Forbidden City at opening, Jingshan Hill view and a hutong walk by bike
6 hoursPublic transportationPrivate tour for 1–6 peopleBeijing, North ChinaEasy to moderate (8 km on foot and bike)
The palace before the crowds, from the Meridian Gate up the central axis and then out into the side courtyards where the clocks, the ceramics and the quiet are. Climb Jingshan for the view of all those golden roofs, then ride a bike through the hutongs around Houhai for lunch in a courtyard restaurant.
Led by Wei L., our Beijing guide
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Itinerary
08:20
Meridian Gate, Forbidden City
故宫 午门 · 北京市东城区景山前街4号
Tickets pre-booked with your passport numbers. We enter at opening and walk the central axis before it fills, then the side palaces.
Wei's tipThe Hall of Clocks and the Treasure Gallery are worth the extra ticket.
On footTicket ¥60 + galleries ¥10
11:15
Jingshan Park
景山公园 · 北京市西城区景山西街44号
Out of the north gate and straight up the hill for the only view of the whole palace.
On footTicket ¥2
12:00
Hutong lunch by bike
胡同 午餐 · 北京市西城区什刹海
Bikes from a shop by Houhai lake; 40 minutes through the lanes to a courtyard restaurant.
Wei's tipTry zhajiangmian (炸酱面), Beijing's noodle dish.
Bike¥50–80 pp + bike ¥20
14:00
Houhai and the Drum Tower lanes
什刹海 · 鼓楼 · 北京市东城区鼓楼
Finish at the Drum Tower; the lanes around it are the best-preserved in the city.
Bike / on footFree
What's included
- Private licensed guide
- Forbidden City ticket booking (passport details needed 3+ days ahead)
- Metro fares
Not included
- Entrance tickets (about ¥75 pp)
- Bike rental (about ¥20)
- Lunch
- Tips (optional)
Meeting point
Forbidden City, Meridian Gate ticket check (故宫 午门 检票口, 北京市东城区景山前街4号 故宫午门). Pick-up elsewhere in Beijing can be arranged; tell Wei where you are staying.
Good to know
Sights on this tour
Questions about this tour
Why do you need passport numbers in advance?
Forbidden City tickets are name-registered and sell out, especially April to October. I book them the moment sales open, 7 days ahead.
Is the Forbidden City closed on Mondays?
Yes, except on public holidays. We run the hutong and Jingshan parts and swap the palace for the Temple of Heaven.
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