Private Tour
Forbidden City Private Walking Tour with Optional Sights
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
This private tours includes the Forbidden city with the optional sights.
If you select only the Forbidden city tour then the tour contains 4 hours
If you select it with others you it has optional sights that will continue to go.
your professional English speaking tour guide will meet you at the designated hotel in downtown area or set meeting point and walk to visit the biggest city center square in the world - Tiananmen Square then walk to the largest Imperial Palace to understand the emperors in the Ming & Qing Dynasty. You also can learn more Chinese history from your guide.
Highlights:
- Visit the biggest square in the world: Tiananmen square;
- Efficient way to visit the Forbidden City beating the crowd;
- See the valuable exhibits and visit less-know halls of the palace;
-Optional other important highlights in Beijing such as Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace
If you only choose the Forbidden City Ticket service there is just Ticket Service. No Tour NO Pick-Up
Additional Info
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
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Dress code is smart casual
Please note: Forbidden City is closed every Monday, except the Chinese public holidays
Chinese citizens need to book the tour one week in advance
Tian'anmen square might be closed due to the political activities without announcement and if this is the case we will replace with Jinshan Park but there is no refund due to it is free anyway
Not recommended clients have walking problems for entering the Square
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Tiananmen Square
Depart at your own hotel or meet at the specific area called the Lash Tea house at Qianmen Branch near the Tian'anmen Square and walk to the Tian’anmen Square (after all the security check) with our certificated Tour Guide. You are going to see the ancient Qianmen Gate, the Monument to the People’s heroes and the Great Hall of the people from outside and your tour guide will share with you the history and stories behind all the mentioned architectures.
The Palace Museum
We’ll spend 2 hours wandering around this amazing example of Imperial architecture and learning about the history of the palace. There is another option: Booking entrance ticket with us. Please bring your valid passport to visit and go to the spot on your own. Forbidden City was the imperial palace from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. For around 500 years , it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government The tour route : Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. You can take the central route or East Route or West Route depending your own interests or even visiting the Treasure house on the East route. After the tour, taking the public transportation back to your hotel on your own.
What‘s Included
Reserve entry to the Tian'anmen Square
Private guide service fee (4 hours)
Entrance ticket to the Forbidden City
If you book only Forbidden City Ticket there is NO Tour Service
Urber between Forbidden city to other sights (If Forbidden city W other sights option selection)
Transportation to the Forbidden City (If the Option for T Square W Forbidden city 4 hour Tour)
Meals (lunch & dinner)
Gratuity (for good service)
Transportation (hotel drop off)
Hotel Pick-up within 4th ring road (transportation to the Tian'anmen Square probably costs $50)
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Forbidden city W Hutong Food
Hutongs Food Tour : After Forbidden city you can visit the hutong and try the local hutong food cuisine and understand the food culture here
Private : This is private tour with lots of walking
Duration: 6 hours: 4 hours Tian'anmen Square Forbidden with 2 hours hutong food tour
Hutongs food lunch/dinner : You can take either morning Forbidden city tour with hutong food for lunch or afternoon Forbidden city tour with Hutong dinne
Public transportation: Downtown hotel picking up with subway or didi to get around
Pickup included
Forbidden city W Great Wall
Optional sight to the Wall: Mutianyu wall with Forbidden city options with private transportations
Duration: 8 hours: 8 hours tour to the Forbidden city with Great Wall in all languages
Private transportation : car or mini van depending the number of the participants
Pickup included
4-HourT Square+Forbidden City
Duration: 4 hours: Contains 4 hours tour to the Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden city in all languages EN, ES, FR, DE, IT Guide
Walking route
urber or subway : You will go from the downtown hotel to the square with the public transportation by didi at your own cost
All Languages tour : We offer all the language : English, French, German, Spanish, Italian . with hotel pick up (Transportation Fee Not Included)
Pickup included
Forbidden City W Summer Palace
Duration: 6 hours: Day tour to the Forbidden city with Summer Palace with the entry tickets are included. Excluded meals.
Urber or subway : Take the urber or subway to go from the downtown hotel to the sights and pick up from the downtown area are included
Pickup included
Forbidden City W Temple Heaven
Temple of Heaven : If you choose this option you will continue to visit the Temple of Heaven after the Forbidden city with our tour guide.
