Private Beijing Walking Tour Of The Forbidden City With 7 Options

See a lot in one day. Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven. Our guide, Ranee, was great. Very knowledgeable about each place.

Mike was very pleasant, but the guiding was superficial. I expected detailed history, stories and explanations of the symbolism and key features of the Forbidden City. Instead, it felt more like being accompanied around than a proper guided tour. Afterwards, I found explanations on YouTube of things I had seen that hadn’t been covered. A nice person, but the guiding fell well short of expectations.

Maria was my guide. She was so prepared and knowledgeable. She made sure I had everything I needed and made sure we maximized the tour time. It was a pleasure having her as my guide.

Great tour, very knowledgeable guide. The tour was adapted to our family of 5. We enjoyed a beautiful visit of this gorgeous forbidden city.

The Forbidden City is huge and full of history and artifacts. You need a guide like Ranee to lead you through everything, like the fastest way to get in, to learn about the different dynasties that built and maintained the City, and the many facts and back stories. Honestly, a few hours isn’t enough but Ranee gave us plenty of knowledge! Her experience comes through and we recommend Ranee to be your guide!

Sherry was an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable and friendly. We had a very tight schedule to visit the temple of Heaven, and the Forbidden city before our flight and was able to to accommodate our needs and still see everything (Tienamen Swuare was closed for the holiday). We also visited a wonderful tea house. Her explanations were clear and complete and she made sure we always understood what we were seeing and why it was important… highly recommend her.

I had an absolutely wonderful full-day private tour of Beijing with Padma and cannot recommend her highly enough! From the beginning, Padma was incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful, and brought such positive energy to the entire day. My schedule changed at the last minute, and I really wanted to make sure I had enough time to experience the Great Wall. Padma immediately adapted, came up with several options, and helped me think through how to make the most of my limited time. Once we decided on a plan, her travel company was incredibly efficient in rebooking tickets and adjusting our itinerary to accommodate the places I most wanted to see. The professionalism of the company really showed throughout the day. At the Great Wall, having priority access made a huge difference and allowed me to spend my time actually experiencing this incredible place rather than waiting in long lines. Our driver was also courteous and friendly, and the car was comfortable and stocked with snacks and beverages—a small but very thoughtful touch after a long day of sightseeing. Most importantly, Padma is simply a wonderful person. She has such a kind heart and joyful spirit, and as a woman traveling on my own, I felt completely comfortable and well cared for throughout the day. Seeing the Forbidden City and walking on the Great Wall were experiences I had dreamed about, and Padma helped turn them into memories I will genuinely treasure for a lifetime. An absolute joy from beginning to end. I highly recommend!!

Our guide 王洪娟 (Aurora) picked us up from our hotel and helped us quickly get into Tiananmen and the Forbidden City. She was incredibly knowledgeable about all the sites we explored and guided us to the right places for photo ops. She was also very friendly and her English was fantastic (great for those who require an english language guide). I highly recommend this experience if you have some extra money to spare and would like a hastle free experience of touring a couple of Beijing's most iconic sites. Thank you!

Our Beijing tour booked through Viator exceeded all expectations. The itinerary was exceptionally well organized, allowing us to experience China's rich history and culture while making the most of our time. What made the experience outstanding was our guide, Lily. She was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and passionate about Beijing's history and culture. Her engaging storytelling brought each site to life, and she was always happy to answer questions and share fascinating historical insights. Lily was also attentive to our group's needs, ensuring that everyone was comfortable and that the tour ran smoothly from start to finish.

We booked a private (couples) tour and had a great time with our guide (Aurora). We had initially thought to go ourselves but are grateful we booked a tour guide to help us navigate there (and around the grounds), translate where necessary and explain the history of the palace museum in great detail. This made the experience much more seamless and less stressful. Whilst it's more expensive to book a private tour, we were able to explore the grounds at our own pace which we also really appreciated. Thank you Aurora and team!

