Beijing. The flatbread (nang) is an oily version that was fried again, and soaking it in the lamb chop sauce is so appetizing.

The meat in the home-style mixed noodles is delicious, but they give you too little. The overall flavor is a bit bland, and the noodles are so thin that I first thought they were dried noodles (guamian). But they taste chewy, so they must be hand-pulled.













January 31, New Year's Eve dinner.

A dish I made with simple stewed meat.





Stewed meat over rice.



Everyone worked together to knead the dough and mix the filling.











February 1, eating dumplings (jiaozi).

We ate the dumplings as we wrapped them, including lamb with lentils, beef with fennel, and beef with celery, using both Urumqi and Beijing wrapping styles. They were wrapped perfectly and tasted super delicious. Then we opened the Laba garlic (labasuan) that we pickled on Laba Festival, which also turned out great and smelled amazing. We used the leftover dough after finishing the filling to make hand-cut noodles.



















Then we had pan-fried dumplings (jianjiao) as well. view all