Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets
+13 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3h 30min
- Price from
- $38 / person
- Location
- Beijing, China
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 18 reviews
- Languages
- EN, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Zanbus
- Meeting point
- From this location, Donghuamen Street, you need to walk west to Donghuamen, the east gate of the Forbidden City. You can check in the fourth and fifth pictures in the product album.Our Team wear blue vests and hold a blue flag with the ZANBUS logo. so you can find them easily and not miss.
Description
Step into the timeless Forbidden City on your exclusive in-depth tour. Wander beyond the ordinary central route, discover the rarely-seen Palace Furniture Gallery and quiet royal hidden spots. Immerse yourself in authentic imperial history, enjoy a leisurely, crowd-avoiding sightseeing experience full of unique charm. The premium choice for discerning travelers: seamless city-to-scenic transfers, expert multilingual guides, and exclusive pure-play experiences across China and Japan.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun
- Start times
- 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM
- Next available
- Fri, Oct 30
- Adult (ages 6–85)
- $38
- Child (ages 0–5)
- Free
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 29.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Donghuamen
1. Donghua Gate – Moat Path – Meridian Gate Gather at Donghua Gate. Walk along the quiet outer moat (Tongzi river) path beside the Forbidden City ancient city wall to reach Meridian Gate. This riverside route avoids crowded main entrances and offers a panoramic view of the Forbidden City's grand outer wall scenery. Finish ticket checking and entry procedures at Meridian Gate.
The Palace Museum
2. Forbidden City Furniture Gallery (Exclusive Stop) Enter the Forbidden City and first visit the Palace Furniture Gallery, a rarely visited hidden boutique spot missed by most regular tour routes. The gallery collects a large number of well-preserved royal hardwood furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including imperial beds, official desks, screen decorations and ceremonial furniture. It fully presents the exquisite craftsmanship, royal aesthetics and luxurious daily life of ancient Chinese imperial families.
Gate of Great Harmony (Taihe Men)
3. Three Main Halls (Outer Court) Pass through Taihe Gate and visit the three core landmark halls of the Forbidden City outer court: ● Taihe Hall (Hall of Supreme Harmony) ● Zhonghe Hall (Hall of Central Harmony) ● Baohe Hall (Hall of Preserving Harmony) Appreciate the highest-standard ancient imperial architecture, solemn ritual layout and centuries-old royal historical heritage.
The Nine Dragon Screen of The Palace Museum
4. Treasure Gallery & Nine-Dragon Wall Exit from Jingyun Gate and head to the famous Palace Museum Treasure Gallery. Walk along the iconic Nine-Dragon Wall, one of China's most famous traditional glazed wall art masterpieces, enjoying precious royal jewels, gold wares and imperial collections.
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
The attractions continues from the Nine Dragon Wall 5. Qianlong Garden Continue to Qianlong Garden, a private imperial garden built for Emperor Qianlong's retirement. 6. Pavilion of Cheerful Melodies The largest ancient opera stage in the Forbidden City, built in the Qianlong period. It was the royal theatre for imperial festivals and grand performances, featuring exquisite ancient architectural design and elegant royal artistic style. 7. Hall of Joyful Longevity A noble imperial hall in the Ningshou Palace area, once the resting palace for retired emperors. It houses precious royal treasures, including the famous Giant Jade of Dayu Flood Control, showing supreme royal craftsmanship. 8. Imperial Concubine Zhen’s Well + East Corridor Path (YIN YANG Alley ) An ancient well with profound historical stories, located in the quiet backyard of the Forbidden City. It witnesses the old palace history and romantic imperial tales, a famous cultural spot full of historical charm.
Forbidden City Tour
Why choose ZANBUS Forbidden City （Palace Museum）Tour Most regular tours only visit the central axis, covering merely the Outer Court and Inner Court for quick sightseeing. Our in-depth journey is totally different. Apart from the Treasure Gallery and exclusive Palace Furniture Gallery, we specially explore Ningshou Palace, Yangxin Hall, Eastern Palaces and Zhenfei Well. We discover the hidden royal living areas with professional interpretation, bringing you a genuine, slow and all-round immersive Forbidden City experience.
What's included
Included
Palace Museum（Forbidden City）Tickets
Professional English-speaking guidefull accompaniment.
Headset audio guide throughout the tour.
Not included
Meals
as your wish for the well done job
Transportation（Full walking tour）
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
18 reviews
How it compares in Beijing
- Starting price $38 is 72% below the typical $135 for tours of similar length in Beijing
Excurgo comparison of 3,620 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- 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
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets take?
Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets lasts about 3h 30min. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets cost?
Prices start at $38 per person for this Beijing experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting at 8:00 AM and 12:30 PM.
How much does Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets cost for children?
Children aged 0–5 pay nothing, adults from $38.
Can I cancel Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is From this location, Donghuamen Street, you need to walk west to Donghuamen, the east gate of the Forbidden City. You can check in the fourth and fifth pictures in the product album.Our Team wear blue vests and hold a blue flag with the ZANBUS logo. so you can find them easily and not miss. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Forbidden City In Depth Small Group Guided Tour with Tickets offered in?
The experience is available in EN, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(18)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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from$38
5.0(18) Free cancellation