Museum of Islamic Art

Are you ready for a luxurious sea journey? On February 8, 2024, we will depart from China aboard the Costa Toscana cruise ship, embarking on a dreamy Middle East cruise! 🛫🌟 🚢 Costa Toscana 🏢 Maiden Voyage: 2022 📏 Size: 185,000 tons, 19 decks, 337 meters long, 42 meters wide, 2,612 cabins, maximum capacity of 6,518 passengers 🍽️ Dining: 7 free restaurants, 8 specialty restaurants, 16 specialty bars, offering over 30 dining experiences. 🏊‍♂️ Facilities: Deck pool, hot tubs, water slides, theater performances, children's activity center, spa, gym, and other entertainment facilities. 🌟 Highlights of the Route: UAE: The luxury of Dubai, the capital Abu Dhabi, the mysterious Sharjah. Qatar: Visit the capital Doha and experience Islamic culture. Oman: Explore the capital of the Sultanate, Muscat. Popular Attractions: Dune bashing, BBQ and belly dance performances; visit Palm Island and the aquarium; Abu Dhabi's Louvre Museum and Abrahamic Family House; Doha's Museum of Islamic Art. ✈️ Departure Cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen 📅 Itinerary: ✨D01 (02/08): Depart from Chongqing to Dubai, Lebanon. ✨D02 (02/09): Stay in Dubai and experience the city's prosperity and luxury. ✨D03 (02/10): Board the ship in Dubai and start your sea journey. ✨D04 (02/11): Continue exploring Dubai, possibly visiting the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, or enjoying a desert adventure. ✨D05 (02/12): Abu Dhabi, explore landmarks like Sheikh Zayed Mosque. ✨D06 (02/13): Visit Doha, experience traditional markets and the Museum of Islamic Art. ✨D07 (02/14): Sea cruising, enjoy various entertainment facilities on the cruise. ✨D08 (02/15): Arrive in Muscat, Oman, explore its traditional markets and natural scenery. ✨D09 (02/16): Return to Dubai and check out iconic buildings. ✨D10 (02/17): Disembark in Dubai, ending the sea journey. ✨D11 (02/18): Return to China from Dubai. 💰 Costs Include ✅ Round-trip domestic airfare ✅ Cruise tickets ✅ Onboard dining and entertainment ✅ Overseas tour driver ✅ Chinese tour guide ✅ Attraction tickets ✅ Shore excursions ✅ Insurance

The Museum of Islamic Art. When we think of the masterpieces left to the world by the Chinese architectural master Mr. I. M. Pei, we might think of the glass pyramid of the Louvre, or the Jiangnan charm of the Suzhou Museum's main building, but his true final work is actually this Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar Doha. It took him two years to find inspiration for the architecture around the world, and finally, he incorporated elements of a thousand years of Islamic civilization into every architectural detail. As the master said, the most beautiful architecture should be built above time, and time will give all the answers. The light-colored stones placed on the exterior change their form with the light and shadow. The five-story high glass curtain wall on the north facade presents a majestic panorama of the bay. The interior uses a large number of Islamic patterns, with metal-wrapped geometric shapes symbolizing the sun's light in the desert, creating a powerful sense of awe with precise and pure geometry. If you look at it from the sea, it is as if you see an Islamic woman under a veil, enchanting and vivid. The Museum of Islamic Art is even more interesting for its exhibits. It houses the personal collection of the legendary Dowager Queen of Qatar, Sheikha Mozah. Her appeal lies not only in her more inspirational life story than Zhen Huan but also in her unique artistic taste. The treasures she bought from all over the world are all placed in Doha's National Museum and this Museum of Islamic Art. The Museum of Islamic Art mainly houses artifacts related to Islamic culture. It categorizes and introduces artifacts from ancient Persia such as miniature paintings, carpets, porcelain, etc.; Ottoman Turkey's gold and silverware, ceramics; Mughal India's jewelry; Southeast Asian handicrafts; and even artifacts from the Muslim period in Spain. There is also a Silk Road pavilion, which displays artifacts from a Chinese merchant ship of the maritime Silk Road salvaged in Indonesian waters. The highlights are two Longquan celadon plates from Zhejiang and a jade pot with Qianlong's poetry. In addition, there are Muslim element porcelains and ancient books. The most impressive is the current first-floor boutique exhibition, which displays artifacts from ancient Persia such as miniature paintings, carpets, and clothing customs. Sasha just returned from Iran, having seen the splendor of Isfahan and the culture of Ferdowsi's tomb, and now seeing the manuscript illustrations of Ferdowsi's 'Shahnameh' and old oil paintings of Isfahan, truly feels like time traveling. The museum's opening hours are: 9 am - 7 pm (Saturday - Thursday); Friday 1 pm - 7 pm However, the hours vary greatly during Ramadan. When I visited, it opened at 8 pm and closed at midnight , so it's recommended to check the opening hours before setting out.

