Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

4.9 / 5
1.1K reviews
10K+ booked
Forbidden City
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  • Book immediately through Klook to enjoy the best offers
  • Visit Beijing's must-see attractions and World Heritage sites within half a day
  • Professional guide commentary to help you better understand the history and culture of the Forbidden City

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Main itinerary

Palace Museum and Treasure Gallery Admission Ticket + Guided Tour

Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour

Palace Museum admission ticket + guided tour

Guide language

Mandarin

English

Korean

Join-in tour or private tour

Join-in tour

Private tour

Quantity

€ 11.55€ 14.40

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What to expect

"World Cultural Heritage, one of the national business cards" -- [The Palace Museum]: The Forbidden City, also known as the "Purple Forbidden City", is the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is also the largest and most complete existing group of ancient royal architectural complexes in China. The Palace Museum is grand in scale, rigorous in layout, exquisite in architecture, magnificent and luxurious, and houses many rare cultural relics. It is the essence of ancient Chinese architecture, culture, and art.

Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) [Savor a Thousand Years of Civilization, Experience the Charm of Chinese Culture]
- Important Information - - If you have a local phone number or WeChat ID, please provide it when booking. These will make it easier for the tour guide to contact you. - The supplier will purchase tickets in advance to avoid long lines on the day of the t
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) [Savor a Thousand Years of Civilization, Experience the Charm of Chinese Culture]
. Palace Museum Morning Session 08:00 Meeting point: Meridian Gate, Palace Museum, Beijing 08:30 Start the tour of the Palace Museum 11:30 Disband on-site: Disband independently at the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen), Palace Museum, Beijing, bringing t
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) [Savor a Thousand Years of Civilization, Experience the Charm of Chinese Culture]
. Palace Museum Afternoon Session 12:00 Meeting point: Meridian Gate, Palace Museum, Beijing 12:30 Start touring the Palace Museum 15:30 On-site disbandment: Disband independently at the Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen), Palace Museum, Beijing, happily
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City) [Savor a Thousand Years of Civilization, Experience the Charm of Chinese Culture]
- Best visiting time: It is recommended to enter the park immediately after it opens (around 8:30). At this time, there are fewer tourists and the lighting is suitable for taking pictures. - Classic route: Meridian Gate to Hall of Supreme Harmony to Hall
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)
Beijing | Half-Day Tour of the Palace Museum (Forbidden City)

Reviews

4.9 / 5
Fantastic
1.1K reviews
Guide
4.9
Itinerary
4.9
Quality of transfer
4.8
Value for money
4.8
Reviews summary
From real reviews, powered by AI
Overall impression
Knowledgeable and engaging tour guides provided clear and detailed historical explanations, making the palace tour both educational and enjoyable for visitors.
Guide
Guides delivered detailed and engaging historical explanations with clear pacing, while remaining attentive and patient with participants throughout the tour.
Itinerary
The well-organized itineraries ensured smooth navigation through the expansive palace grounds, allowing visitors to thoroughly explore key areas and historical exhibits.
Value for money
Enhanced historical understanding through expert guidance proves highly valuable. The enriched educational experience and detailed insights make the tour worthwhile.
Traveler reviews
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Review for: Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

Our tour guide, Xiaolu, was probably the best guide I've ever had! She possessed extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of the Forbidden City's layout and its many stories. As we walked, numerous visitors were drawn in by her explanations, and before they knew it, they were following our group. After touring the Forbidden City with her, I felt like I had taken a comprehensive history lesson. Her explanations were so vivid that I could visualize the scenes in my mind as I listened, imagining the lives of the emperors and concubines who lived in the Forbidden City over several centuries. I remembered that 24 emperors lived in the Forbidden City, the purpose of each area, and the unique aspects of Yanxi Palace. Thank you, Xiaolu, for making this trip so enriching! It's absolutely perfect for bringing children; they will definitely learn a lot!

