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Private Tour to Lama Temple, Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden City

By Discover Beijing Tours
10 out of 10
Exceptional
Free cancellation available
Price is NZ$306 per adult* *Get lower prices by selecting more than 2 adults
See tickets

Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 5h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
  • Selective hotel pickup
  • Multiple languages

Overview

Immerse yourself in Beijing’s imperial and spiritual heritage on this fully personalised private guided tour, which includes all entrance tickets for two iconic landmarks—Yonghe Temple, one of China’s most revered Tibetan Buddhist sanctuaries home to the priceless Maitreya Buddha statue, and the Forbidden City, the centuries-old imperial palace of Ming and Qing dynasties with exclusive skip-the-line access—plus a stop at Tiananmen Square. Travel at your convenience with three flexible options: explore like a local via Beijing’s efficient subway system, enjoy door-to-door comfort in a private air-conditioned car, or upgrade to the premium private car package that also treats you to a delicious traditional dim sum lunch. Your dedicated private guide provides undivided attention throughout, sharing insightful stories and tailoring the pace to your preferences for a truly immersive and hassle-free Beijing experience.

Activity location

  • Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
    • No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District,
    • 100007, Beijing, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
    • No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District,
    • 100007, Beijing, China

Check availability

Package 1: Tour by subway
  • Activity duration is 5 hours5h
    5h
  • English

Package 1: Tour by subway: Guide meet you in the lobby of your city centre hotel, travel by taxi or subway at your own cost to visit the sites.
Pickup included

Price details
NZ$306.28 x 1 AdultNZ$306.28
Total
Price is NZ$306.28
Until Tue, 31 Mar
Package 2: Tour with transfer
  • Activity duration is 5 hours5h
    5h
  • English

Package 2: Tour with transfer: Choose this option to visit Lama Temple, Tian'anmen Square and Forbidden city with return hotel transfer.
Pickup included

Price details
NZ$435.05 x 1 AdultNZ$435.05
Total
Price is NZ$435.05
Until Tue, 31 Mar
Package 3: Tour+Lunch/Dinner
  • Activity duration is 5 hours5h
    5h
  • English

Package 3: Tour+Lunch/Dinner: This option including English speaking tour guide, private transfer, entry tickets and Dim Sum lunch or dinner.
Pickup included

Price details
NZ$570.79 x 1 AdultNZ$570.79
Total
Price is NZ$570.79
Until Tue, 31 Mar

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Professional guide
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Private Transfer if you choose option 2&3
  • What's includedWhat's included
    If you choose package 3 then lunch or dinner included in this tour
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Entrance fee
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Additional entrance fee to the Museums inside the Forbidden City
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Food and drinks
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Service charge
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Transport fee if you choose the tour without transfer

Know before you book

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Security checks at Tiananmen Square are strict. If waiting exceeds 1 hour, consider an alternative: taking a bus past the square. Sweltering heat risks heat-related illnesses.
  • 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

Activity itinerary

Lama Temple (Yonghegong)

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Choose from 3 flexible packages for this exclusive tour: 1: travel via the city’s efficient subway system. 2: enjoy return private car transfers from your hotel. 3: upgrade to the premium private car package with a delicious dim sum meal. Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby at your pre-selected pickup time, then you’ll head straight to Lama Temple. Once a princely residence of Emperor Yongzheng before he ascended the throne, the site was converted into a lamasery for Tibetan and Mongolian monks in 1744. Wander through its serene courtyards and halls with your knowledgeable guide, who will share insights into its transformation from a royal abode to a sacred Buddhist temple, the rise of Yellow Sect Tibetan Buddhism in China, and local perspectives on Buddhism. Admire the temple’s 3 renowned treasures: the world’s largest sandalwood Buddha statue, the bronze Buddhas representing the past, present and future, and the intricate 500-Arhat-Hill.

Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Next, head to Tian’anmen Square—the world’s largest city centre square located at the core of Beijing’s central axis. After entering the square, you’ll admire iconic buildings from the outside, including the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum of China, Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum, the Monument to the People's Heroes, and Tian’anmen Gate. Your guide will share fascinating stories and historical insights behind these landmark structures, deepening your understanding of their cultural and national significance. Please note that during peak seasons and special dates, the square implements extremely strict security checks. Queue times may last 1 to 2 hours, so we kindly ask for your advance awareness and understanding to ensure a smooth tour.

Forbidden City-The Palace Museum

  • 1h
  • Admission ticket included
Pass through the south gate to the magnificent Forbidden City, a 250-acre complex of courtyards, palaces, pavilions and gardens, which served as the imperial palace for emperors and their households for more than 500 years. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It is located in the middle of Beijing, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government.

Hall of Great Harmony (Taihe Dian) (Pass by)

Follow your tour guide to explore the most important buildings along the Forbidden City’s central axis, including the Hall of Great Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Complete Harmony. The Hall of Great Harmony served as the imperial throne hall, hosting grand ceremonies such as coronations, imperial weddings, and celebrations of major festivals during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Hall of Central Harmony was the emperor’s resting place where he would pause to adjust his attire and receive briefings from officials before proceeding to ceremonies. The Hall of Complete Harmony functioned as the venue for the emperor to review memorials and practice rituals prior to important events.

Palace of Heavenly Purity

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Continue on to the imperial living quarters, where you’ll visit the Hall of Heavenly Purity, the Hall of Union, and the Hall of Earthly Tranquility. The Hall of Heavenly Purity served as the emperor’s bedroom and study in the Ming dynasty, later becoming the venue for imperial succession ceremonies in the Qing dynasty. The Hall of Union was a sacred space for storing imperial seals, while the Hall of Earthly Tranquility was the imperial bridal chamber for Qing emperors’ weddings and the empress’s residence. Your guide will regale you with intriguing tales of the emperor, his family, and the daily lives of concubines and eunuchs who once inhabited these opulent yet secluded chambers.

The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum

  • 30m
  • Admission ticket included
Conclude your Forbidden City exploration at the Imperial Garden—a lush, centuries-old oasis dotted with exotic rock formations, ancient pines, and elegant pavilions, serving as the former imperial family’s private retreat to relax and unwind away from courtly duties. Your Forbidden City tour wraps up right here. If you’ve opted for the subway package, your guide will point you to the nearest taxi ranks and subway stations for your onward journey (at your own expense). For those who chose the private car package, our driver will transfer you back to your city centre hotel directly. If you selected the premium private car & dim sum package, your guide will escort you to savour a authentic dim sum meal—either lunch or dinner, tailored to your departure time—before sending you back to your hotel comfortably.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
    • No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District,
    • 100007, Beijing, China

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Lama Temple (Yonghegong)
    • No.12 Yonghegong Street, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District,
    • 100007, Beijing, China

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