Business trips aren’t always about boardrooms and ties. Sometimes, they’re about crowded trains 🚂, late-night noodles 🍜, surprise mosques 🕌, and kebabs 🍢 that taste like home.
Here’s the story of my journey from Lucknow to Yiwu, China with my travel buddy Imran Beg — a mix of faith, food, and trade hustle.
🚉 From Lucknow to Delhi – The Kickoff
It all began at Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow. The iconic red building was buzzing with life: families camped on the floor, chaiwalas weaving through the crowd, and us trying to look “serious businessmen” with our luggage.
From here, we took a train to Delhi — the official launchpad of all abroad dreams.
✈️ Flight to Shanghai – Long Haul, Big Dreams
Delhi Airport felt like a different world — shiny floors, overpriced food, endless trolleys. After some waiting, we boarded our direct flight to Shanghai.
Long flights = excitement + boredom + hunger + sleep (repeat). Finally, at midnight, we landed in Shanghai.
🌙 Midnight in Shanghai – Hungry & Clueless
Landing at 12 AM is only fun if you’re not starving. Being Muslim travelers, halal food is always a challenge in China.
We checked into our hotel (pretty sure it was Jingjiang Inn) and by the time we dropped our bags, it was past 1 AM. But hunger doesn’t care about time.
So, we stepped out clueless… and Alhamdulillah, just across the street, we spotted a street food stall 😍. Plastic stools, hot woks, trays of noodles, and smoke in the air — a perfect midnight scene.
We pointed randomly at dishes, and soon bowls of steaming noodles + a chilled Mirinda landed on our table. At 2 AM under dim streetlights, this felt like the best meal of our lives.
🌆 First Morning in Shanghai – The Bund & Subway Relief
Next morning = tourist mode ON. We headed to The Bund, Shanghai’s iconic riverfront.
One side had historic colonial buildings, the other had futuristic towers like the Oriental Pearl and Shanghai Tower. Pure sci-fi vibes.
But after photo sessions came hunger pangs 🤦. And guess what we found? A Subway outlet right near The Bund 🥪.
That veggie sub felt like fine dining. Alhamdulillah for safe food options!
🕌 Searching for a Mosque – A Walk Back in Time
Google Maps zindabad! 📱 It led us through metro lines into old rustic lanes of Shanghai.
Walking there felt like stepping into China of the 1950s. Old shops, bicycles, locals chatting outside, kids playing freely — pure charm.
Finally, we reached a mosque. The peace inside was overwhelming. Red carpets, wudu taps, and rows of worshippers. Two travelers from India praying shoulder-to-shoulder with Chinese brothers — faith connects beyond language. 💚
🍲 Halal Surprise – Xinjiang Restaurant
Later, we stumbled upon a glowing halal board — jackpot! 🎉 It was a Xinjiang restaurant, common across China.
We tried egg noodles. Honestly? Meh. But enough to satisfy hunger. If you’re Muslim in China, every halal find is a small victory 🏆.
🚄 Train to Yiwu – Business Mode ON
Evening came, and it was time to head to Yiwu, our real destination. Shanghai station was HUGE, crowded, and buzzing.
The bullet train zipped us out of Shanghai smoothly. Goodbye neon skyline, hello business hub.
🍢 Arrival in Yiwu – Straight to Yaseen Kebab
First things first in Yiwu: Yaseen Kebab. No luggage drop, no wasting time. Hunger led us straight to sizzling skewers, naan, salad, and bottles of Barbican 🥤.
After a long day, this was heaven.
🍳 Yiwu Times Hotel – Breakfast of Champions
We stayed at Yiwu Times Hotel. Breakfast was simple but energizing: omelette with ketchup art, toast, watermelon, buns, coffee ☕.
Enough fuel to face the Yiwu hustle.
🛍️ Yiwu Market – The Endless Bazaar
Then came the real grind: Yiwu International Trade City. Imagine thousands of shops, each selling a universe of products.