Went with my wife and son. Leo, our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable. And patient with our son on a very hot day! Plan accordingly- the security lines are no joke. Leo knew how best to navigate them. Recommended!

We really enjoyed learning about the history and culture of China from our guide, Lucy. She was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the Forbidden City tour engaging and informative. One tip for future travelers: be sure to compare prices before purchasing optional add-ons through the tour company. We purchased tickets to the Chinese acrobatic show through Lucy's company for 380 RMB each because we were told the 280 RMB seats might not offer a good view. However, when we arrived, the theater was mostly empty, and it appeared that virtually every seat had an excellent view. In hindsight, we would have chosen the 280 RMB tickets or booked online ourselves and saved some money. This didn't take away from an otherwise excellent tour, but I hope this information helps future visitors make a more informed decision about the optional show tickets.

Our tour was supposed to include Tiananmen Square, but our guide only drove by it so “we could take pictures”. We wanted to experience it, not just take a picture. Our guide was very knowledgeable and gave excellent information about The Forbidden City but the tour felt too rushed. Our tour was supposed to be 4-6 hours and ours was about 4.

Mina Li did a great job showing us around Tianmen square, the forbidden city and the temple of heaven. She is very knowledgable about the history of each of the locations and speaks English exceptionally well. Highly recommend using her for tours in Beijing. The driver and transportation was also seamless and prompt.

Shortly after i booked this tour, i received communications from the tour operator about documents needed to complete booking. My questions about the tour was also met with prompt responses. Communication from our tour guide as to when/where we were met was received a day before the tour. Our English speaking tour guide Mina Li was very knowledgeable and maneuvered us thru the Forbidden city and Heavenly palace smoothly. Having a private tour guide was great. We learned so much on this tour. . I would definitely book through Viators again… the guides and drivers used were top notch….Thank you for a worry free tour!

We had a great experience exploring the Forbidden City with Cindy. She was very knowledgeable and created an enjoyable experience for my father and I. She also got us into the Forbidden City quickly, which was helpful because the line can take 2 hours. We highly recommend this tour.

Padma and driver were excellent!!! It was a very nice and pleasant experience! Thank you Padma, driver, and Viator !

We used this company for a tour of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. I would highly recommend it! Lucy was our guide, and she was great - extremely knowledgeable about the sites and willing to be flexible in customizing the itinerary to meet our group’s needs.

Our guide Jimmy was awesome, he made our tour a very memorable one. He is puncture to pick us at our hotel, made optional reservation on behalf of us so we are able to use the best option on the day to join the shorter queue. He help us to clear security check and we all able to enter the square smoothly. He is very knowledgeable about China history and able to share much with us. We recommend Jimmy to all who wanted a great guide to tour Beijing.

I had a private tour with my tour guide, Jimmy. He was very friendly, helpful and informative and had extensive knowledge on everything related to the Forbidden City and Chinese history. He made my visit far superior than if I had gone without a guide. Highly recommend. Andrew

Aurora, our guide, was very knowledgeable and did a great job showing us through Tian’anmen Square and the main sections of the forbidden city on our 4hr tour. We ended the tour within the city gates, which worked well for us as we were then free to explore on our own, have a late lunch in the Ice Cellar restaurant (food was good) and then visit the nearby park and pavilions before catching a DiDi back to the hotel. A tip: 4hrs goes by quickly so if you spend too much time taking pics etc early in the tour, you might end up rushing through the later sections, which are just as (if not more) interesting.

Lily was fantastic. We had a great tour!……………………………………………………………………………..,………………………………………, .………………………..

Our guide, Mina, was incredibly knowledgeable and made the experience truly enjoyable. We visited the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven, and Mina brought each location to life by sharing fascinating insights and highlighting key details we might have otherwise missed. Our driver was also excellent, navigating the busy streets of Beijing with great skill and professionalism. Overall, it was a smooth and memorable experience.

