Forbidden City + Badaling Great Wall day tour: English-speaking tour for 2–7 travelers, private vehicle, private guide, optional cable car

Special Instructions: First, a successful booking doesn't guarantee successful ticket acquisition for the Forbidden City. Please carefully read the announcement on Trip.com's official website, as the vendor needs to secure the tickets. Second, if the vendor fails to secure the tickets, visitors will be notified by phone or SMS before 10 PM on the day of the attempted purchase (usually 7 days before the visit). You can then cancel your booking without any loss or change the date for free. Please book with caution if this is a concern.

The Forbidden City, also known as the Palace Museum, was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties and is a symbol of ancient China. As you stand within its magnificent and orderly walls and courtyards, you can truly feel its former glory. Its long history has left behind a large number of precious buildings and countless cultural relics, which are the main attractions for visitors today.

Visit the ancient architecture complex

The Forbidden City is one of China's, and indeed the world's, most well-preserved and largest ancient wooden architectural complexes. This magnificent complex can be divided into two main sections: the Outer Court and the Inner Court. With the Gate of Heavenly Purity as the dividing line, the area south of it is the Outer Court, where the emperor handled state affairs. North of the Gate of Heavenly Purity is the Inner Court, where the imperial concubines resided and the emperor's family life took place.

Admire a large number of precious cultural relics

The Palace Museum houses a vast collection of precious cultural relics, numbering over a million pieces. These relics are categorized and displayed in various exhibition halls according to their type. Among them, the Treasure Gallery and the Hall of Clocks are particularly noteworthy. Here, you can marvel at a diverse array of unique mechanical clocks and watches collected by the Qing Dynasty, an experience sure to broaden your horizons.

Travel Routes

The Forbidden City covers a vast area, encompassing over 70 palaces of varying sizes, and offers numerous touring routes. To fully explore the entire complex, it's recommended to allocate a full day. However, if you prefer a quicker visit, focusing on the main palaces, you can complete a tour in approximately two hours.

Classic Attractions

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, where emperors held grand ceremonies

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, commonly known as the "Golden Throne Hall," served as the venue for grand ceremonies held by emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. On such occasions, a magnificent honor guard would stretch from the hall to Tiananmen Gate, accompanied by the harmonious music of the Zhonghe Shaoyue ensemble under the eaves of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the grand music of the Danbi Dayue ensemble within the Gate of Supreme Harmony. The emperor would stand on the red-paved steps (Danbi), while civil and military officials of all nine ranks assembled on either side of the imperial pathway within the red courtyard (Danchi), where the "Mountain of Ranks" was displayed.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation, where the emperor held court.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is an I-shaped building, divided into front and back halls. Since the Qing Emperor Yongzheng, the emperor's living quarters were moved to the back hall, and the front hall became the place where the emperor handled daily affairs and met with officials.

The magnificent stone bridges in the Forbidden City—Jinshui Bridges

Five Golden Water Bridges stand in the square in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony. These single-arch, exquisitely designed bridges complement the majestic Meridian Gate and the resplendent Hall of Supreme Harmony, creating a captivating scene.

Empress's Palace (Kunning Palace) - the emperor's wedding chamber

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is one of the three palaces located in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City in Beijing. During the Ming dynasty, it served as the empress's residence, but in the Qing dynasty, it was gradually transformed into a place for shamanistic worship.

The Hall of Preserving Harmony, where the "final imperial examination" was held

The Hall of Preserving Harmony, a quintessential example of traditional Chinese palace architecture, is a grand hall within Beijing's Forbidden City. Every New Year's Eve, the emperor would host a banquet here for nobles and officials from minority groups. From the later years of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, it became the venue for the "imperial examination."

A Treasure Trove of Unique Gems - Treasures Gallery

The Treasure Gallery is located in the Ning Shou Palace area. It houses an exceptionally rich collection of treasures, including Buddhist artifacts, ornaments, everyday objects, and collectible curios.

Exquisite Clocks of All Shapes and Sizes - Clock Museum

The Clock and Watch Exhibition Hall, located in the Hall of Ancestral Worship within the palace, primarily showcases British timepieces, alongside those from France, Switzerland, and other nations. Beyond their timekeeping function, these exquisitely crafted clocks feature decorative figures, birds, beasts, and flowers that perform various movements.

Badaling Great Wall is known as one of the nine strategic passes in the world. Its scenery combines magnificence, danger, beauty, and lush greenery, making it the essence of the Ming Great Wall scenery. As the saying goes, "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man." Many Chinese people choose this as their main destination for visiting the Great Wall.

The Badaling Great Wall Pass is trapezoidal, narrower on the east and wider on the west, and has two gates, east and west. The east gate is inscribed with "Juyong Wai Zhen" (Outpost of Juyong Pass), and the west gate with "Bei Men Suo Yao" (Key to the Northern Gate). The section of the Great Wall extending north from the pass is the North Great Wall, which has 12 watchtowers. South of the pass is the South Great Wall, which has 7 watchtowers.

In addition to the Guānchéng section, there are also access points to the Great Wall at South Tower 4, North Tower 4, North Tower 8, and North Tower 11.

North 8th Tower is the highest watchtower on the Badaling Great Wall, also known as "Sunrise Viewing Platform".

Take the ropeway

Cable cars are also available at the South 4th Tower and North 8th Tower. Travelers who prefer not to walk can take the cable car directly to the watchtower and take it back after their visit.

Nearby Restaurants

The Badaling Great Wall attraction has a commercial pedestrian street where you can rest and dine after descending from the Great Wall. In addition to the high-end Badaling Hotel (which caters to foreign visitors), there are also restaurants serving traditional Beijing cuisine, such as noodles with soybean paste, Goubuli steamed buns, and dumplings, as well as fast food options like Subway and Yonghe Soy Milk. You can choose according to your needs.