Beijing 4-Hour Small-Group Walking Tour to Forbidden City with Entry and Optional Tian'anmen Square or Coal Hill Park
by Discover Beijing Tours
Choose from 11 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$49Overview
The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties, serving as the center of power and ceremony. This small-group walking tour in Beijing lasts about 3 to 4 hours and focuses on listening to historical stories while visiting the main buildings and courtyards of the palace. Entrance tickets to the Forbidden City are included. The tour offers three package options with different start times and meeting points. Some options include a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest city square in the world at 440,000 square meters, where the guide explains its significance and surrounding landmarks. Security checks may cause long waits during peak times, with an alternative to pass by the square by bus if the group agrees. Inside the Forbidden City, the guide will lead the group to quieter spots to explain the history of the palace and dynasties. The tour includes stops for story sessions that highlight the cultural background and visits to important museum sections displaying treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Participants walk past major halls including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony, learning about their imperial functions such as ceremonies, rest, and banquets. The tour continues through the emperor’s living quarters like the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity with detailed explanations of their roles. For those choosing the option including Coal Hill Park (Jingshan Park), the tour ends with a short hike to the summit for panoramic views of Beijing’s skyline and the Forbidden City. After the Imperial Garden, the guide offers advice on further independent exploration or directions to the next destination. The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off and requires a valid passport for entry. There are no gratuities included, and ticket-only options are available for those who prefer to explore on their own without a guide or meeting point.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Tour Options and Meeting Points
There are three tour packages available. Option 1 includes Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City, starting at 10:00 am at Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. Option 2 covers Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park without Tian’anmen Square, with start times at 8:00 am and 13:00 pm, meeting in front of Donghuamen (East Gate of the Forbidden City). Option 3 also includes Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City, starting at 7:30 am and 12:00 pm, meeting in front of Laoshe Teahouse. A valid passport is required for all participants.
Tian'anmen Square Visit
For Options 1 and 3, the tour begins at Tian'anmen Square, the geographic center of Beijing and the largest city square globally, covering 440,000 square meters. The guide explains the square’s history and surrounding buildings while leading the group toward the Forbidden City. Security checks may cause waits over an hour during peak seasons. If so, the group may opt to pass the square by bus, pending majority agreement, to avoid reducing time at the Forbidden City.
60 min
Forbidden City Introduction
After entering the Forbidden City, the guide leads the group to a quiet area to explain the palace’s history from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is said that 70% of visiting the Forbidden City is about learning the stories and 30% is about seeing the palace. During the walking tour, there are stops for 'story time' to provide cultural insights. The tour also includes visits to important museums displaying treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
30 min
Walk through Forbidden City Buildings and Courtyards
The group walks past the most notable buildings, including the east and west chambers. The guide shares histories and stories about the palace’s structure and significance as the group moves through the courtyards and halls.
20 min
Major Halls in the Forbidden City
Visits include the Hall of Supreme Harmony used for imperial ceremonies, the Hall of Central Harmony where the emperor rested before rituals, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony where royal banquets and imperial exams took place.
20 min
End at the Imperial Garden
The tour concludes at the Imperial Garden in the north. The guide provides suggestions for further exploration of the palace or directions for the next destination.
20 min
Coal Hill Park Visit (Optional)
For Option 2, after touring the Forbidden City, the group hikes up Jingshan Park to the summit of Jingshan Hill. From here, they can see panoramic views of Beijing’s cityscape and an unmatched vantage of the Forbidden City. The tour ends here for this option.
30 min
Imperial Living Quarters
The tour includes exploration of the emperor’s living spaces: the Hall of Heavenly Purity (bedroom and office), the Hall of Union (symbolic for imperial couples), and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity (residence of the empress). The guide shares stories and historical facts about these buildings throughout the visit.
20 min
Meeting point
7:30AM+12:00PM Tour : Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Tour Reach by taxi: Laoshe Teahouse, 请带我去前门老舍茶馆. Reach by subway: line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit C, then walking 300 meters along the Qianmen West Street.
