Forbidden City Tour: Understand China’s Imperial Palace
Overview
The Forbidden City is one of the world’s most famous historical sites, but many visitors walk through the palace without truly understanding what they are seeing.
As a Beijinger with a passion for history, I hope to help you understand the logic behind China’s imperial palace. We’ll explore how emperors ruled, how people lived inside the palace, and how its extraordinary architecture was designed and built.
Instead of simply sightseeing, you’ll discover the Forbidden City as a living system of power, culture, and architecture.
What you’ll experience
We’ll begin at a hidden gem where you can actually step inside a magnificent imperial hall—something no longer possible inside the Forbidden City itself.
Then, as the nearly 40-meter-tall main gate of the Forbidden City comes into view, you’ll experience the grandeur of China’s imperial palace.
Inside, we’ll use historical photos, visual reconstructions, traditional building materials, and preserved objects to understand how this enormous complex was designed, built, and used.
This activity includes:
- Imperial Ancestral Temple
- Forbidden City
On arrival
Our meeting point is at the East Gate of Taimiao (Beijing Working People's Cultural Palace). I’ll be waiting in front of the entrance. You can recognize me by my round glasses, green-and-grey backpack, and gray hat.
Things to note
*Entrance tickets are not included: Taimiao 17 RMB and the Forbidden City 60 RMB.
Please bring your passport, as it is required to enter the Forbidden City.
The tour includes a lot of walking, so comfortable shoes are recommended.
Please note that Tiananmen Square is not included in this tour.
The tour may be adjusted or canceled in case of heavy rain or extreme weather.
Cancellation policy
You are free to cancel a booking anytime. We kindly remind you to cancel bookings you cannot arrive for. Being reported as absent decreases your customer level points and the benefits you can enjoy.
