Forbidden City + Badaling Great Wall 1-Day Tour [Private English Tour with Dedicated Vehicle & Optional Guide and Cable Car]

Special note: 1. A successful booking does not guarantee a successful waitlist for the Forbidden City. Please carefully read the announcement on Trip.com's official website, as the merchant will need to secure tickets again. 2. If the merchant fails to secure tickets, visitors will be notified by phone or SMS before 22:00 on the waitlist day (usually 7 days before the travel date). You can cancel without penalty or reschedule for free. Please book with caution if this is a concern.

The Palace Museum, also known as the Forbidden City, served as the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties, standing as a timeless symbol of ancient China. Walking through its majestic walls and grand courtyards, you can vividly sense its former glory. Centuries of history have left behind an extraordinary collection of precious architecture and countless cultural relics, which now form the main highlights for visitors exploring this magnificent site.

Tour the ancient architectural complex

The Forbidden City is one of the most well-preserved and largest ancient wooden architectural complexes in China and the world. These magnificent buildings can be divided into two main sections: the "Outer Court" and the "Inner Court." The Gate of Heavenly Purity serves as the boundary—the area south of it is the Outer Court, where emperors handled state affairs, while the area north is the Inner Court, housing the imperial family and the emperor's concubines, serving as the private living quarters.

Admire a vast collection of precious artifacts

The Forbidden City houses a vast collection of precious cultural relics, reportedly numbering over a million pieces. These artifacts are displayed in various exhibition halls categorized by type. The Hall of Treasures and the Clock Exhibition Hall are particularly remarkable, showcasing the Qing Dynasty's collection of exquisitely crafted mechanical clocks with unique designs that will undoubtedly broaden your horizons.

Travel Route

The Forbidden City covers a vast area with over 70 palaces of varying sizes and numerous touring routes. To explore it thoroughly, you'll need to allocate a full day. If you just want a quick overview of the main palaces, it can be completed in about two hours.

Classic Attractions

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian) - where emperors held grand ceremonies

The Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian), commonly known as the "Golden Throne Hall," was the site of grand ceremonies for emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. On major ceremonial occasions, a grand procession stretched from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to beyond Tian'anmen Gate. The hall's front eaves housed the Zhonghe Shaoyue ceremonial music, while the Danbi Dayue ensemble played within the Taihe Gate. Nobles stood on the Danbi terrace, and civil and military officials of all nine ranks lined the imperial pathway flanked by "Rank Mountain" displays.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation – where emperors held court

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is an "L"-shaped building, divided into front and rear halls. After Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor's bedchamber was moved to the rear hall, and the front hall became the place where the emperor handled daily state affairs and received officials.

The magnificent stone bridge in The Palace Museum - Golden Water Bridge

In front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Men), there are five exquisite single-arched Golden Water Bridges on the square. Their graceful design complements the magnificent Meridian Gate tower and the resplendent Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian), creating a captivating scene.

The bridal chamber for imperial weddings – Kunning Palace

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility is one of the three rear palaces in the inner court of The Palace Museum in Beijing. During the Ming Dynasty, it served as the empress's residence, but gradually transformed into a venue for sacrificial rituals in the Qing Dynasty.

The Hall of Preserving Harmony, where the "Palace Examination" was held

The Hall of Preserving Harmony represents the pinnacle of traditional Chinese palace architecture and is one of the grand halls within The Palace Museum in Beijing. Every Lunar New Year's Eve, emperors hosted banquets here for ethnic minority nobles and officials. Since the late Qianlong era, it became the designated venue for holding the prestigious "Imperial Examinations."

A treasure trove of unparalleled artifacts – The Treasure Gallery

The Treasure Gallery is located in the Palace of Tranquil Longevity area, featuring an exceptionally rich collection that includes Buddhist artifacts, jewelry, daily utensils, and rare decorative items.

Exquisitely designed clocks and watches – The Clock Gallery

The Clock Gallery is located in the Fengxian Hall of the palace, displaying clocks primarily from British products, along with timepieces from France, Switzerland, and other countries. In addition to their timekeeping function, these clocks feature exquisitely crafted decorations such as figures, birds, animals, and flowers that perform various movements.

The Badaling Great Wall, known as one of the nine most important passes in the world, combines majestic steepness with lush greenery, representing the essence of the Ming Great Wall scenery. "He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero" – many Chinese people consider this section as their primary choice for visiting the Great Wall.

The Badaling Great Wall's fortress is trapezoidal in shape, narrower on the east and wider on the west, with two gates on the eastern and western sides. The eastern gate bears the inscription "Juyong Outer Town," while the western gate is inscribed "Northern Gate Lock and Key." The section of the Great Wall extending north from the fortress is the North Wall, featuring 12 watchtowers. To the south of the fortress lies the South Wall, with 7 watchtowers.

In addition to accessing the Great Wall at the Pass City, there are also entry points at South Tower 4, North Tower 4, North Tower 8, and North Tower 11, all of which allow you to climb onto the Great Wall.

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

Take the cable car

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

Nearby Restaurants

The Badaling Great Wall attraction features a commercial pedestrian street where visitors can rest and dine after descending from the wall. In addition to the upscale Badaling Hotel (a foreign-oriented establishment), there are also restaurants offering old Beijing flavors such as zhajiang noodles, Goubuli, and dumpling houses, as well as fast food options like Subway and Yonghe Soy Milk, allowing visitors to choose according to their preferences.