Castles · Tour
Puyi's Scottish Tutor, and the Palace That Became a Museum in 1925
Three to four hours in the Forbidden City with an English-speaking guide, on how it was built, who lived in it and what happened to it afterwards.
Most tours stop at the Qing. This one carries on: Puyi, the last emperor; Reginald Fleming Johnston, the Scot who lived inside the palace as his tutor; and the moment after the dynasty fell when the imperial residence was opened to the public and became the Palace Museum.
If your booking includes the Tian'anmen Square option, the operator makes the entry reservation for you.
At the end the guide will point you wherever you want to go next, Jingshan Park behind the palace being the usual recommendation.
One caveat on tickets: admission is included, but if you book less than 7 days ahead in peak season you may have to queue on the day with your passport to collect it.
What's included
- tour guide
- entrance ticket
Itinerary
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Donghuamen Subdistrict, Dongcheng
Donghuamen Gate. By subway: line 8 to Jinyu Hutong station, exit C, then 10 minutes on foot to the right. A travel notice is sent by WeChat, WhatsApp or email once the reservation is made.
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The Palace Museum
The guide covers how the Forbidden City was built and why, and the 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing who lived in it. Then the parts that come later: the life of Puyi, the last emperor of China; Reginald Fleming Johnston, the Scot who lived inside the palace; and how the place was opened to the public and turned into the Palace Museum after the fall of the Qing. The museum itself was founded in 1925.
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Jingshan Park
Before the tour ends, the guide tells you how to reach Jingshan Park, immediately behind the Forbidden City. The climb to the top of the hill gives the view down over the whole palace and the old city around it.
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Tiananmen Square
If your booking includes the Tian'anmen Square option, the operator reserves your entry. You can visit the square before or after the rest of the itinerary, and the reservation is made for the time you prefer; staff confirm the exact slot with you in advance.
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W9CW+XP2 Gate of Divine Prowess Exhib. Hall, Dong Cheng Qu
The tour ends at the north gate of the Forbidden City. Before it does, the guide will give you directions to wherever you are going next, or a recommendation: Jingshan Park behind the palace, or Tian'anmen Square.
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
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- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: ru, en, es.
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