Stationery with cartoon lions 🦁, funky wallets, kids’ tuxedos, colorful tins… you name it, Yiwu sells it.
Business cards exchanged hands like candy 🍬. Walking those aisles felt like treasure hunting.
🍴 Dinner in Yiwu – Playing It Safe
Evenings were simple: halal food, no risks. Another round of kebabs, naan, salad. Comfort food, survival mode ✅.
🕌 Friday in Yiwu – Grand Mosque Magic
Friday in Yiwu is special. The Yiwu Grand Mosque is breathtaking — white marble domes, tall arches, chandeliers.
Jumu’ah here = Muslims from across the world standing together. Arabs, Africans, Chinese, South Asians — one ummah. 💚
🎉 Street Food Festival Outside the Mosque
After prayers, the street turned into a halal food festival. Stalls everywhere, smoke in the air, people crowding to buy food.
The crispy fried chicken 🍗 was spot on. But the pulao 🥘 — rice fragrant, meat tender, melt-in-mouth — that was unforgettable.
🛒 Back to the Markets
Afternoons meant more market hustle. Thousands of shops, each corner offering something new.
Yiwu = truly the world’s supermarket 🌍.
🌙 Yiwu Nights – Floats & Fire Therapy
Yiwu doesn’t sleep. The night market was buzzing with lights, stalls, and surprises.
First stop: McDonald’s iced floats 🍦🥤. Safe, sweet, refreshing.
Then came the shocker: dry cupping therapy on the street! 🔥
Yes — glass cups, fire, suction — all happening in the open.
That’s Yiwu for you: a mix of business, culture, food, and surprises you’ll never forget.
🍴 Dinner at POLAT Turkish Restaurant
After exploring the buzzing Night Market, we decided to end the day at one of the oldest and most reliable restaurants here – POLAT Turkish Restaurant. A safe haven for travelers like us looking for authentic halal food 🌙.
We started with crispy shawarma wraps and fries, served with pickles, yogurt, and spicy chutney. Simple yet satisfying!
The pickles on the side added just the right tangy crunch 🥒🥕.
And then came the fried chicken with golden fries – crunchy on the outside, juicy inside 🍗✨.
Dinner was hearty, filling, and the best way to wrap up our long day of business and exploration. Sitting there, with the night market sounds outside and a plate full of comfort food inside, Yiwu felt just like home away from home ❤️.
A Moment of Relaxation
After endless walking, bargaining, and note-taking in the markets, it was time to slow down. I stopped at a local store and picked up a hydrating face mask.
Back at the hotel, with the cooling mask on, the stress of the day melted away. 🛏️ Sometimes, travel is about these small, personal joys too — finding a few quiet minutes for yourself amid the hustle.
A Different Side of Yiwu – Mall Visit
The next day, after finalizing our orders with suppliers, we spent some time at one of the local malls in Yiwu.
Inside, we stumbled upon a massive kids’ play zone — a ball pit filled with thousands of blue and white balls ⚽💙, slides, and happy children playing everywhere. It was refreshing to see families enjoying themselves, a reminder that Yiwu isn’t just about business, but also about community and leisure.
Bullet Train to Shanghai & Flight Home
As evening approached, we had one last comforting halal dinner 🍽️ in Yiwu, savoring the familiar kebabs and bread that had fueled us throughout the trip.
Then it was time to bid goodbye. We boarded the sleek bullet train to Shanghai 🚄 — smooth, silent, and astonishingly fast. Within hours, we were in Shanghai, catching our flight back to Delhi ✈️.
Closing Thoughts
The final leg of the journey wrapped up everything beautifully. From hearty Turkish meals at POLAT, a quiet moment with a face mask, the cheerful chaos of Yiwu malls, and the thrill of riding the bullet train — every step was a story.
Yiwu may be known as the world’s largest market, but for us, it was much more: a city of food, faith, friendship, and memories we’ll always cherish. 🌏❤️
