Beijing: Forbidden City Small Group Tour & Entry Tickets

Summary

Walk palace halls in Beijing’s Forbidden City with stories, courtyards, and local insight

You’ll walk through Beijing’s Forbidden City on foot with a small group and an expert guide who brings centuries-old stories to life. Expect personal “story time” stops in grand halls, entry tickets sorted for you, and time to linger in the peaceful Imperial Garden before heading off on your own path.

What’s the experience like?

Papers rustled in my pocket as I fumbled for my passport—our guide had warned us not to forget it, and honestly, I almost did. We met outside the Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, a cluster of us blinking in the morning light while Mr. Zhang (that was our guide) handed out entry tickets and checked names like a teacher on field trip duty. He had this way of pausing mid-sentence to point out something odd—like the lion statues’ worn noses from centuries of hands brushing past. Tiananmen Square was already humming with people; school kids waving little flags, old men playing chess on folding stools. The scale of it all made me feel tiny. Security lines can get long here—ours moved slow but steady. Someone behind me started humming a tune I didn’t recognize.

Once we crossed into the Forbidden City, Mr. Zhang steered us toward a quiet bench under a gnarled pine tree. He told us about emperors who never left these walls, about concubines whose names are lost but whose stories linger like incense in the air. At one point he asked if we could imagine living our whole lives inside these red walls—I couldn’t really, but I tried. The main keyword here is definitely “Forbidden City tour”—it’s not just seeing buildings; you’re walking through layers of history that feel strangely close when you’re standing where they stood. The Hall of Supreme Harmony looked almost unreal in the hazy sun; gold roof tiles glinting between clouds of dust kicked up by tour groups.

I kept lagging behind to touch the carved stone balustrades—they felt cool even though it was warm out—and once I caught a whiff of something sweet drifting over from a vendor outside the north gate (candied hawthorn maybe?). Our group was small enough that nobody got lost or left out; Mr. Zhang always waited if someone stopped for photos or just stared up at the painted ceilings too long (guilty). We finished at the Imperial Garden where peonies were blooming everywhere and some local women were doing tai chi in slow motion beneath cypress trees. He offered tips for what to do next if we wanted to keep exploring solo—I ended up sitting there longer than planned, just listening to birds and thinking about how much I’d missed by only reading about this place before coming.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Forbidden City tour with Tiananmen Square

• Meet at Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall
• Enter Tiananmen Square via travel agency passage
• Listen to guide's introduction of Tiananmen Square
• Enter Forbidden City and sit for palace introduction
• Stop for story time at key Forbidden City spots
• Visit important museums of Ming and Qing Dynasties
• See Hall of Supreme, Central, and Preserving Harmony
• Explore living quarters: Union, Heavenly Purity, Earthly Tranquillity
• Walk past notable buildings and west/east chambers
• Visit Hall of Great Harmony for state affairs history
• End tour at Imperial Garden with guide suggestions

Top questions

Do I need my passport for this Forbidden City tour?

Yes, you must bring your actual passport or you may be refused entry.

How long does this small group tour last?

The guided portion lasts about 4 hours.

Is Tiananmen Square included in every option?

No, only Option 1 includes Tiananmen Square; Option 2 skips it.

What is included with my ticket?

Your entry ticket to the Forbidden City (and Jingshan Park if chosen), plus an English-speaking guide.

Where does the tour end?

The main tour ends at the Imperial Garden; Option 2 ends at Jingshan Park after a short hike.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Yes—infants under 3 are free but must sit on an adult’s lap; children need their own ticket.

How big are the groups?

The maximum group size is 15 people.

Is lunch included?

No meals are included during this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes entry tickets to Beijing’s Forbidden City (and Jingshan Park if you pick that option), guided walks through palaces and gardens with plenty of story stops along the way, plus help from your local guide with logistics and suggestions for what to do after your visit wraps up.