1 day

Instant confirmation

About this activity

After pickup from your Beijing hotel in the morning, your VIP tour begins with a drive to the Forbidden City, a 180-acre (74-hectare) imperial palace that housed 24 emperors since it was built in 1420. Once forbidden to all without permission from the emperor, the UNESCO World Heritage Site – the world’s largest palace complex – includes 980 buildings and 8,700 rooms.

When you arrive, follow your guide on a tour of the Palace Museum, exploring the world’s largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures as you view the vast collection of antique artwork and artifacts on exhibit. Your guide will enlighten you about China’s cultural history from the Ming and Qing dynasties along the way.

Then, follow your guide on a special and intimate tour of two of the Forbidden City's hidden treasures – Treasure Gallery and Clock Exhibition Hall. First, venture into the Treasure Gallery (Zhenbaoguan), situated in the northeast area of the Forbidden City. See the unique displays of royal jewelry, imperial robes and crowns, including the famous Jade Cabbage. Admire works made of gold, silver, pearl and jade as well as utensils, tea services and daily necessities of the imperial families that resided here.

Head to the Clock Exhibition Hall, where 200 clocks and watches from the imperial collection, including some Chinese-made timepieces, are on display. Here, admire the chime clock, made during the Qing Dynasty by the royal clockmakers, and the whimsical 20-foot-tall (6-meter) water clock, constructed in 1799 and the largest of its kind in China.

From the Forbidden City, head to Jingshan Hill, the highest point in Beijing city. Built during the Liao and Jin dynasties, the well-preserved imperial gardens offer a bird’s-eye view of the entire Forbidden City and Beijing. Afterward, dine on a typical Beijing banquet for lunch, including renowned Peking duck.

Then, follow your guide on a tour of the newly opened Ruins of the Great Wall, situated 18 miles (30 km) from the main Badaling Great Wall site. Virtually isolated, the Ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage site will afford you a tranquil exploration of its ancient forts, towers and courtyards. Follow the steps of the Chinese soldiers who once marched along the high fortification with their horses. Your guide will enlighten you about this authentic portion of the Great Wall while you enjoy panoramic views of the mountains and surrounding landscape.

You'll return to your Beijing hotel in the evening.

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Included

Professional English-speaking tour guide
Pick-up and drop-off services from the hotels located within 4th ring circle highway
If your hotel is located out of 4th Ring Circle Highway, please go to Prime Hotel to join the tour at 08:30AM. (Add: No. 2, Wangfujing Ave. Tel: +86-10-65136666)
Transport by air-conditioned vehicle/mini-van
Chinese style lunch
Entry/Admission - The Great Wall at Badaling
Entry/Admission - Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
Entry/Admission - Jingshan Park (Jingshan Gongyuan)

Not included

Gratuities

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
Infants age 2 and under are free provided they do not occupy a seat
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Features

Tourism

90%

Cultural

85%

Reviews

4.4

25

S

Shaneel Ali

5 | 2017-05-17

Great way to see the wall. Avoids all the crowds and the car rides were filled with history and great sites.

D

Diane Y

3 | 2017-04-01

Our guide, Carolyn, and the driver arrived on time. We drove to the park, climbed to the top, and viewed the Forbidden City and all of Beijing. Great views. Next we headed to the Forbidden City. Carolyn was very knowledgeable, but avoided the main areas because there were too may tourists. But that's what we came to see! Instead we walked around the other areas. The treasures we saw were not very impressive and did not match the pictures. I sort of felt like we missed the true treasures due to repairs or something of that sort. We stopped at a silk place along the way. Then we headed off to the Great Wall. Stopped for lunch at a jade place. Lunch was peking Duck, but not very good. The tea was even luke-warm. Carolyn and the driver decided to take us to a remote section of the wall rather than the tourist section at Badaling. Honestly, we were disappointed. We climbed what we could but there really wasn't that much. Of course the views were great, but I can't help feeling that we missed out. Then we headed back into the city. We asked to see Tiannemen Square, so we did a drive-by. Also drove past the Bird's nest and Swim Cube. Then we headed back to the hotel. And that was it.

j

jennifer m

5 | 2016-06-18

We very much enjoyed this tour. It was just my husband and me with a private guide named Goo. He was very knowledgeable and patient answering all our questions and explaining the Forbidden City. He took us to the Badaling section of the wall but beyond where the crowds are. We were virtually alone in a mountainous part of the wall. It was breathtakingly beautiful and the weather in May was perfection! This was a true highlight of our time in Beijing. Highly recommend and couldn't say enough nice things about our guide Goo.

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