Private Tour Forbidden City Tiananmen Square and Ancestral Temple

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6 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

If you book my tour, I can help you plan and book the rest of your Beijing Trip according to your own interests.

Hello everyone! I'm Susan, your English-speaking tour guide. I once worked as a Financial Reporting Manager at a US-listed company and was laid off when the company went private. Choosing to follow my real passion, I now serve as a cultural bridge, sharing China’s profound history, culture and exquisite ancient architecture with global travelers. This private full-day tour lets you explore imperial Beijing at a relaxed pace, without rushed crowds. No rigid scripted commentary. I offer maps, historical timelines and old photos to make history vivid and accessible, delivering you a sincere, personalized Forbidden City historical journey.
History is never boring. Come with me to explore the charm of ancient and modern China through real history and build up your own thought about civilization.

What's Included

I will pick you up from your hotel by subway, taxi or Uber at your own cost
Lunch
I can help you book the entrance of Tiananmen Square (no cost) and Forbidden City (RMB 60). We need to book tickets 1 to 7 days in advance according to ticket availability.
Entrance ticket of Imperial Ancestral Temple can be bought on site

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

I will contact you once I got your booking by Whatsup or cell phone. On the day of the tour, I will wait for you at your hotel lobby and hold a sign with the lead travelers name.

Itinerary

Duration: 6 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

    We first visit Tiananmen Square, the symbolic heart of Beijing. I will introduce its historical importance and landmark layout, laying a clear historical foundation for our imperial site visits.

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 2

    Next is the Offering Hall at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, a hidden gem overlooked by over 99% of tourists. It represents the finest traditional Chinese architectural style in Beijing. Quiet and uncrowded, you can step INSIDE the Offering Hall to appreciate its splendid woodwork and colorful paintings. Built with precious Ming Dynasty golden-thread Phoebe, its timber quality is far superior to red-pine structures in the Forbidden City’s Qing palaces.

    1 hour • Admission ticket not included
  • 3

    Furniture Gallery: Explore ancient China’s “Center of the World” worldview and its changes after the 1840 Opium War. Ceramics Gallery: Recognize porcelain characteristics across dynasties along a clear historical timeline. Supreme Harmony Hall: Admire traditional Chinese architecture. With Jingshan Hill in sight, I’ll narrate the fall of the Ming Dynasty and the rise of the Qing. Preserving Harmony Hall: Discover how the imperial examination system enabled ordinary people to climb the social ladder. Hall of Mental Cultivation: See original relics and learn about Empress Dowager Cixi’s long reign in late Qing. Western Six Palaces: Uncover the real daily life of imperial women far beyond palace dramas. Palace of Heavenly Purity: Learn how ancient dynasties secured stable imperial power inheritance.

    4 hours • Admission ticket not included

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Private Guide Susan Xie

Tags

Half-day Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Additional fees
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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