🌐 The richest country in the world, many people think it's Dubai, but in fact, Qatar is even richer. This tiny nation is the wealthiest in the Middle East💰. As the first World Cup in history to be held in a Middle Eastern country, the host has spent $220 billion, introducing Qatar to the whole world🌐 🏰 The best season to visit Doha, the capital of Qatar, is from November to March of the following year. During this period, it is cooler and more comfortable, which is also the reason why this World Cup is held in winter for the first time. 👑 Although it is smaller than Beijing, the scenery here is no less impressive. ① Qatar National Museum Modeled after the 'Desert Rose'🌹, from afar it looks like a rose blooming in the desert. Walking through the museum, you can learn about the ancestors of Qatar and the early formation of cities. ② Katara Cultural Village 🌇 Doha has a series of stunning cultural venues, including museums, galleries, and public art. In Katara Cultural Village, tradition and modernism are powerfully combined. ③ Souq Waqif Traditional Market🏛️ Coming to Qatar, of course, you want to experience the local oldest traditional market, which is also a portrayal of 'One Thousand and One Nights'🏜️. Its labyrinth-like alleys contain all kinds of wonders, such as Middle Eastern goods, traditional music and arts, cultural performances, and unique coffee shops☕. ④ Museum of Islamic Art🖼 At the art museum, you can witness the miracle of the sea view and unique architecture merging into one, and learn about the museum's internationally renowned collections. The MIA Park next to the museum is a great place for family picnics, walks, and outdoor yoga. ⑤ Doha Corniche🛣️ A 7-kilometer long magnificent promenade, overlooking the tranquil waterfront, walking through it is like stepping into the world of tomorrow, especially intoxicating during sunrise and sunset. ⑥ Banana Island🍌 Also known as 'Qatar's Maldives'. Viewed from the sky, the island's semi-curved shape resembles a banana, hence the name. ⑦ Lusail Stadium🏟️ This can be said to be a city specially built for the World Cup. Lusail Stadium is the largest stadium in Qatar and the core venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup🏆. Qatar·Asia

This Museum of Islamic Art is one of the two must-visit museums in Doha (the other is the Qatar National Museum), located on an artificial island next to the Doha Corniche, it is the masterpiece of I. M. Pei. Yes, the same designer who designed the Louvre's glass pyramid entrance, the Suzhou Museum, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. This museum is the most comprehensive museum themed on Islamic art to date, why? Because the country is rich and can afford to buy. 🎫Ticket: 50 local currency per person for foreigners (about ¥100 RMB) 📍Address: The museum is located on a specially constructed island next to the Doha Corniche. 🚇Transportation: It is recommended to take a taxi. I walked there (because the hotel was booked nearby), and there are no subway stations nearby. Taxis in Qatar are not expensive and the meter is very regular. 📝Visit time: It is recommended to reserve at least half a day for the visit. ✨Highlights of the visit: 👉In order to build this museum, the first step was to create this artificial island, with the aim of not having any other buildings around to disrupt the overall brilliance. This area is composed of a five-story main building and adjacent wing buildings. The main building is formed in a geometric overlay style, creating an Islamic architectural style, with a high dome atrium inside the central tower. The exterior of the building doesn't look like much from afar, but up close in the sunlight, you can appreciate the master's attention to detail, the changes in light and shadow are just amazing. 👉The interior of the building is also very spectacular, the round hole in the dome of the atrium can capture and reflect the patterned light inside the multi-faceted dome. The extremely high windows on the north side offer a spectacular panoramic view of the entire Doha Bay. If you're tired from walking around, it's a good choice to have a cup of coffee and afternoon tea here. 👉Each floor of the museum is an exhibition area, you can take the stairs or the elevator, and browse floor by floor. Here, cultural treasures from the Islamic world from the 7th to the 19th centuries are collected, including various metal products, ceramics, books, jewelry, wood carvings, historical relics, etc., collected from all over the world. If you want to take your time and browse, you can spend a whole day here. 📸Photo suggestions: 😬The museum's central lobby café faces the new city of Doha and the Persian Gulf, with excellent views. Standing at the stairs to take a distant view is even more impressive. 😬The terraces on both sides of the museum are the best places to appreciate and photograph the old and new cityscapes of Doha, especially the arc-shaped terrace on the left side can capture the night view of the new city of Doha, and the terrace on the right side can capture the sunset and night view of the old city of Doha. 😬On the road at the entrance of the museum, with the museum as the background, if it's sunset, the light is even more beautiful. 📌Notes: 1. Closed on Fridays 2. Photography is allowed in the museum, but flash is prohibited. (If you take a flash photo, someone will come and tell you.)

The world is so big, of course, you have to go and see it! A must-visit stop on a trip to Qatar is definitely the masterpiece of Master Ieoh Ming Pei: the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. The exterior of the museum is simple and modern, while the interior is filled with complex Islamic elements: silver domes, glass curtain walls, arched windows and door curtains are all iconic elements of traditional Islamic architecture. The moment you step into it, you will be shocked! The Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar collects and preserves Islamic art from all over the world. From the ancient Persian brass star plate in Iran to the jade amulet of the Mughal dynasty in India, thousands of years of Islamic relics and artworks from three continents are gathered here, many of which come from the collection of the eldest daughter of Queen Mozah: Princess Mayassa. This princess has an annual budget of up to 1 billion US dollars for purchasing artworks, and is hailed by Forbes as 'the undisputed queen of the art world today'.

An unexpected delay produced the opportunity to experience this unbelievable city. Doha dazzles with a blend of modern marvels and rich cultural heritage. Explore the stunning skyline, indulge in exquisite dining, and immerse yourself in traditional souqs. From the iconic Museum of Islamic Art to the serene Corniche, Doha offers an unforgettable experience for every traveller. Discover the beauty of Qatar's capital! #historicallandmarks #doha #qatar