4 hours
E-voucher
Multiple
Overview
Your tour begins with a pickup from your central Beijing hotel by your private guide at a time of your choosing.
The first stop of the day is Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world, with space for up to one million people. As you stroll around the grand square, learn more about its importance throughout history and hear about the many significant political events that have taken place in the square.
Continue to the Forbidden City, once the epicenter of the Imperial City and the largest ancient palace complex in the world. Follow your guide on a walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, admiring the palatial buildings and cultural relics that date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.
After passing through the grand Meridian Gate into the 250-acre (100-hectare) imperial palace complex, your tour can be tailored to your preferences. Perhaps uncover the many treasures on display in the Palace Museum; visit the Hall of Ancestral Offerings (Clocks Gallery); or stroll around the maze of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens.
Your tour ends at the east wing of the Forbidden City, from where you can continue sightseeing independently or make your own way back to the hotel.
Operated by
Discover Beijing Tours
Ratings & Reviews
Average Rating
4.95
/ 5
581 traveller ratings
5
562
4
13
3
2
2
2
1
2
5
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
Great Tour of Tiananmen Square & The Palace Museum
Joy_P, May 2025
Great tour of Tiananmen Square and Palace Museum! Our tour guide was Claire, she was very informative, friendly and patient with us as we asked many questions and took time taking photos/videos! We went to visit during a public holiday and we were able to enter without difficulty and see all the main areas of the forbidden city! We were informed if you attempt to do these locations without a guide, you will go through many security checks and have a long wait. We highly recommend this four hour tour, it was enough time to see the two locations!
Thanks Miko for great tour!
babitingz, Apr 2025
Miko our tour guide is AMAZING. He gave clear instructions the night before our tour which made me feel assured and comfortable. On the morning of the tour, Miko was easy reachable on phone. We met him up conveniently and the tour started on time. Miko gave good tips on how to get into the Forbidden City faster. When we got in, Miko shared much history about the buildings, which made the tour more interesting. Overall a great educational tour highly recommended to try.
Tour amazing
francescobonarota, Apr 2025
The tour was amazing, we saw everything in the forbidden city and Tiananmen square. Miko, the tour guide, explains everything about the history of the forbidden city. Miko is super prepared about Chinese history, he is the best guide. Super recommended !!!
Thanks Miko for the amazing tour
660asangaj, Apr 2025
We took the guiding tour of the 'Forbidden City' with Miko earlier this month and it was an amazing experience. Before joining the tour, his communication via Whatsapp was very clear with all the requirements and how to find the meeting place, etc. He warmly welcomed each and everyone to the tour in the morning and started the tour aftet all the tour instructions. He took us to all the important places and highlighted the importance and shared the background story. He made sure that everyone who was in the tour followed his instructions as it was important to continue the tour and finish it in time. Miko also did not forget to share details of his background and family details which gave us a bit of insight to living in China. Overall, Miko was an amazing tour guide and his english was also very clear and easy to understand. Thanks again Miko for the great tour.
Itinerary
Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
Please Note: Tian'anmen Square might close without advance notice due to the government activity, if this happened we will take you walk around the Square and offer commentary)
After picking you up from your hotel in Beijing, head to the Tienanmen Square directly, home to the National Museum of China. Please note this tour including tour guide meet you in the lobby of your hotel, but please pay your own transportation fee(You can choose to use a taxi(at your own expense) or walk to Tian'anmen Square. If there is anything you particularly want to see, feel free to let your guide know. The best thing about having a private guide is that the tour can be tailored to the things that interest you the most.
This tour including special skip-the-line access which help you beat the crowds and save time to explore.
Your tour will start from Qianmen (Front Gate), follow your tour guide to walk through Tiananmen Square. Get to know the the stories of the surrounding buildings.
30 minutesNational Museum Of China
These are buildings you will see from Tian'anmen Square: the National Museum of China, the Great Wall of the People, Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall, the Monument of People's Heroes and The Flagpole.
Your tour guide will offer detailed explanation about these sites. Feel free to ask questions if you have.
Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
Follow your tour guide to pass through the south gate to the magnificent Forbidden City, a 250-acre complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens, which served as the imperial palace for emperors and their households for more than 500 years.
The Forbidden City was the imperial palace from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is located in the middle of Beijing, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government.
2 hoursAdmission IncludedMeridian Gate (Wu Men)
Enter the Forbidden City from the South Gate -Meridian Gate. In the Forbidden City you will explore the most important buildings and courtyards.
Hall of Union
Then continue to check out the living quarters in the palace: Hall of Union, Hall Heavenly Purity, Hall of Union and Hall of Earthly Tranquillity.
20 minutesAdmission IncludedHall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
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.
10 minutesAdmission IncludedHall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian)
Hall of Central Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony. The Hall of Heavenly Purity, The Hall of Union, The Hall of Earthly Tranquility and the Imperial Garden.
30 minutesAdmission IncludedThe Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Your tour will ends at the north gate, you can choose to explore more of the Palace on your own, or your tour guide will help you to get taxi to your next destination. (at your own cost)
20 minutesAdmission Included
Experience
Highlights
Inclusions
- Hotel pickup only(but not including the transportation fee to Tian'anmen Square)
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Entrance fee
Exclusions
- Transportation to the Forbidden City
- Hotel drop-off
- Gratuities
- Additional entrance fee to the museums
Additional Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Passport name, number is required at time of booking for all participants
- The Forbidden City in winter closes at 4:30pm (1st of Nov - 31st of March), in summer at 5:00pm (1st of April -31st of Oct), please arrange your start time accordingly
- Please Note: When making a booking, please provide the tour operator with your desired pick up time at "special requirement", your tour operator will also contact you just in case
- The visit to Tiananmen Square is not guaranteed, it might be closed due to the government events.
Guide Languages
English
Cancellation Policy
A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.