Private Tour
Forbidden City Ticket and Private Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Secure your spot to journey through the historic corridors of the Forbidden City by booking your tour at least 7 days in advance during peak seasons. Tickets sell out fast, so don't miss out! Even during quieter times, ensure availability by booking 2 days ahead. Provide accurate passport details for ticket reservation. If book not 7 days before , you must buy tickets when you arrive and wait in line .
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
All travelers Passport name, number and birthday is required at time of booking for all participants for getting your SKIP THE LINE Forbidden City entrance ticket in advance
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Please provide the tour operator with your special requests at "special requirement", your tour operator will also contact you just in case
Please note : The private tour not include hotel drop off ,but your guide can help you get taxi or personal Uber (own expense)
For last minute booking , if no guide available , we can full refund or change the tour to another day
If you choose to have Spanish language tour guide service, please ensure to make your booking at least 3 days in advance
The tour include Forbidden city tickets , but need book the tour at least 2 days in advance
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
Private knowledgeable guide
Forbidden city Admission Ticket
Hotel drop off
Gratuities ( Recommend for excellent service )
Transport fee
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Beijing
HOTEL KAPOK which is the best point for meeting your guide . Meet here can avoid the Tiananmen square long line . The hotel name and address in Chinese ( 北京木棉花酒店， 地址：东城区，东华门大街16号）, So, you can show the Chinese to taxi driver .
Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
Thereafter, you’ll continue into the Forbidden City shrouded with mysteries. During the walking tour, you may feel confused about the special designs and totems of the palace, especially the cultural meaning behind them. Why there are 9 sculptures of mythical animals on the roof ridge of Hall of Supreme Harmony but not 8 or 10; why there are 9999.5 but not 10000 rooms in the palace; Why the eyes and ears of the stone lions in front of the Palace of Tranquility and Longevity blocked… With the historical knowledge from your guide, you will gradually uncover these cultural secrets and explore a more different Forbidden City you’ve ever heard about.
Options
English Speaking Guide
Reviews
98 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great Tour with Sue at Forbidden Palace
jlinn12,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a great tour with Sue (Chen Yu) from LEO. She did the tour for me in English and took great time and care to explain the history of the Forbidden Palace and Chinese culture. It was a very good experience! She helped me get some excellent photos too!
Forbidden city private tour with Lilia
awong777,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Booked a tour via Trip and had Lilia as our guide. We had travelled as a family of 6 to Beijing on our own (inc. 2 gramps, a teen and a 5 year old), but l felt the Forbidden City is so rich in history it would be good to have a guide. Lilia is a very good storyteller and has a vast knowledge of Chinese history, the significance of the symbols in the palace and the relationship between chinese culture and history, linking chinese idioms with their origins. She really made the place come alive, which is otherwise just a collection of ancient buildings without knowing the history behind them. Her English is easy to understand, she navigates with confidence against the throngs of people and she takes good pictures! I highly recommend Lilia, it’s rare to find such an erudite guide nowadays, the nerd in me was super satisfied. Thank you Lilia, all of us had such a good time at the Forbidden city!
Tony was a fantastic...
Cedric L,
Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Tony was a fantastic guide for our Forbidden City visit. It made a huge difference compared to going on our own. We learned so much about Chinese history and culture. We asked him endless questions, even on topics not directly related to the Forbidden City, and he always had detailed, interesting answers and stories. His years of experience as a guide and knowledge really made the experience special.
Private tour
Jakob Z,
Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing day in Beijing with Sue as our guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about the history and culture, spoke excellent English, and made every site come alive with her stories. Sue was also very friendly and patient, always making sure we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. This private tour was the highlight of our trip – highly recommended, especially if you can request Sue as your guide!
Private tour of Forbidden City with Hannah
KarenLau,
Jun 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great tour of the Forbidden City with Leo’s private China Tours. Hannah was our guide and she was very informative. She spoke very good English and was patient and friendly with my daughter and elderly in-laws. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Best experience and best guide of our whole trip in China
Audrey L,
Apr 17, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide Julia was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable about history in general and the site, she had great stories about the discovery of the warriors and a lot of information about their creation and their excavation. her English was perfect, she was extremely helpful and sorted our tickets and even helped us get tickets for a show. Best guide of our whole trip to China. Also one of the best experiences.
Memorable experience with our guide Mrs.Sue 🙏
Aneta M,
Apr 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had the incredible opportunity to explore the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square with Mrs. Sue, and it was truly an unforgettable experience! From the very start, she was professional, knowledgeable, and passionate about Chinese history and culture. At Tiananmen Square, Mrs.Sue provided fascinating insights into its historical significance, from the founding of the People's Republic of China to the meaning behind its grand monuments. The detailed explanations about the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and Mao’s Mausoleum added depth to what would otherwise be just a walk through a vast square. The highlight of the tour was undoubtedly the Forbidden City. Walking through its ancient gates felt like stepping back in time. Mrs.Sue brought the palace complex to life with engaging stories about the emperors, concubines, and court officials who once inhabited this breathtaking site. She pointed out hidden details in the architecture and explained the symbolism behind the colors, designs, and layout of the palace, making the experience even more enriching. What stood out the most was Mrs.Sue"s ability to blend historical facts with interesting anecdotes, ensuring the tour was both informative and entertaining. The pacing was perfect—enough time to admire the stunning halls, gardens, and intricate carvings without feeling rushed. If you are visiting Beijing, I highly recommend this tour! It’s the best way to truly appreciate the deep history and cultural significance of these iconic landmarks. Thank you, Mrs.Sue, for an outstanding experience!
Private tour of Temple of Heaven, Forbidden city with Peking Duck
lowesquare,
Mar 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great one-day experience with Lilia as our guide. The company was very responsive both via email and Whatsapp. We saw Temple of Heaven in the AM and Forbidden city in the afternoon. Keep in mind you need to let the travel service know you want to go in advance so they can get tickets to the Forbidden City/Mao's mausoleum. The government caps daily attendance. They were flexible with our request to go to Dadong Restaurant, one of the top peking duck restaurants in the city. It was *phenomenal*. They also helped us save a few bucks by taking Didi (the Chinese uber) since the sites were so close to each other and we were only 3 people. Lilia had a great read on our group - one couple and one older individual. She paced the walking tour at a manageable speed and gave us the right amount of information. At no point did we feel pressured to go shopping, which is a common ploy for tourist companies to get kickbacks. Going private was a great route, because they we could customize what we wanted to see and what we spent our money on.
Great location. Nice bus. Met us via text as we were running late.
Cairns60th,
Feb 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Informed of best part of the wall. She walked us to the other gate and made sure we were ok. Thanks for everything Phill and Kath
Fantastic tour guide
tianren l,
Dec 19, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We did the tour with Leo's private tour and Jenny was our tour guide. She was very engaging and knowledgeable and explained the history very well in perfect English. We really enjoyed the tour and highly recommend our tour guide Jenny.
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