4-Hour Group Tour: Exploring Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City's History
4.9
280 Ratings
Dong Cheng Qu
Join our 4-hour group tour of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to explore the rich history, culture, and architecture of these iconic landmarks. Learn fascinating stories and gain insight into Chinese culture while visiting major buildings and courtyards. Limited to 10 people for a personalized experience. Entrance fees included.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall - Please note: You must bring actual passport for this tour

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 (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.

  • Forbidden 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.

  • Hall 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.

  • Palace 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.

  • Hall 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.

  • The 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.
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • Forbidden city entrance fee
  • Reservation to enter Tian’anmen square via Travel Agency Passage
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pick up and drop-off
  • Gratuites
Additional Information

This trail is ideal for enthusiasts of history, culture, architecture, and museums. It is often said that a visit to the Forbidden City involves 70% exploration of tales and 30% admiring the palace. In the course of this 4-hour walk, you will pause at various spots to delve into intriguing narratives and gain a profound understanding of the captivating culture. You will explore principal buildings and courtyards. The group will be kept to a maximum of 8 individuals to guarantee a more personalized experience from your guide. The tour cost includes entry charges. We convene in front of the Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Center.

  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Your passport name and number are required at time of booking (for all participants)
  • Please make sure bring actual passport during the tour
  • Tour including 4 hours walking, so please make sure wear comfortable shoes
Location
Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall
Qian Men Dong Da Jie
Reach here by taxi: 请带我去北京城市规划馆前门东大街20号- 北京规划展览馆 Reach here by subway: Qianmen Station, exit E2, after exit, turn left pass by Beijing Railway Station Museum, then turn right walking 400 meters, please wait in front of the main entrance of the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(280 Ratings)
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Laura_s
Jun 8, 2024
Great Beijing experience - Lucy was a great guide and provided lots of interesting facts about tiananmen sq, the forbidden city, and also Beijing / china more broadly. She speaks great English and gave us plenty of opportunities for photos on our tour as well as breaks throughout (it was pretty hot for us in June but apparently still much cooler than the later summer months). She also provided the group with bottled water during the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Ju_y
Jun 8, 2024
Great tour! - Our tour guide Lucy is very friendly, knowledgeable, and accommodating. We met on time and Lucy guided us through various security checks seamlessly. I've heard it is very difficult to get a tickets for the Forbidden City, and I'm so glad Lucy and her team managed and handled all the ticket booking logistics so that me and my family can enjoy our time. Would definitely recommend this tour and Lucy!
Review provided by Viator
Can_e
Jun 8, 2024
Great tour, great tour guide - The tour was fantastic thanks to our guide Anson. We visited almost every corner of the Forbidden City and learnt about the Chinese history and culture. Highly recommended if you have limited time in the city!
Review provided by Viator
Dream53592744700
Jun 4, 2024
4 hour walking tour to Forbidden City - Lucy was our fantastic guide today , she is so knowledgeable about the history of Tiananmen Square and 故宫。 she is very patient and kind even buying us water. Very easy instructions on meeting and ease of contact I would definitely highly recommend 加油 Lucy
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arthur_c
Jun 3, 2024
Must See - While on a trip, we took the 4-hour Tiananmen/Forbidden City Tour with Vivian. Now let me say that getting through security can be quite challenging because security is very this tight, but Vivian assisted us the whole time. Wear comfortable shoes, a hat, sun block and sunglasses…..a couple of bottles of water is good but not needed as they sell water everywhere. MOST importantly bring your passport… you will need it!!! Vivian sent us up to date text as well as precise directions as to where to meet your group. She is very charismatic and her English is superb. More importantly she takes her time to explain everything while ensuring your wellbeing. I highly recommend her and her company. I also highly recommend you pay the full extra money for a guided tour rather than trying to go on your own.. unlike many places you need a reservation, roughly a week in advance to gain entrance into the Square as well as the Forbidden city. This is a must see in Beijing…
Review provided by Viator
Hugo
Jun 1, 2024
Great tour - Really nice tour guide with our guide Miko which is really chill and gave us a lot of historical context for each items we saw. Will recommend for my friends for sure !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Beili_j
Jun 1, 2024
Lucy was amazing - Our tour guide Lucy did an amazing job today. She messaged us before we meet, she made sure we had everything before we started, and she got us through the line as quick as possible. During the tour she gave us great details, answered everyone's questions, and even purchased water for us. She showed us the best places to take pictures and even took them for us, so we could all be in the picture. She was also very considerate of the older lady who was on the tour by making sure she could rest and had shade when needed. Near the end she let everyone know that we could stay behind to visit on our own and showed the others the way out and the best way to travel. She also told us about the man made mountain, how it was formed, and that if we could we should make the hike up to see the view from on top. She was very kind to our son and made sure he felt important by asking him questions. Lastly, her English was perfect and spoken as a native speaker. We were very pleased and would do it again.
Review provided by Viator
Gregory_s
May 31, 2024
China trip - Our tour guide Anson was amazing! His passion to his country and the history was admirable! He made the tour so interesting and memorable. Definitely will recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Sammunich2018
May 31, 2024
Fine stars - It was a wonderful tour with wonderful "imperial weather". After countless times in Beijing, I finally made it to the Forbidden City, an incredibly large and beautiful complex. Guide Anson was extremely professional and told the group many stories and anecdotes from the past in excellent English. In conclusion, I would not want to be an emperor of China: far too many protocols 😉
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Doraemin
May 30, 2024
Fantastic tour with Anson - The tour with Anson is well organized and very informative. It was a hot day but Anson was very attentive to the whole group, finding shade and less crowded spot for some rest along the walk. Strongly recommended for anyone visiting the forbidden city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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