Even though we were short on time as we had to go catch a train. Our tour guide Peter was great and was very good with answering all of our random questions about the forbidden city and China in general. There was a mishap with the meeting location which was our fault but we ended up skipping the Tiananmen Square and went straight to the Forbidden City. We had a good 1 -1.5hrs to walk around and view all of the main attractions such as the forecourts and emperors palace. We would 100% recommend booking this tour and would do so again if we are back in Beijing.

We had a wonderful day trip to the Great Wall with Sandy. We met in the hotel lobby at 7:30 am, and the drive gave us plenty of time to ask questions and get to know her. This was especially enjoyable for our children (aged 7 and 12), who loved hearing about her experiences. Sandy is very well travelled, both within China and internationally, so there was never a dull moment. Our driver, Mr. Xiao, had an excellent vehicle and made us feel completely safe and comfortable throughout the journey. Sandy had our tickets ready on arrival, ensuring everything ran smoothly. We took the chairlift up and the toboggan down, a highlight of the day! The boys were initially a little apprehensive but ended up loving it so much that they wanted to go again. Sandy’s knowledge of the Great Wall was exceptional. She shared fascinating details about each gate and watchtower, bringing the history to life. While we could have visited independently, it would not have been nearly as enriching or memorable without her guidance. The kids had an absolute blast and declared it their favourite attraction in China. We highly recommend Sandy for anyone looking for an informative, seamless, and truly unforgettable experience.

We did the private tour with Jack yesterday and it was excellent, he is very knowledgeable and friendly, we were very happy to have him as our guide.

Waste of money - could easily have done it ourselves for far less

The whole day was an amazing experience. And the one who made it so was our guide: Cindy. Besides the educated information she provided to us, along with the little stories not so well known by others, she was very kind and helpful. Took care of us all the time, choosing the best areas for pictures and the least crowded entrances to the objectives of our visit - these are showing her great experience as a guide, a good guide. The Forbidden City is something unique, worth to be seen by all means. Also, the Temple of Heaven offers one of a kind experience and a beautiful view over the great city of Beijing. We had transportation included and the car was perfect, clean and modern. So, again, great experience and the perfect guide😍

A wonderful tour with Gloria. Thank you.

Really great day with Mr. Jack. He was on time, professional, courteous, and answered all of my questions throughout the day with patience. Highly recommend.

We experience a lot fun with this guide

Very nice and kind. Good explanation and delicious lunch

Our guide Aurora is fantastic. She is very engaging and explained history and provided context on the various landmarks. What an educational tour. Thumb up to Aurora

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square with Susan. She was extremely knowledgeable about the sites and historical facts but also shared many interesting anecdotes about Chinese culture and the life of locals. All the information was delivered with charm and a good sense of humour. We enjoyed her company so much that we booked her services for the following day to visit the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace. At Susan‘s recommendation we also saw a show in the Red Theater which was fantastic. Thanks Susan

Andy was both knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He provided a wealth of historical context and was able to adapt based on gate closures at Tiananmen Square. There were long lines, so we went to Temple of Heaven first and then came back, probably saving about 75 minutes. The historic sites were, of course, unforgettable, especially the Forbidden City. He also arranged tickets for a show and took us to a restaurant where locals eat. Absolutely awesome!

Mike gave us an amazing tour of the Forbidden City! He was incredibly helpful and detailed even before the tour started, making the logistics super easy the entire time. We would highly recommend booking a tour with Mike to make the Forbidden City really come to life! Mike’s tour was engaging from beginning to end as he shared the rich history of each site, giving both historical facts and also interesting stories you wouldn’t get on a generic tour. He was also very thoughtful with many bathroom breaks, stopping in warmer spot as it was very cold, taking pictures, and answering all our questions! Mike’s English was also great as he very kindly switched between Chinese and English so my parents and I could both understand everything. Although we didn’t go to Tiananmen Square with Mike due to it’s closure for the annual planning meeting, he went above and beyond in helping us rebook tickets so we could go on our own and we spent the extra time seeing more of the Forbidden City & Jingshan Park!

