Beijing Day Tour from Tianjin: Forbidden City & Summer Palace

Two imperial palaces and a 350 km/h bullet train ride in a single day

A private guided day tour from Tianjin to Beijing with roundtrip bullet train, English-speaking guide and driver, entrance fees and lunch. You travel by high-speed train to Beijing, spend the afternoon exploring the Forbidden City and Summer Palace, and return to Tianjian cruise port by evening. Choose between Business or First Class train seating at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tiananmen Squarepass by
2. Forbidden City1h 30m · entry included
3. Summer Palace1h · entry included

Beijing highlights from Tianjin port

• Meet guide at Tianjin Cruise Port
• Travel to Tianjin Train Station
• Ride bullet train to Beijing
• Enjoy lunch
• Drive by Tiananmen Square and landmarks
• Visit Forbidden City for 1.5 hours
• Tour Summer Palace for 1 hour
• Return to Tianjin by bullet train
• Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port

The experience

Your guide and driver meet you at 8:30am at Tianjin International Cruise Port and drive to Tianjian Train Station, where you board a bullet train traveling at 350 kilometers per hour. The train ride itself is part of the experience. A fast, smooth passage that gets you to Beijing in time for lunch. Once you arrive, a meal is included before the afternoon's sightseeing begins.

The Forbidden City comes first. This 600-year-old imperial palace is the largest in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It housed 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. You'll spend about 1.5 hours here with your guide, moving through the Hall of Great Supremacy, the Hall of Middle Harmony, the Hall of Preserving Harmony, the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the Imperial Garden. Your guide shares the stories behind the buildings and the emperors who lived there, and you set your own pace through the courtyards and halls. From there you move to the Summer Palace, the imperial family's summer retreat and the most beautiful royal garden in Beijing. You'll walk along the Kunming Lake and the Long Corridor, learning about the Empress Dowager Cixi, one of the most powerful figures in Chinese history.

After the Summer Palace, you return to Tianjian via bullet train, arriving back at the cruise port around 7:00pm. The full day runs about 11 hours from pickup to drop-off. Entrance fees, the English-speaking guide, the experienced driver, lunch and both legs of the bullet train are all included. You choose your train class (Business or First) when you book.

What’s included

• Roundtrip bullet train seats (Business or First Class, your choice at checkout).
• entrance fees to the Forbidden City and Summer Palace.
• lunch.
• private English-speaking guide.
• experienced driver.
• hotel or cruise port pickup and return.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour with a First Class seatUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00Lasts 10 hours: includes a private tour with a private guide, driver service, admission tickets, 1st Class bullet train seats and lunch. Pickup is included.

Tour with a Business Class seatUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English · 09:00Lasts 10 hours: includes a private tour with a private guide, driver service, admission tickets, Biz Class bullet train seats and lunch. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (6 to 80 years) · Child (under 6)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Sunflower Tours China

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docking at Tianjin and want a private English-speaking guide to navigate Beijing's top palaces in one port day. The bullet train handles the distance, so you see both sites without backtracking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 6).

How much walking is involved in this Beijing tour?

The tour involves 10,000 to 20,000 steps across the day, equivalent to climbing about 30 floors. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, and the itinerary is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. Moderate physical fitness is needed.

What is the Forbidden City and why does the guide recommend watching "The Last Emperor" first?

The Forbidden City is the largest imperial palace in the world, built 600 years ago and home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The film "The Last Emperor" tells the story of the final emperor and the palace's history, so watching it before your visit helps you understand the buildings, rooms and stories your guide will share.

Do I have a choice of train seating, and what's included in the ticket?

You choose between Business Class or First Class seating when you book. Both are roundtrip seats on the bullet train. The tour also includes entrance fees to both palaces, lunch, your English-speaking guide and driver, and all transportation from the cruise port.

What will I see at Tiananmen Square?

You pass through Tiananmen Square by car and see the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the Monument of the People's Heroes, and the Gate of Heavenly Peace. Your guide explains the revolutionary history of the square during the drive.

What time does the tour start and end?

Your guide picks you up at 8:30am at Tianjian International Cruise Port. The tour ends around 7:00pm when you return to the cruise port after the evening bullet train ride back from Beijing.