Top 3 Must-See: Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace&Forbidden City

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Beijing

   This private tour offers three convenient departure options for your choice: your downtown hotel, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), or Daxing International Airport. Please select your departure point in advance, and our professional guide and driver will meet you on time to start your one-day efficient exploration of Beijing’s top landmarks.

   Pass by without stopping

2. Tiananmen Square

   After being picked up by your guide and driver, the first stop of your itinerary is Tian’anmen Square. Note that Tian’anmen Square is not only a famous tourist attraction but also a political service center, with extremely strict security checks that can take 1 to 3 hours. Since our itinerary is tight, if you encounter a long queue for security checks, we suggest skipping the on-foot visit and taking a drive around the square to save time. When you visit Tian’anmen Square (either on foot or by car), your guide will show you the iconic buildings from the outside and explain their historical background.

   30 minutes here

3. The Palace Museum

   Then, you will enter the Forbidden City directly through the Tian’anmen Gate Tower to the Meridian Gate. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where emperors handled state affairs and lived with their families.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

4. Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian)

   Inside the Forbidden City, you will follow your guide to visit its key attractions: the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian), the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghe Dian), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohe Dian). The Hall of Supreme Harmony was used for grand ceremonies such as imperial coronations and weddings; the Hall of Central Harmony was where emperors rested and prepared before ceremonies; the Hall of Preserving Harmony was used for imperial examinations and banquets. Later, you will head to the Inner Court, where you can learn about the living places of emperors, empresses, court ladies, concubines, and eunuchs, as well as the interesting stories behind these sites. The Forbidden City visit ends with a tour of the Imperial Garden.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

5. Temple of Heaven

   After the Forbidden City, we will proceed to the famous Temple of Heaven, a sacred place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to heaven and prayed for good harvests. Here, you will visit the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (Qinian Dian)—a magnificent circular building with a blue glazed tile roof, symbolizing heaven, and famous for its exquisite wooden structure without a single nail. You will also visit the Echo Wall, Huangqiongyu (Hall of Imperial Heaven), and the Circular Mound Altar, with your guide explaining their cultural and historical significance.

   90 minutes here · Admission included

6. Summer Palace

   After exploring the Temple of Heaven, you will enjoy an authentic local lunch to recharge for the afternoon’s journey. In the afternoon, we will head to the Summer Palace, a classical Chinese imperial garden and a masterpiece of garden design, which was a summer resort for emperors and empresses in the Qing Dynasty.

   60 minutes here · Admission included

7. Kunming Lake

   Following your guide, you will visit the key attractions of the Summer Palace: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity (Renshou Dian), which was the main hall where the Empress Dowager Cixi handled state affairs; the Hall of Joyful Longevity (Leshou Tang), the residence of the Empress Dowager Cixi. You will also stroll along the Long Corridor, the longest corridor in the world, and learn about the stories behind the colorful paintings on its beams. Then, you will visit the famous Marble Boat, a unique stone structure with a touching historical story, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Kunming Lake. Your guide will detail the origin of the Summer Palace and the important figures associated with it, including the Empress Dowager Cixi. At the end of the itinerary, your guide or driver will send you back to your hotel or airport, ensuring a complete and worry-free journey.

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Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• Tour Start from downtown hotel

  Tour start from downtown hotel: This option applies only if your departure and return locations are hotels within the 4th Ring Road of downtown Beijing. Pickup included

• 5th of Oct-Tour from downtown

  5th of Oct-Tour from downtown: Monday is open during public holiday Pickup included

• Tour stat from PKX

  Tour stat from PKX: This option applies only if your departure&return locations are Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) or hotels nearby. Pickup included

• Tour start from PEK airport

  Tour start from PEK airport : This option applies only if your departure&return locations are Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or hotels nearby. Pickup included

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Discover Beijing Tours

Know before you go

• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• We require the correct passport number of each participant (the one used on the tour day) for ticket booking. A passport is required during the tour; will be denied without one.
• Tiananmen Square may close unannounced due to government activities, in which case it will be skipped. No refunds as the square is free
• Chinese citizens (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) need to book this tour 7 days in advance. By regulation, please submit Chinese name & ID number when reserving and present the ID on the tour day to join the group
• Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
• Please be advised that visiting the four attractions in one day involves a lot of walking, so please prepare accordingly.
• If the security check queue at Tian’anmen Square exceeds one hour, we suggest either driving around the square or skipping the on-foot visit. Your guide will still explain the history of the square. Due to the tight schedule of the day, we focus on visiting the paid attractions; no refund will be provided for skipping Tian’anmen Square as it is a free attraction.

Photos

Traveler reviews

7 verified traveler reviews for Top 3 Must-See: Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace&Forbidden City. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.