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Offered languages
- English
Ideal for history, culture, architecture, and museum enthusiasts, this tour embodies the popular saying: "70% of visiting the Forbidden City is learning its stories, 30% is seeing the palaces". Over this 4-hour walking experience, you’ll pause at key spots for engaging "story time"—gaining deep insights into its rich culture—while exploring major buildings and courtyards. With groups limited to 15 people, you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your guide. Entrance fees are included. Alternatively, you may opt for our Forbidden City ticket-only service and explore independently at your own pace.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Tour will end at the north gate of the Forbidden city
Itinerary
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1Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
Please note: You must bring actual passport for this tour. This tour have two options Option 1: Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Group Tour Start time: 10:00am Meeting point: In front of Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall Option 2: Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park Group Tour (Tour without Tian'anmen Square) Start time: 8:00am and 13:00 Meeting point: In front of Donghuamen (East gat of the Forbidden City) Itinerary: Option 1: Forbidden Cit Tour with Tian'anmen Square Meet your group in front of Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, then follow your tour guide to go through travel agency passage to enter Tian'anmen Square (Tiananmen Square may be closed by the government at any time, so entry isn't guaranteed, since Tian'anmen Square is free so there is no refund ).
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
Tiananmen Square is the geographical center of Beijing City. It is the largest city square in the world, occupying an area of 440,000 square meters (about 109 acres).Followed by your expert and professional guide, a very informative introduction of the Tian'anmen square and surrounding buildings will be given to your group, as everyone moves along towards to the Forbidden City. (Please note: In peak season security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds one hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Given the sweltering heat, waiting in line for an extended period increases the risk of heat - related illnesses. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.)
1 hour • Admission ticket free -
3Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
Once enter the Forbidden City, your guide will find a quite sitting area and introduce you to the palace, making you feel immersed in the history of the Ming and Qing Dynasty. People always say: when visit Forbidden city, 70% is to learn the stories and 30% is to see the palace.During the walking tour, you will stop at different locations to have the "Story time" and gain the insight view to the fascinating culture.This detailed tour to the Forbidden city also including the visit to the important museums to discover the treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian)
You will visit important buildings such as the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Palace of Heavenly Purity
Then continue to check out the living quarters in the palace: Hall of Union, Hall Heavenly Purity, and Hall of Earthly Tranquillity.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
You'll be walking pass the most notable buildings during the tour as well as the west and east chambers. Check the Itinerary for the full list of sights. Stroll around the courtyards and halls of the Forbidden city with your tour guide, and learn the histories and stories about this massive palace. You will visit these buildings inside the Forbidden City. Hall of Great Harmony where the emperor handle states affairs.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Your tour will end at the Imperial Garden in the north, then you can decide to explore more of the Palace on your own, or going to the next destination. Your guide will give suggestions for you on where to go and how to get to the next place.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
8Jingshan Park
If you choose option 2, after the Forbidden city. Dive into Beijing's rich history with a short hike in Jingshan Park, climb up to the the summit of Jingshan Hill with your tour guide, enjoy panoramic views of Beijing's cityscape, including an unparalleled view of the Forbidden City. For option 2, your tour will end here.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Your passport name and number are required at time of booking (for all participants)
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Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Your passport name and number are required at time of booking (for all participants)
- Please don't forget to bring your passport, you may be refused entry without it.
- 0-3 Years old infant is free, children have to purchase tickets as well
- Tian'anmen Square might close without advance notice due to government activity, if this happens you will skip the Square
- Tour departs punctually. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Once the tour left, you are unable to join the tour, and this tour is not refundable.
- Chinese citizens, including customers from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, need to reserve the tickets for the Palace Museum 7 days in advance. Once the tickets for the Palace Museum are sold out, it will be impossible to participate in this itinerary. In addition, according to the regulations of the Palace Museum, Chinese citizens can only choose to reserve tickets with their ID cards. Therefore, when making a reservation, it is necessary to submit the Chinese name and ID card number, and on the day of the tour, the submitted ID document must be presented to join the tour group.
- In case of peak travel seasons and when all the tickets reserved online for the scenic area are sold out, tourists are required to go to the ticket office of the scenic area by themselves under the guidance of the tour guide to handle the purchase of paper tickets on-site. Please be informed.
- Since this is a small - group itinerary, your punctual arrival at the meeting point is essential for a seamless travel experience. Tiananmen Square and the Palace Museum have strict regulations and procedures. If you are late, it may unfortunately prevent you from joining the tour and entering the Palace Museum. Due to the unique nature of the itinerary arrangements, in the event that lateness causes you to miss the tour, we regret that we will not be able to process a refund. We highly recommend that you communicate with your hotel in advance to accurately confirm the travel time from the hotel to the meeting point and make sufficient preparations. This way, you can embark on your journey with ease and enjoy every moment of it.
- In Peak season, the security checks at Tiananmen Square are particularly stringent. If the waiting time exceeds one hour, we recommend considering a bus ride that passes by the square. Given the sweltering heat, waiting in line for an extended period increases the risk of heat - related illnesses. Additionally, spending too much time at the square could detract from your experience at the iconic Forbidden City, which is a highlight of our tour. We will only proceed with this alternative if the majority of the group is in agreement. Please keep this in mind as we plan our visit.
- This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.
- This tour is not recommended for travelers with physical/visual impairments or mobility restrictions due to varied terrain (underground passages, stairs) and the length of the tour. Please note that this tour covers 4 hours of walking.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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