Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking with Optional Guide Service
by Lily's Tours Beijing
Choose from 4 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.$18Overview
This ticket grants direct entry to the Forbidden City in Beijing, where visitors can spend about 3 to 4 hours exploring its 980 buildings constructed between 1406 and 1420. The ticket allows access through the Meridian Gate (South Gate) without needing to pass through Tiananmen Square. Visitors must provide passport details for all participants at booking to secure the ticket and enter via security check using their passports. Inside the Forbidden City, the visit includes about one hour at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the largest wooden structure in China and the grandest hall in the palace. Next is the Hall of Preserving Harmony for 15 minutes, the last main hall of the Outer Court. The tour continues for 30 minutes at the Gate of Heavenly Purity, which divides the Outer and Inner Courts, with the Inner Court being the palace’s residential area. Visitors spend 20 minutes viewing the two eastern chambers, once bridal rooms for the emperor and empress, and four chambers used for worship. Finally, the Imperial Garden behind the Hall of Earthly Tranquility is explored for about 30 minutes, where the imperial family relaxed. The ticket does not include Tiananmen Square admission or hotel transfers. Food and drinks are not provided. The confirmation is sent seven days before the booked date. Entry times vary by season, with last admission at 4 PM during peak and summer months, and 3:30 PM during the slow season. Children must be accompanied by adults, and youth tickets are required for children taller than 1.2 meters. This is a pre-booking service only, and the ticket is valid only for the selected date.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Forbidden City Entrance and Access
After booking with passport name and number for all participants, visitors enter the Forbidden City directly through security at the Meridian Gate (South Gate) by showing their passport. Entry hours vary seasonally: from April 1 to October 31 and during July and August, last entry is at 16:00; from November 1 to March 31, last entry is at 15:30. Confirmation is sent seven days before the visit, and this ticket provides direct entry without passing through Tiananmen Square.
60 min
Hall of Supreme Harmony
This hall, also called the Hall of Golden Throne, is the largest wooden structure in China and the grandest hall within the Forbidden City. Visitors spend about one hour here viewing the hall’s architecture and artifacts.
30 min
Hall of Preserving Harmony
Known as Baohe Dian, this hall is the last main hall in the Outer Court. Visitors spend about 15 minutes exploring this area.
15 min
Gate of Heavenly Purity
Qianqing Men separates the Forbidden City into Outer and Inner Courts. The Inner Court behind the gate contains the palace’s residential quarters. The visit here lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Eastern Chambers
Two chambers on the east side were converted into bridal rooms for the emperor and empress, while the other four chambers served as places of worship. Visitors spend about 20 minutes viewing these rooms.
20 min
Imperial Garden
Located behind the Hall of Earthly Tranquility, this garden was used by imperial family members for relaxation. Visitors spend about 30 minutes in the garden area.
30 min
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Beijing Forbidden City Ticket Booking with Optional Guide Service
by Lily's Tours Beijing
Choose from 4 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.$18Overview
This ticket grants direct entry to the Forbidden City in Beijing, where visitors can spend about 3 to 4 hours exploring its 980 buildings constructed between 1406 and 1420. The ticket allows access through the Meridian Gate (South Gate) without needing to pass through Tiananmen Square. Visitors must provide passport details for all participants at booking to secure the ticket and enter via security check using their passports. Inside the Forbidden City, the visit includes about one hour at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the largest wooden structure in China and the grandest hall in the palace. Next is the Hall of Preserving Harmony for 15 minutes, the last main hall of the Outer Court. The tour continues for 30 minutes at the Gate of Heavenly Purity, which divides the Outer and Inner Courts, with the Inner Court being the palace’s residential area. Visitors spend 20 minutes viewing the two eastern chambers, once bridal rooms for the emperor and empress, and four chambers used for worship. Finally, the Imperial Garden behind the Hall of Earthly Tranquility is explored for about 30 minutes, where the imperial family relaxed. The ticket does not include Tiananmen Square admission or hotel transfers. Food and drinks are not provided. The confirmation is sent seven days before the booked date. Entry times vary by season, with last admission at 4 PM during peak and summer months, and 3:30 PM during the slow season. Children must be accompanied by adults, and youth tickets are required for children taller than 1.2 meters. This is a pre-booking service only, and the ticket is valid only for the selected date.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Forbidden City Entrance and Access
After booking with passport name and number for all participants, visitors enter the Forbidden City directly through security at the Meridian Gate (South Gate) by showing their passport. Entry hours vary seasonally: from April 1 to October 31 and during July and August, last entry is at 16:00; from November 1 to March 31, last entry is at 15:30. Confirmation is sent seven days before the visit, and this ticket provides direct entry without passing through Tiananmen Square.
60 min
Hall of Supreme Harmony
This hall, also called the Hall of Golden Throne, is the largest wooden structure in China and the grandest hall within the Forbidden City. Visitors spend about one hour here viewing the hall’s architecture and artifacts.
30 min
Hall of Preserving Harmony
Known as Baohe Dian, this hall is the last main hall in the Outer Court. Visitors spend about 15 minutes exploring this area.
15 min
Gate of Heavenly Purity
Qianqing Men separates the Forbidden City into Outer and Inner Courts. The Inner Court behind the gate contains the palace’s residential quarters. The visit here lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Eastern Chambers
Two chambers on the east side were converted into bridal rooms for the emperor and empress, while the other four chambers served as places of worship. Visitors spend about 20 minutes viewing these rooms.
20 min
Imperial Garden
Located behind the Hall of Earthly Tranquility, this garden was used by imperial family members for relaxation. Visitors spend about 30 minutes in the garden area.
30 min
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.