We had an excellent tour with our guide Aurora. She is very knowledgeable and communicative and made sure that everything went well. A fascinating day.

We did the forbidden city tour today with Kathleen. She is an excellent guide who gave us lots of information about the history of the city, its traditions and the meanings behind the different buildings and art works. We strongly recommend using Kathleen for your visit to Beijing.

We took a private tour with Jimmy, his English skills were the best I’ve experienced in my four visits to China, his knowledge of history and culture unparalleled, he also had a thorough understanding of Australia where we call home, I cannot recommend him highly enough, and I will definitely recommend him to any and all friends planning to visit Beijing, he made it easy and we learned so much about this amazing country, thanks Jimmy you’re a legend !

Spent the morning with sherry and she showed us the Tiananmen Square and the forbidden city, she’s very communicative and has a good control of the pace. Would definitely recommend her

This was a great option for getting to know a lot of detail at the beginning of your visit and then having time to wander around on your own. Our group of three adults was a bit complicated due to special needs, but our guide handled it like a champ. He provided great historical details and entertaining side stories and tailored what he told us based on what we showed an interest in. My family was very happy and I'd recommend booking this tour since it really helped you understand the significance and local feeling about what you were looking at.

Susan will bring your trip to Beijing to life, whether you’re visiting the Forbidden city, the Temple of Heaven, or any other landmark. Her knowledge of history is superb and she tells it with passion. Her energy is infectious! She took care of every detail, even the things we would never have thought of.!

Sherry was our guide and we went to the forbidden city, the plaza, the square and even a tea house, a must have for beijing tourists

Thank you to Susan who helped us with the Forbidden City tour. She was excellent explaining all about the history and culture. Also, the car was very modern and comfortable.

The Private Beijing Walking Tour of the Forbidden City is a MUST-DO ACTIVITY during your trip to Beijing. After skipping many long lines, which is a huge benefit of this tour as compared to going on your own, the tour starts at Tiananmen Square and then goes into the Forbidden City. Andy was an excellent tour guide. He provided the history of the buildings and various structures. He gave insightful comments about Chinese culture. In the Forbidden City, he took us to an area with some of the existing artifacts. This area did not have a lot of visitors, so most people seem unaware. Andy also took great pictures. Overall, this was a wonderful experience! I strongly recommend this tour with Andy as your guide!

Our day exploring Beijing with our wonderful guide Susan (Jade) was truly unforgettable. From the moment we met her, her passion for her country and its history shone through every story she told. Walking through the Forbidden City, we felt as though we were stepping back in time — her vivid storytelling brought the emperors, dynasties, and traditions to life in a way that was both fascinating and deeply moving. Every detail of the day was perfectly organized — our driver seemed to appear effortlessly at every exit point, making the entire experience smooth and relaxed. The visit to the Temple of Heaven was another highlight — its beauty, symbolism, and serenity were enhanced by her thoughtful explanations and genuine enthusiasm. We came away with a profound appreciation for Beijing and for China’s incredible cultural heritage. This was so much more than a tour — it was a journey through history guided by someone who truly loves what she does. We feel very fortunate to have shared the day with her and would recommend this experience wholeheartedly. Feels like we made a new friend along the way. Highly recommend this company and our guide Susan.

Miko was great - really educational but also fun, would recommend his tour to anyone who wants to visit the Forbidden City and understand what they are seeing and why it's important .

Wonderful experience, great guide and a fantastic experience. May have a great knowledge and guided us lovely

The agents are freelance but my guess is that good tourist agencies have a network of good agents.. In my case, my private tour guide- Lily was very good. She spent a lot of time with me and explained the history of the Forbidden City. She spoke gold English and was very nice. If ever, she recommended I go to tbe acrobatics theater and that I really do not recommend. The acrobatics are ok, but nothing you wouldn't have seen elsewhere and I recommend that you spend your time (and money) elsewhere.