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Private In-depth Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch
Product code 25174P45
From
From USD 186
Dates
Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2028
Start times
10:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM
Travelers
Adult ages 3-90
Options
Private Tour
Availability, payment, cancellation, and vouchers are completed on Viator after you leave this page.
Duration
6 hours
Ticket type
Mobile Only
Languages
English
Confirmation
Instant
Pickup
Pickup details available
Time zone
Asia/Shanghai
Booking, payment, cancellation, and vouchers continue on Viator.
From
From USD 186
Private In-depth Forbidden City Tour with Imperial Icehouse Lunch
View all photos
Duration
6 hours
Ticket type
Mobile Only
Languages
English
Confirmation
Instant
Pickup
Pickup details available
Time zone
Asia/Shanghai
Why Travelers Love This
The Forbidden City is listed as the number one must-see in Beijing, which served as the residence of Chinese Ming and Qing emperors for almost 500 years. Go beyond the typical attractions within the City on this comprehensive 6-hour guided tour, which includes access to the Clock Room,Treasure House, living and working places of emperors. In this tour, you will actually get inside some of the buildings in the Forbidden City. Lunch will served in the former Imperial Icehouse inside Forbidden City.
Overview
The Forbidden City is listed as the number one must-see in Beijing, which served as the residence of Chinese Ming and Qing emperors for almost 500 years. Go beyond the typical attractions within the City on this comprehensive 6-hour guided tour, which includes access to the Clock Room,Treasure House, living and working places of emperors. In this tour, you will actually get inside some of the buildings in the Forbidden City. Lunch will served in the former Imperial Icehouse inside Forbidden City.
What's Included
Included
Experienced and friendly English-speaking guide
All tickets of the Forbidden City
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Lunch with soft drinks/beer
Not included
No exclusions listed.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup details
Itinerary
Stop 1
5 hoursAdmission included
Stop 1
Meet your guide at selected time and start to explore the largest Imperial Palace in the world thoroughly. During this tour, you will also have a very unique lunch experience at one of the Imperial Ice Houses of the Emperor. Those are some of the important places you will see:
Pass by stop 2
Pass by stop 2
Part of the defensive construction of the Forbidden city at each corner of the Wall. You will get inside one of them if the Wall is open.
Pass by stop 3
Pass by stop 3
South gate and main entrance to the Forbidden City. The emperor used to believe the Meridian Line went right through it.
Pass by stop 4
Pass by stop 4
The the most important building in the Forbidden City and the largest wooden structure in the world, where the Emperor used to work and hold important ceremonies.
Pass by stop 5
Pass by stop 5
Used for banquets and later for imperial examinations. The exam was under the supervision of the emperor, which tested candidates’ understanding of classical and Confucian literature. Then they were either assigned to the provinces or selected to work in the central government ministries.
Pass by stop 6
Pass by stop 6
It was the place where the emperor used to handle daily affairs and the living quarter for the emperor, empress and imperial concubines.
Pass by stop 7
Pass by stop 7
The largest building in the Inner Court, the residence of the Emperor.
Stop 8
30 minutesAdmission included
Stop 8
Also known as Treasure Hall, it is actually made of several buildings which were built for the abdicated Emperor Qianlong. Now they are exhibition rooms with several theme halls and the largest imperial theatre in the Forbidden City.
Pass by stop 9
Pass by stop 9
Just nearby the entrance of Treasure Hall, it is one of the three Nine Dargon Screens in China, the other two are in Beihai Park and Datong respectively. The nine dragons engraved on the screen are different in color and posture. No matter where you start to count the nine dragons, from left or right, the first one and fifth one and ninth one would be a yellow color dragon which represents the supreme power of the emperor.
Pass by stop 10
Pass by stop 10
Rectangular in shape, containing more than 20 different types of buildings, pavilions, terraces, towers and rockeries. Also, there are four pavilions in the garden, symbolizing the four seasons in a year.
Additional Info
Physical Easy
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Other
Passport name, number, is required at time of booking for all participants, for buying tickets in advance
Other
Please book this tour several days in advance
Other
We would try to get tickets in advance, if failed, we could also buy your tickets on spot
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Policy type
Standard
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Refund eligibility
100% refundable 1+ days before
Refund eligibility
0% refundable 0-1 days before
Review Summary
4.9
16 reviews
Collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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