Private Tour : Private Tour
Duration: 6 hours: 6 hours tour including the visit to the Tian'anmen square Forbidden city and Temple of Heaven
Walking with Urber or Subway : Downtown hotel to the Tian'anmen Square (Urber or Subway)
Tian'anmen Square to Forbidden city (Walking)
Forbidden city W Heaven Temple: The Tour includes the visit the T-Square Forbidden city and Temple of Heaven with public Transportation (Urber & Subway)
Pickup included
Reviews
429 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great time!!!
Mariana S,Apr 23, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience!!! and Catherine Lu Tours help us a lot!!! I trully recommend their services!!! What they offered, was accomplished!!!
Henry was a great tour guide with true golden retriever energy! Would highly recommend
Jeffrey Y,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Henry was an amazing guide with true golden retriever energy! I could tell he genuinely had a lot of passion as a tour guide showing us around. There were many things I appreciated: him recommending we leave our bags at the hotel, which helped us skip over a 45 minute security line. Or him talking about the basic details of the palace in a simple and engaging way, like what each building did (and which the palace signs themselves omitted). And finally, his assurance that we would finish everything with lots of time in the afternoon, which put my girlfriend’s mind at ease. I really think going by ourselves with a guide would have been a vastly poorer experience, and we have Henry to thank for that!)
Extra visit with Qiang
239cathyg,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our visit with Qiang was extraordinary. He is very friendly, has an absolutely perfect Frenchman and taught us a lot about Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Don’t leave Beijing without a visit with him! At the end of our visit, he gave us other recommendations on Beijing, including a very good restaurant that will remain the best of our 15-day stay in China.
Great private tour
821kf,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip with our guide James and driver Mr Li! Good communication before, tasty local food, and lots of information. James definitely knows his stuff. Highly recommended!
A memorable tour with good English understanding!
Adele LKoh,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Bill was assigned to us as our private tour guide. He met us very punctually at our hotel to walk us to T-square as our hotel was within walking distance. Along the way he introduced to us about the Hutongs as we walked through. His English was perfect, my kids could understand him perfectly. Bill was also incredibly patient in waiting in the queue to get through T-sqaure. He also made sure we were all well and fit before we joined the queue which lasted for more than an hour. He also always made sure that we had good group photos taken at every spot even though it was pretty crowded. At the end of the tour he even walked us to a proper pick up place for our Didi as they are not allowed pickup near the Forbidden City. This is not my first time in Forbidden City and Bill has managed to explain the details in the buildings in English so well that I have an even better understanding than my first visit! And day before tour he even called to arrange meet up details. Very thoughtful indeed since we are not accustomed to WeChat for communication. Great tour guide!
Highly recommend Forbidden City tour with Henry:)
Oscar D,Apr 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Henry was a great tour guide, very funny, very knowledgable and he even helped us rent bicycles so that we could cycle from Tiannamen Square to the Forbidden City, instead of sitting in traffic😎 would recommend a tour with Henry to anyone 👍
An essential tour experience of Beijing and chinese history
potatomcwhiskey,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour! Chris was amazing, he had tonnes of knowledge about Chinese history of the many dynasties and emperors! It was breathtaking to see the forbidden city and temple of heaven. Unfortunately we could not see tianman square because of a diplomatic visit but even without it, it was worth the time!
Nice Forbidden City walking tour
sam27573,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our family had a fun time doing this half-day walking tour in Beijing with our tour guide Cindy. There were a lot of tourists in Beijing and many sites had really long queues. Cindy gave us good tips and helped us navigate through everything very efficiently, which made the tour much smoother and less time waiting in lines. She was very good in explaining the history and the culture in both English and Chinese to my kids. Overall we quite enjoyed this activity and highly recommend it.
Must book tour! Angela was the best tour guide ever!
4wendyy,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The private guided tour was absolutely worth every penny. Angela was our tour guide, and we learned so much history about Tiananmen and the Forbidden Palace. She was amazing! She knew all of the best ways to avoid crowds, was so funny and charming, and took awesome pictures of us. If I go back to Beijing, I would definitely request her as a tour guide again. Thank you Angela for making our trip in Beijing unforgettable!
Wonderful tour!
Supriya M,Apr 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Annie was wonderful. She picked us up at the hotel and then took us, in very nice cars (through Didi) to our three sights. She was very knowledgeable and went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable. She also took the time to explain more during the car rides. Overall, great experience.
Related Experiences
Operated by Catherine Lu Tours