Beijing Forbidden City & Treasure Gallery Tour with Tickets Includes Palace Museum entry only (no guided tour)
ID: GYG1319016-2014769
Category:
Country: China
Duration:
05:00 hours
Description
Join a group tour to explore the Forbidden City. Visit the Treasure Gallery and walk the central axis, seeing the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Learn imperial history from a multilingual guide.
Your Forbidden City Tour – A Complete 3-Hour Journey
Meeting Your Guide
Meet at Donghuamen (East Flow Gate) – exact location after booking. Your guide sends a personal selfie via WhatsApp/email the day before, so you know who to look for. No sign. Walk together to Meridian Gate (Wumen) for ticket-check entry with your pre-booked tickets. Guide assists the whole process.
Walking the Central Axis
Step onto the central axis, reserved for emperors. Visit three halls:
Hall of Supreme Harmony – Grand ceremonies, enthronements, weddings.
Hall of Central Harmony – Emperor's rest and preparation area.
Hall of Preserving Harmony – Imperial banquets and civil service exam finals.
Your guide shares details: mythical rooftop creatures (nine sons of dragon), bronze cauldrons, and the 600-year-old drainage system that still prevents flooding.
The Dazzling Treasure Gallery
Enter the Treasure Gallery (northeast inner court), included in your tour. See:
Imperial jewels – Crowns, hairpins, rings with pearls, rubies, jade.
Solid gold pagodas – Including Qianlong's golden pagoda for his mother, inlaid with 70,000+ pearls.
Jadeite Cabbage – Jade vegetable with a locust, symbolizing purity.
European mechanical clocks – 18th-century automata that still play music.
Your guide explains Qing luxury, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange.
Exclusive Stories You Won't Hear Elsewhere
Why no trees in main courtyard? – Prevent assassins, emphasize imperial power.
Gold brick worth a farmer's savings? – "Gold bricks" (ultra-fine clay) cost a year's rice.
600-year-old drains still work? – Sloping pavement and hidden gutters direct rain to moat.
Bronze turtles and cranes – Filled with incense to create "fairyland" atmosphere; symbolize longevity.
Finish at Gate of Divine Might – Panoramic View
End at Shenwumen (north exit). Cross street to Jingshan Park (2 RMB, not included). Climb the artificial hill for the famous bird's-eye photo of the Forbidden City. Afternoon tour offers sunset over golden roofs.
Practical Reminders
Comfortable walking shoes (uneven stone paths, ~4 km)
Original passport – mandatory for entry
Arrive 10 minutes early
Guide contacts you before 8:00 PM the day prior
Highlights
- Discover the Forbidden City on a guided tour with a small group
- Explore the Treasure Gallery and see imperial jewels and gold pagodas
- Learn about the history of the Forbidden City from your guide
- Walk the central axis and see the Hall of Supreme Harmony
- Enjoy a smooth entry with pre-booked tickets and a guide to help you
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Before You Go – Key Info
Passport required – Original passport for entry. No copies.
Meeting point – Donghuamen (East Flow Gate). Exact location sent after booking.
Morning: 08:30 | Afternoon: 12:30
Find your guide – They will send a personal selfie before 8:00 PM (day prior) via WhatsApp/email. Look for that person – no sign or flag.
Group size – Max 15 people per language (English/Russian/Spanish).
Tour details – 3 hours, ~4 km on historic stone paths. Tickets to Forbidden City + Treasure Gallery included.
What to bring – Comfortable shoes, water, charged phone, passport.
Booking rules – Chinese citizens: book 7+ days ahead. Foreign travelers: book any time (subject to availability).
Late policy – Arrive 10 min early. Latecomers may miss the tour.
End point – Shenwumen (North Gate). Jingshan Park across the street (panoramic view, 2 RMB).
INCLUDED
- Forbidden City admission ticket (includes central axis + main halls)
- Treasure Gallery ticket (separate access to imperial jewelry & clock collections)
- Professional multilingual guide (choose English, Russian, or Spanish)
- Small group experience (maximum 15 people per language)
- In-ear headsets (so you never miss a word, even in crowded areas)
NOT INCLUDED
- Food and drinks
- Transportation to meeting point
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.