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Review for: Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

This was my first time using KLOOK. It turns out that when the official notice says the tour guide will contact you before 7:00 PM the evening before, they don't send an email. Instead, they leave a message inside the order management section. I foolishly kept checking my email and then added the guide on WeChat. Our guide this time was Ms. Zhang Yuqing. Her explanations were very professional, and her time management was excellent. We met at 8:50 and finished at 12:00. Afterward, we were free to visit the Treasure Gallery and the Clock Gallery on our own or just look around. However, even though it's late October and the off-peak season, the crowds were still huge. There might not even be a true off-season for the Palace Museum! All in all, having a professional guide really enhances the travel experience, so it was definitely worth it.

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Review for: Palace Museum and Treasure Gallery Admission Ticket + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

the duration of the tour is a bit short and it is quite rush to see the attractions in the palace, the speaking pace of the guide is quite fast as well while you should bring some food and drinks as there are limited food options inside and the weather in summer is extremely terrible, you have better to take care your body, but the palace is worth to go.

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Review for: Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

To truly understand the purpose and history of each palace, you need to follow a guided tour through the Forbidden City from beginning to end. The Palace Museum is truly immense, and having someone explain things is essential to clearly grasp the historical background of each courtyard you visit. From the grand halls where court was held to the courtyards of the imperial concubines in the rear palace, and the absolutely beautiful imperial gardens, the emperors and empresses of old certainly lived a life of luxury! 🌟

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Review for: Palace Museum admission ticket + guided tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

Thanks to our tour guide, Xiaohai, for accompanying us throughout our visit to the Forbidden City! The towering red walls and magnificent palaces are breathtaking to see in person. Xiaohai is very knowledgeable, explains things in an easy-to-understand way, patiently answers all our questions, and even recommends great photo spots. The entire experience was thoughtful and attentive, making this trip to the Forbidden City fulfilling and unforgettable!

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Review for: Palace Museum admission ticket + guided tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

I had a wonderful time today joining Guide Guo's tour of the Forbidden City! Guide Guo was extremely professional and attentive, leading a detailed three-hour tour that was truly enlightening. For any traveler, it is such good fortune to encounter a tour guide who takes their job so seriously! The Forbidden City is definitely a destination worth spending a full day exploring in detail.

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Review for: Palace Museum admission ticket + guided tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

Remember to leave your WeChat contact information so the tour guide can reach you. Otherwise, you can directly contact Klook customer service and ask them to provide your WeChat account to the local travel agency. Our guide, Ms. Baran, from Jingjian, was incredibly dedicated and professional in her explanations. She was able to describe various treasures, bricks, and tiles, as well as significant events involving Qing Dynasty emperors. This made the Forbidden City feel less like a setting for palace dramas and more like a place with profound historical significance. After 3 hours, we disbanded in the Imperial Garden, allowing us to explore the East and West Palaces we hadn't seen yet, and finally exit through the Gate of Divine Might. Beijing summers are very hot, so remember to bring all your heat-relief essentials.

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Review for: Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

The history, architecture, and interesting anecdotes about the palace are explained in great detail. Highly recommended for anyone interested in history and palaces to learn more and visit. Currently, about 80% of the Forbidden City is open to the public, so you will need plenty of stamina and hydration to walk through the whole area!

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Review for: Forbidden City, Gallery of Treasures, and Clock Gallery Admission Tickets + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

Half-day tour, thanks to Guide Guo, who was very dedicated and explained everything in great detail, even sharing good photo spots. Klook didn't mislead us this time, and the itinerary wasn't fake, unlike the Great Wall + Summer Palace tour, which claimed to include the Old Summer Palace when it didn't, and then the driver said it would cost an extra 100 RMB to go there...

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Review for: Palace Museum and Treasure Gallery Admission Ticket + Guided Tour · Mandarin · Join-in tour

On August 23rd, three of us, including a friend, joined Tour Guide Chang's National Palace Museum tour. His explanations were lively and engaging, helping us understand some of the museum's intricate details and stories. The entire three-hour讲解 was very enriching. I highly recommend joining this guided tour; it was definitely worth the trip!

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Good to know

  • Please bring the identification documents filled out in the order on the day of the tour, and make sure not to bring the wrong ones or forget them.
  • If you are not contacted by a tour guide around 18:00 the day before the tour, please check the tour guide information in your order in a timely manner.
  • In case of special dates (such as July and August, National Gallery/Golden Week holidays like October 1st and May 1st, Spring Festival, etc.), ticket issuance may fail. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

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