Observing Ramadan in Beijing

Home away from home: Shaikh Ali (right) breaking fast with his friends at the school field of Tsinghua University.

NEARLY 17 hours. This is how long Muslims in Beijing have to fast daily during this holy month of Ramadan.

Because the fasting month is in the summer, when the days are longer, the Muslims start fasting as early as 3.09am and only break fast around 7.45pm. This is almost three hours longer than in Malaysia.