
History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China worth booking?
History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China is a 7-hour experience in Beijing, China, from $214 per person. It scores 55 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 5/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 55 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (3)
- Duration
- 7 hours
- From
- $214 per person
Discover Beijing’s greatest treasures and palaces on this 8-hour private China culture walking tour, beating the crowd and walking followed an efficient route to see all the highlights in the palace museum and National museum of China. All entrance tickets, private English speaking guide, hotel pickup with Uber Transfer are all included except for hotel drop off.
What you get
About this experience
Discover Beijing’s greatest treasures and palaces on this 8-hour private China culture walking tour, beating the crowd and walking followed an efficient route to see all the highlights in the palace museum and National museum of China. All entrance tickets, private English speaking guide, hotel pickup with Uber Transfer are all included except for hotel drop off.
What's included
Included
- Private English-speaking tour guide service
- Hotel pick up with Uber transfer
- Entrance tickets
Not included
- Meals
- Hotel drop off(guide will help you find a taxi, cost is on your own)
- Gratuity to the guide
What you'll see and do
Tiananmen Square
Welcome to the biggest square in the world: Tiananmen Square. In this informative walking tour, you will see the ancient Qianmen Gate, Mao’s tomb, the Monument to the People’s heroes and the Great Hall of the people from outside and your knowledgeable tour guide will share with you the relevant history and stories behind all the mentioned architectures.
45 minutes here
The Palace Museum
After the Square, you will walk through the Tiananmen gate and continue your walk to the Forbidden City, which is the largest Imperial Palace in the world. You’ll spend a couple of hours wandering around this amazing example of Imperial architecture and learning about the history of the palace. You can visit the major palaces along central axis: Meridian Gate - Gate of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Supreme Harmony - Hall of Central Harmony - Hall of Preserved Harmony - Hall of Mental Cultivation - Hall for Ancestral Worship (Clock and Watch Hall) - Hall of Imperial Supremacy (Treasure Gallery) - Palace of Tranquil Longevity - Qianlong Garden - Well of Concubine Zhen - Imperial Garden- Gate of Divine Might. The tour will be ended at the north gate. If you want to spend longer inside the Forbidden City, the tour guide will say goodbye to you at the Imperial Garden.
120 minutes here · Admission included
National Museum Of China
This museum is considered as a China history book help you to read China from prehistorical age to today. It takes 2-5 hours explore all based on your pace.
180 minutes here · Admission included
Jingshan Park
Located behind Forbidden City north exit, it is the back yard garden of Forbidden City, climb up to the hill top, you can take a bird view of the whole Forbidden City.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Catherine Lu Tours
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Please offer all passport number and name for Forbidden City tickets booking and bring passport or passport copy during the tour
- Dress code is smart casual
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
1 mentionTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Small groups
1 mentionThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
Traveler reviews
3 verified traveler reviews for History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellent tour National museum. Must see
Excellent tour by Xixi. Above and beyond the your. Cover important places of forbidden city. Excellent lecture on Chinese history by Xixi. Excellent English. Good company. Highly recommend as few Viator tours offer National Museum of China tour.
Response from the operator: Many thanks for your great feedback! Glad Xixi impressed you with her great history knowledge and fluent English. We are pleased that you liked our rare tour that includes the National Museum of China. Hope you have a wonderful rest of your trip!
via Viator
Use a licensed guide to avoid huge lines!
It is near impossible for a foreigner to book tickets for any major Beijing attractions. Also impossible to know which queue to line up and which entrance to take! I booked the private tour so all bookings were taken care of. Having a licensed guide also means we can use the express line. Looking at the lenght of the normal line, it is worth every penny! My guide Peter was an excellent tour guide! He studied history in university and used to worked in the Chinese National museum, making him a perfect a guide for a history tour! He spoke very good English and was able to guide me to all the highlights in the museum in the very limited time I had in there. I will definitely book with them again!
via Tripadvisor
Thoroughly enjoyable tour of The Forbidden City and Summer Palace
Excellent tours made all the more so by the knowledge of our guides - Jeremy for the Forbidden City and Justin for the Summer Palace. Having a driver makes a big difference to the experience. Would not hesitate to recommend.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
- Price range
- $214 to $366
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 1
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Catherine Lu Tours, who run 91 experiences we rank across 7 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 57.8 and 3 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Catherine Lu Tours runsWhy this scores 55
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Beijing.
How much does History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China cost?
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Prices start at $214 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Beijing usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China take?
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Plan for about 7 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Beijing is not rushed.
Is History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 55 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Beijing, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 7-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China?
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Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Beijing can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Beijing and add a light layer if any part of the 7-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Beijing within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Beijing?
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On Outty we rank every Beijing experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Temple Heaven, Lama Temple, Summer Palace & Peking Duck Bus Tour, Beijing Mutianyu Great Wall Sightseeing Full-day Group Tours, Mubus: Mutianyu Great Wall Bus Tour with Summer Palace Options. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Beijing?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China?
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Included: Private English-speaking tour guide service; Hotel pick up with Uber transfer; and Entrance tickets. Not included: Meals; Hotel drop off(guide will help you find a taxi, cost is on your own); and Gratuity to the guide. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 2734 listed pickup locations in and around Beijing. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China offered in?
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It is offered in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Beijing. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about History Study Tour to Forbidden City & National Musuem of China?
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Across 3 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, value for money. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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