End point
Tour will end at the north gate of the Forbidden city
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Beijing 4-Hour Small-Group Walking Tour to Forbidden City with Entry and Optional Tian'anmen Square or Coal Hill Park
by Discover Beijing Tours
Choose from 11 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$49Overview
The Forbidden City was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing Dynasties, serving as the center of power and ceremony. This small-group walking tour in Beijing lasts about 3 to 4 hours and focuses on listening to historical stories while visiting the main buildings and courtyards of the palace. Entrance tickets to the Forbidden City are included. The tour offers three package options with different start times and meeting points. Some options include a visit to Tian'anmen Square, the largest city square in the world at 440,000 square meters, where the guide explains its significance and surrounding landmarks. Security checks may cause long waits during peak times, with an alternative to pass by the square by bus if the group agrees. Inside the Forbidden City, the guide will lead the group to quieter spots to explain the history of the palace and dynasties. The tour includes stops for story sessions that highlight the cultural background and visits to important museum sections displaying treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Participants walk past major halls including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, and Hall of Preserving Harmony, learning about their imperial functions such as ceremonies, rest, and banquets. The tour continues through the emperor’s living quarters like the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity with detailed explanations of their roles. For those choosing the option including Coal Hill Park (Jingshan Park), the tour ends with a short hike to the summit for panoramic views of Beijing’s skyline and the Forbidden City. After the Imperial Garden, the guide offers advice on further independent exploration or directions to the next destination. The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off and requires a valid passport for entry. There are no gratuities included, and ticket-only options are available for those who prefer to explore on their own without a guide or meeting point.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Tour Options and Meeting Points
There are three tour packages available. Option 1 includes Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City, starting at 10:00 am at Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall. Option 2 covers Forbidden City and Coal Hill Park without Tian’anmen Square, with start times at 8:00 am and 13:00 pm, meeting in front of Donghuamen (East Gate of the Forbidden City). Option 3 also includes Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City, starting at 7:30 am and 12:00 pm, meeting in front of Laoshe Teahouse. A valid passport is required for all participants.
Tian'anmen Square Visit
For Options 1 and 3, the tour begins at Tian'anmen Square, the geographic center of Beijing and the largest city square globally, covering 440,000 square meters. The guide explains the square’s history and surrounding buildings while leading the group toward the Forbidden City. Security checks may cause waits over an hour during peak seasons. If so, the group may opt to pass the square by bus, pending majority agreement, to avoid reducing time at the Forbidden City.
60 min
Forbidden City Introduction
After entering the Forbidden City, the guide leads the group to a quiet area to explain the palace’s history from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is said that 70% of visiting the Forbidden City is about learning the stories and 30% is about seeing the palace. During the walking tour, there are stops for 'story time' to provide cultural insights. The tour also includes visits to important museums displaying treasures from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
30 min
Walk through Forbidden City Buildings and Courtyards
The group walks past the most notable buildings, including the east and west chambers. The guide shares histories and stories about the palace’s structure and significance as the group moves through the courtyards and halls.
20 min
Major Halls in the Forbidden City
Visits include the Hall of Supreme Harmony used for imperial ceremonies, the Hall of Central Harmony where the emperor rested before rituals, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony where royal banquets and imperial exams took place.
20 min
End at the Imperial Garden
The tour concludes at the Imperial Garden in the north. The guide provides suggestions for further exploration of the palace or directions for the next destination.
20 min
Coal Hill Park Visit (Optional)
For Option 2, after touring the Forbidden City, the group hikes up Jingshan Park to the summit of Jingshan Hill. From here, they can see panoramic views of Beijing’s cityscape and an unmatched vantage of the Forbidden City. The tour ends here for this option.
30 min
Imperial Living Quarters
The tour includes exploration of the emperor’s living spaces: the Hall of Heavenly Purity (bedroom and office), the Hall of Union (symbolic for imperial couples), and the Hall of Earthly Tranquillity (residence of the empress). The guide shares stories and historical facts about these buildings throughout the visit.
20 min
Meeting point
7:30AM+12:00PM Tour : Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City Tour Reach by taxi: Laoshe Teahouse, 请带我去前门老舍茶馆. Reach by subway: line 2 at Qianmen Station, exit C, then walking 300 meters along the Qianmen West Street.
End point
Tour will end at the north gate of the Forbidden city
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.