Castles · Tour
Nine Beasts on the Roof, 9,999½ Rooms, and Lions That Cannot Hear
A private guided walk through the Forbidden City with the ticket included, and the booking window is the thing to get right. In peak season, book at least 7 days ahead: the daily allocation sells out. In quieter periods, 2 days is enough. Passport details have to be accurate, because the ticket is issued against them. Book later than that and you buy your own ticket on arrival and queue for it. What the guide adds is the answers. The palace is full of details that look arbitrary until someone explains the rule behind them, and this tour is built around exactly those questions. One thing before booking: all sales are final and cancellations are not refunded.
What's included
- Private knowledgeable guide
- Forbidden city Admission Ticket
Itinerary
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16 Dong Hua Men Da Jie, Dong Cheng Qu
The hotel is the best place to meet the guide, because starting here avoids the long queue at Tian'anmen Square. The name and address in Chinese, to show a taxi driver: 北京木棉花酒店，地址：东城区，东华门大街16号.
Beijing
The Hotel Kapok is the best place to meet the guide, because starting here avoids the long queue at Tian'anmen Square. The name and address in Chinese, to show a taxi driver: 北京木棉花酒店，地址：东城区，东华门大街16号.
The Palace Museum
Then into the palace, where most of what you see is governed by rules nobody explains at the gate. Why nine mythical animals on the roof ridge of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and not eight or ten. Why the palace is said to have 9,999 and a half rooms rather than ten thousand. Why the stone lions in front of the Palace of Tranquility and Longevity have their eyes and ears blocked. The guide takes these one at a time, and the answers are the tour.
Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
Inside the Forbidden City.
Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)
Inside the Forbidden City.
Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian)
Inside the Forbidden City.
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
Inside the Forbidden City.
Dongcheng
The tour ends at the exit of the Forbidden City.
Not included
- Hotel drop off
- Gratuities ( Recommend for excellent service )
- Transport fee
Good to know
- 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
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- 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
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: cmn, en, es.
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