Tiananmen Square Forbidden City walking tour: Skip-the-line
The Forbidden City holds countless buildings across vast grounds, and you see the highlights without waiting at the gate.
A half-day walking tour of Beijing's central UNESCO sites starts at Tiananmen Square, then moves through the Forbidden City with a professional guide and advance-purchased tickets. You walk past the main entrance queue, tour the Imperial Palace's key courtyards and halls, and finish at the north exit. A valid passport is required for all travelers on the day of the tour.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Tiananmen Square 40m
- Monument to the People’s Heroes passing by
- Forbidden City Entry included 2h
- Great Hall of the People passing by
- Tiananmen (Gate of Heavenly Peace) passing by
- Imperial Garden of the Palace Museum Entry included 10m
Visit Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City
- Meet guide at hotel or meeting point
- Visit Tiananmen Square and pass security check
- See Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao and monuments
- View Great Hall of the People and National Museum
- Tour the Forbidden City with skip-the-line ticket
- Explore Imperial Garden of the Palace Museum
- End tour at north exit of Forbidden City
What’s included
- Professional guide in English or Chinese.
- entrance ticket to the Forbidden City.
- hotel pickup (available with the private guide option only).
Times
- Tuesday to Sunday 07:30 07:40 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00
Options for this experience
2 optionsInformation
Prices and times updated 5 days ago
Operated by Lily's Tour Company
The experience
The tour begins with pickup from your hotel between 8am and 1pm, or you can meet the guide at 7:40am or 1pm at a designated point. You head straight to Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square of its kind, ringed by security checkpoints at four entrances. From the Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen), Chairman Mao proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The square itself is open to the public until sunset, though all visitors pass through security screening before entering.
After Tiananmen Square, you move to the Forbidden City: the largest and best-preserved ancient imperial palace complex, built between 1406 and 1420. Because tickets are purchased in advance, you skip the line at the main gate. The guide leads you through a highlight tour of the palace's courtyards, halls and the Imperial Garden, pointing out architecture that mostly dates from the 1700s onward, after centuries of rebuilding and renovation. The tour ends at the north exit, where the guide can help you arrange a taxi or bus to your next destination.
You'll also see the exterior of the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, the Monument to the People's Heroes, the Great Hall of the People, and the ancient Zhengyang Gate and Arrow Tower. The entire route is walkable, though you should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours total.
Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you want to share the cost and meet other travelers. Pick the private guide with hotel pickup if you prefer a flexible schedule and door-to-door service. Both options include skip-the-line entry, so the main difference is whether you travel with others or alone, and whether the guide collects you from your accommodation.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What exactly is the Forbidden City and why is it called that?
The Forbidden City is the Imperial Palace, the largest ancient imperial palace complex in the world, built starting in 1406. It was called "forbidden" because ordinary people were not permitted to enter: only the emperor, his family and authorized court members could pass through its gates. Today it is open to the public as a museum.
Do I need to bring my passport on the day of the tour?
Yes, a current valid passport is required for all travelers on the day of travel (this applies to non-Chinese tourists). You'll also need to provide your passport name and number at the time of booking.
How does the skip-the-line access work at the Forbidden City?
The tour operator purchases your entrance ticket in advance if you book at least 7 days ahead. This means you walk past the main gate queue and enter directly with your guide, saving time that would otherwise be spent waiting in line.
What is Tiananmen Square used for today?
Tiananmen Square is open to the public until sunset and serves as a gathering space in the heart of Beijing. It is still used for large public events, though all visitors must pass through security checkpoints at the four entrances before entering.
Can I extend the tour or visit other sites after it ends?
The tour ends at the north exit of the Forbidden City. Your guide can help you arrange a taxi or bus to any destination you want to visit next, but additional sites are not part of this half-day itinerary.
Tiananmen Square Forbidden City walking tour: Skip-the-line
3h–4h · EN +1
from US$ 35 per person