Private Imperial Beijing in One Day

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Greet your guide in the lobby of your downtown hotel at 8:30am, and hop into your private, climate-controlled vehicle – either a town car or a minivan, depending on your party size. Your first stop will be Tiananmen Square, the vast and echoing plaza that's been at the center of Beijing life for centuries, where your guide will introduce imperial landmarks such as the Gate of Heavenly Peace. From here, you'll walk the few minutes to the Forbidden City, home to the emperor, his concubines, and his eunuchs for centuries. Your guide will lead you through its echoing entrance halls, expansive courtyards, and private living quarters, many converted into museums: please note the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays.

   4 hAdmission included

2. As this is a private tour, you're free to make your own decisions about lunch. You might choose to have a big breakfast at your hotel and bring some snacks: alternatively, your guide can recommend some wonderful traditional Chinese restaurants nearby. After lunch, you'll drive to your next destination, the Temple of Heaven, with its famous cylindrical pagoda. Here generations of emperors paid homage to heaven and asked the gods for a good harvest.

   2 hAdmission included

3. Your last stop will be the Summer Palace, where the imperial family retreated to beat Beijing's summer heat. Stroll along the lake or through the leafy gardens, or explore historic buildings, pagodas, and colonnades. From here, your driver will escort you back to your hotel.

   2 hAdmission included

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Beijing

• Its from-price is 45% above the median of the 3624 experiences we list in Beijing.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Beijing

Beijing, China's capital for centuries, holds imperial palaces, sacred temples and stretches of the Great Wall within reach of its modern boulevards.

At the city's heart, the Forbidden City spreads behind vermilion walls, a labyrinth of halls and courtyards that housed the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Tiananmen Square lies to its south, and the hill of Jingshan Park to its north gives the finest view over its golden roofs. The Temple of Heaven, set in a park where locals practise tai chi and dance, is a masterpiece of imperial design.

Top-ranked sights in Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City (Palace Museum), Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang).

See all 3624 experiences in Beijing