Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options
by Discover Beijing Tours
Choose from 8 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.$172Overview
The Forbidden City in Beijing was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties, home to 24 emperors along Beijing’s central axis. This private walking tour lets visitors follow the route from Tiananmen Square through the Meridian Gate to explore the palace’s main halls and courtyards. The tour includes a professional guide who explains the history and function of each location, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and selected courtyards in the Six Eastern or Western Palaces. The tour concludes in the Imperial Garden. There are seven package options ranging from about 4 to 6 hours in length. Some include round-trip private transfers, others do not. One option adds a traditional Hutong lunch or dinner. Admission tickets are included in all options, so visitors do not need to worry about ticketing rules. Depending on the option chosen, hotel pickup is included but transportation to the attraction may be at the traveler’s expense. The tour also offers flexibility to visit additional nearby sites such as Jingshan Park for panoramic views of the Forbidden City, the Treasure Gallery, and the Clock Gallery. Other combo options include visits to the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Great Wall. The guide provides historical commentary and helps guests skip crowds at key locations. The tour operates in all weather conditions.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Tiananmen Square
The tour starts at Tiananmen Square, which may close unexpectedly due to official events; if so, the itinerary will be adjusted. Visitors walk around the square’s perimeter while the guide explains its importance and points out key buildings such as the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and the Flagpole. There are eight tour options available, ranging from 4-hour to 6-hour durations, some including round-trip car transfer and a Hutong lunch. Visitors will see main Forbidden City attractions including the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery. Alternatively, those not visiting the museums can go to Jingshan Park to overlook the Forbidden City and view Beijing’s central axis.
30 min
National Museum Of China
From Tiananmen Square, guests view the National Museum of China externally, along with other significant buildings on the square, while the guide provides historical context. This stop occurs during the walk around Tiananmen Square, offering insights into the surrounding landmarks.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
The tour enters the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, located at the southern end of Beijing’s central axis. The guide explains that the palace served as the residence for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1368 to 1912. The complex is known for its symmetrical layout, red walls, and yellow tiled roofs. Now operating as the Palace Museum, it houses over one million cultural relics and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Palace Museum
The main portion of the tour covers the central axis of the Forbidden City starting at the Meridian Gate and proceeding north to key halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, and Hall of Union. The guide spends about 70% of the time explaining the history and purpose of these buildings. The tour also visits one or two courtyards within the Six Eastern or Western Palaces, such as the Palace of Eternal Spring, and concludes at the Imperial Garden.
120 min
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
The tour concludes at the Imperial Garden with different end arrangements depending on the selected option. For the 4-hour Private Forbidden City Tour without transfer, visitors can continue exploring independently and arrange their own transportation. The 4-hour tour with round-trip private car transfer includes a driver returning guests to their hotel. The 6-hour Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Tour with Chinese lunch and private transfer includes a stop in the Hutong neighborhoods for lunch or dinner before returning to the hotel. The 6-hour In-Depth Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Tour with self-paid transportation allows visitors to explore two museums or ascend Jingshan Park for views but does not include hotel drop-off.
20 min
Beijing
Additional combo options extend beyond the Forbidden City to include the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall (Badaling or Mutianyu sections). These options include admission tickets, a guide, and round-trip transportation. Lunch and cable car tickets for the Great Wall are not included.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City with 7 Options
by Discover Beijing Tours
Choose from 8 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.$172Overview
The Forbidden City in Beijing was the imperial palace for the Ming and Qing dynasties, home to 24 emperors along Beijing’s central axis. This private walking tour lets visitors follow the route from Tiananmen Square through the Meridian Gate to explore the palace’s main halls and courtyards. The tour includes a professional guide who explains the history and function of each location, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union, and selected courtyards in the Six Eastern or Western Palaces. The tour concludes in the Imperial Garden. There are seven package options ranging from about 4 to 6 hours in length. Some include round-trip private transfers, others do not. One option adds a traditional Hutong lunch or dinner. Admission tickets are included in all options, so visitors do not need to worry about ticketing rules. Depending on the option chosen, hotel pickup is included but transportation to the attraction may be at the traveler’s expense. The tour also offers flexibility to visit additional nearby sites such as Jingshan Park for panoramic views of the Forbidden City, the Treasure Gallery, and the Clock Gallery. Other combo options include visits to the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Great Wall. The guide provides historical commentary and helps guests skip crowds at key locations. The tour operates in all weather conditions.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Tiananmen Square
The tour starts at Tiananmen Square, which may close unexpectedly due to official events; if so, the itinerary will be adjusted. Visitors walk around the square’s perimeter while the guide explains its importance and points out key buildings such as the National Museum of China, the Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and the Flagpole. There are eight tour options available, ranging from 4-hour to 6-hour durations, some including round-trip car transfer and a Hutong lunch. Visitors will see main Forbidden City attractions including the Treasure Gallery and Clock Gallery. Alternatively, those not visiting the museums can go to Jingshan Park to overlook the Forbidden City and view Beijing’s central axis.
30 min
National Museum Of China
From Tiananmen Square, guests view the National Museum of China externally, along with other significant buildings on the square, while the guide provides historical context. This stop occurs during the walk around Tiananmen Square, offering insights into the surrounding landmarks.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
The tour enters the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate, located at the southern end of Beijing’s central axis. The guide explains that the palace served as the residence for Ming and Qing dynasty emperors from 1368 to 1912. The complex is known for its symmetrical layout, red walls, and yellow tiled roofs. Now operating as the Palace Museum, it houses over one million cultural relics and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Palace Museum
The main portion of the tour covers the central axis of the Forbidden City starting at the Meridian Gate and proceeding north to key halls: Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of Preserving Harmony, Palace of Heavenly Purity, and Hall of Union. The guide spends about 70% of the time explaining the history and purpose of these buildings. The tour also visits one or two courtyards within the Six Eastern or Western Palaces, such as the Palace of Eternal Spring, and concludes at the Imperial Garden.
120 min
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
The tour concludes at the Imperial Garden with different end arrangements depending on the selected option. For the 4-hour Private Forbidden City Tour without transfer, visitors can continue exploring independently and arrange their own transportation. The 4-hour tour with round-trip private car transfer includes a driver returning guests to their hotel. The 6-hour Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Tour with Chinese lunch and private transfer includes a stop in the Hutong neighborhoods for lunch or dinner before returning to the hotel. The 6-hour In-Depth Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City Tour with self-paid transportation allows visitors to explore two museums or ascend Jingshan Park for views but does not include hotel drop-off.
20 min
Beijing
Additional combo options extend beyond the Forbidden City to include the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and the Great Wall (Badaling or Mutianyu sections). These options include admission tickets, a guide, and round-trip transportation. Lunch and cable car tickets for the Great Wall are not included.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.