This half day tour can start at 8:00 am or 1:00 pm. Approximately 4 hours will be needed for the tour. Please choose your preferred starting time when you make the booking and please kindly note that the Forbidden City is closed on every Monday (except for Chinese holidays) so you need to avoid Mondays. Your private guide will pick you up from your Beijing downtown hotel at the appointed time. Then you will be transferred to the Tiananmen Square directly. Imposing and magnificent, it lies at the center of Beijing. It was the place for important ceremonies during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty and it has witnessed many important events in China's modern history, too. The national flag ceremony held in the square every day stirs strong patriotic feelings in the bosom of everyone who loves New China.

Walking pass the Tiananmen Square, you get to the Forbidden City, which is the former Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty—the years 1420 to 1912. The Forbidden City served as the home of Chinese ancient emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years. This grand and gigantic palace complex seems to have a heavily guarded past to which the common people have no access. You will be guided to visit this mysterious palace and gain insight into the ancient royal life. At the end of the tour, your tour guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.