Castles · Tour
Eighteen Palaces in Four Hours, and You Make Your Own Way Back
Four hours inside the Forbidden City in a small group, covering 18 palaces, which is a good deal more than the standard walk down the central axis takes in. The Forbidden City now caps daily ticket sales. With this tour the ticket is handled, which removes the single thing most likely to spoil a Beijing itinerary. One thing to plan for: the tour finishes inside the palace. Getting back to your hotel afterwards is your own arrangement.
What's included
- Forbidden City entrance ticket
- Hotel pickup(if you choose the hotel pickup option)
- Professional historian guide
- Local taxes
Itinerary
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35 Dong Chang An Jie, Dong Cheng Qu
35 Dong Chang An Jie, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100006
By taxi: 35 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing (中国北京市东城区东长安街35号). By metro: line 1 or 8 to Wangfujing station, exit C (southwest), then 3 minutes west on foot.
16 Dong Hua Men Da Jie, Dong Cheng Qu
16 Dong Hua Men Da Jie, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100006
Address: No. 16 Donghuamen Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing (木棉花酒店，北京东华门大街16号). Take a taxi to the Kapok Hotel, or the subway line 8 to Jinyuhutong station, exit C, then about 8 minutes on foot to the right.
Tiananmen Square
Join at the meeting point, or take the morning pickup from your Beijing hotel lobby, and travel with the guide to Tian'anmen Square. It is the largest urban public square in the world and it sits on Beijing's central axis. The Tian'anmen Gate stands on the north side facing the Forbidden City, the Great Hall of the People is to the west, the National Museum of China to the east, and the Monument to the People's Heroes in the middle. Warning worth heeding: the square is at its busiest during the summer holidays in July and August, over May Day and during the National Day holiday from 1 to 7 October. The security queues at those times are long. Note: a valid passport or ID is required to clear security.
The Palace Museum
Then the walk to the Forbidden City. The Palace Museum holds roughly 10,000 rooms, and for more than 500 years it was the residence of 24 emperors of the Ming and the Qing. The guide covers the history as you go. The route takes in 18 palaces in total; the itinerary lists them. Note that the tour ends inside the Forbidden City, and the journey back to your hotel is your own arrangement.
Gate of Great Harmony (Taihe Men)
Passed on the route.
Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
Passed on the route.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
Passed on the route.
Gate of Heavenly Purity
Passed on the route.
Palace of Earthly Tranquility
Passed on the route.
Palace of Heavenly Purity
Passed on the route.
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Passed on the route.
Gate of Divine Prowess
Passed on the route.
Hall of Union
Passed on the route.
Jing Shan Qian Jie, Dong Cheng Qu
The tour ends at the north gate of the Forbidden City.
Not included
- Gratuities
- Hotel drop-off
- Food and drinks
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
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- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Passport name, number is required at time of booking for all participants, Please make sure to carry the same valid ID document throughout your trip, otherwise you may be denied entry to the scenic spots.
- Please note that Chinese nationals including visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan must book tickets 7 days in advance for the Forbidden City. We cannot accept any bookings made within 7 days of the visit date.
- Forbidden City tickets require real-name reservation 168 hours (7 days) in advance and often sell out quickly. We highly recommend you book your tour as early as possible. Otherwise, international visitors may need to queue at the entrance to purchase tickets on site.
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
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