Top 3 Must-See: Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace&Forbidden City

This private tour offers three convenient departure options for your choice: your downtown hotel, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), or Daxing International Airport. Please select your departure point in advance, and our professional guide and driver will meet you on time to start your one-day efficient exploration of Beijing’s top landmarks.

After being picked up by your guide and driver, the first stop of your itinerary is Tian’anmen Square. Note that Tian’anmen Square is not only a famous tourist attraction but also a political service center, with extremely strict security checks that can take 1 to 3 hours. Since our itinerary is tight, if you encounter a long queue for security checks, we suggest skipping the on-foot visit and taking a drive around the square to save time. When you visit Tian’anmen Square (either on foot or by car), your guide will show you the iconic buildings from the outside and explain their historical background.

Then, you will enter the Forbidden City directly through the Tian’anmen Gate Tower to the Meridian Gate. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors handled state affairs and lived with their families.

Inside the Forbidden City, you will follow your guide to visit its key attractions: the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe Dian), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian). The Hall of Supreme Harmony was used for grand ceremonies such as imperial coronations and weddings; the Hall of Central Harmony was where emperors rested and prepared before ceremonies; the Hall of Preserving Harmony was used for imperial examinations and banquets. Later, you will head to the Inner Court, where you can learn about the living places of emperors, empresses, court ladies, concubines, and eunuchs, as well as the interesting stories behind these sites. The Forbidden City visit ends with a tour of the Imperial Garden.

After the Forbidden City, we will proceed to the famous Temple of Heaven, a sacred place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for good harvests. Here, you will visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qinian Dian)—a magnificent circular building with a blue glazed tile roof, symbolizing heaven, and famous for its exquisite wooden structure without a single nail. You will also visit the Echo Wall, Huangqiongyu (Hall of Imperial Heaven), and the Circular Mound Altar, with your guide explaining their cultural and historical significance.

After exploring the Temple of Heaven, you will enjoy an authentic local lunch to recharge for the afternoon’s journey. In the afternoon, we will head to the Summer Palace, a classical Chinese imperial garden and a masterpiece of garden design, which was a summer resort for emperors and empresses in the Qing Dynasty.

Following your guide, you will visit the key attractions of the Summer Palace: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshou Dian), which was the main hall where the Empress Dowager Cixi handled state affairs; the Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshou Tang), the residence of the Empress Dowager Cixi. You will also stroll along the Long Corridor, the longest corridor in the world, and learn about the stories behind the colorful paintings on its beams. Then, you will visit the famous Marble Boat, a unique stone structure with a touching historical story, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kunming Lake. Your guide will detail the origin of the Summer Palace and the important figures associated with it, including the Empress Dowager Cixi. At the end of the itinerary, your guide or driver will send you back to your hotel or airport, ensuring a complete and worry-free journey.