Beijing:Forbidden City Ancient Costume Tour+Must-See City Sights, Beijing

About this activity

Embark on a private Forbidden City tour and immerse yourself in imperial China with an exclusive Hanfu experience! We handle all pre-booked Forbidden City tickets—no queuing or hassle—so you can step into the grandeur in elegant Hanfu or regal Imperial Robes for an authentic imperial vibe. Choose from 4 tailored packages, including combined explorations of Beijing’s iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, all must-see landmarks in the city. Your knowledgeable private guide will share vivid, in-depth historical insights at every stop, breathing life into these ancient treasures, and curate the best photo spots throughout your journey to capture stunning, one-of-a-kind shots—crafting a Beijing experience that stands out from the ordinary. Opt for our packages with round-trip private transfer for a seamless, comfortable adventure, and savor this unique, off-the-beaten-path cultural experience with every detail taken care of.

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At a glance

Duration: 4–6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Unique Beijing Tours

Ages: Infants (0–3 years) · Children (4–11 years) · Adults (12–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Entrance fee to the Forbidden City
Included: Private tour
Included: Professional guide
Included: Private Transfer if you choose option 2, 3 or 4

Not included

Not included: Gratuities
Not included: Transportation fee if you choose option 1

Itinerary

Beijing

Passing by

We offer four tailored packages for this Hanfu experience tour:

Package 1 is a Forbidden City guided tour with only a professional guide and no transportation;

Package 2 adds round-trip driver transfer on the basis of Package 1;

Package 3 covers a Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven combined tour with a guide and round-trip transfer; Package 4 is a Forbidden City & Summer Palace combined tour with a guide and round-trip transfer. Please check the details of your preferred package below for full inclusions, exclusions and tour arrangements.
The Palace Museum

2 hours Admission included

Package 1: Forbidden City 4-Hour Guided Tour - Transportation fee at your own cost

Your guide will pick you up from your downtown Beijing hotel first, then take you to the costume studio for Hanfu selection and hair/makeup styling. After that, you’ll head to the Forbidden City for a 4-hour guided tour—your guide will lead you to the best photo spots and provide detailed historical commentary on the Forbidden City and Beijing’s central axis throughout the visit.

Inclusions: Professional guide service (downtown hotel pick-up)

Exclusions: Transportation fees (at your own cost), Hanfu rental fee (180-580 RMB, paid on-site)

Package 2: Forbidden City 4-Hour Guided Tour including Round Trip Hotel Private Transfer

Same itinerary as Package 1 but with hotel pick up and drop off by private car

Inclusions: Professional guide service, round-trip driver transfer (downtown hotel pick-up & drop-off)

Exclusions: Hanfu rental fee (180-580 RMB, paid on-site)
Hall of Preserving Harmony (Baohedian)

30 min Admission included

Package 3: Combined Tour – 6-Hour Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven with round trip private transfer

Your private driver and guide will pick you up from your downtown Beijing hotel and drive you to the costume studio for Hanfu selection and hair/makeup styling first. Then you’ll visit the Forbidden City—your guide will lead you to the best photo spots and explain its rich history. After the Forbidden City tour, the driver will transfer you to the Temple of Heaven, where your guide will continue to provide historical commentary and photo spot guidance. The driver will take you back to your hotel after the whole tour.

Inclusions: Professional guide service for both sites, round-trip driver transfer (downtown hotel pick-up & drop-off), Hanfu selection & hair/makeup assistance, admission tickets to both sites, historical commentary

Exclusions: Hanfu rental fee (180-580 RMB, paid on-site)
Inner Court

Passing by

Package 4: Combined Tour – 6-Hour Forbidden City & Summer Palace

Your private driver and guide will pick you up from your downtown Beijing hotel, then drive you to the costume studio for Hanfu selection and hair/makeup styling. You’ll first visit the Forbidden City, with your guide offering detailed historical commentary and leading you to the best photo spots. After that, the driver will transfer you to the Summer Palace, where your guide will continue to share its history and point out the most scenic photo areas. The driver will send you back to your hotel once the tour ends.

Inclusions: Professional guide service for both sites, round-trip driver transfer (downtown hotel pick-up & drop-off), Hanfu selection & hair/makeup assistance, admission tickets to both sites, historical commentary, best photo spot guidance for both sites

Exclusions: Hanfu rental fee (180-580 RMB, paid on-site)
The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum

Passing by

Exclusive Hanfu Experience Highlight

Elevate your imperial Beijing tour with authentic Hanfu or Imperial Robe rental—our team assists with all styling to help you immerse in ancient Chinese culture. You can take photos with your own mobile phone for free; an extra fee applies for professional photography services (payable directly to the costume studio on-site).

Perfect Hanfu Photo Backdrops

All selected sites are world cultural heritage sites with strong imperial charm, ideal for Hanfu photography:

Forbidden City: Ming and Qing imperial palace with grand red walls and golden roofs, the ultimate backdrop for royal-style Hanfu photos

Temple of Heaven: Ancient imperial ritual complex with unique blue-glazed roofs, adding solemn grace to your Hanfu shots

Summer Palace: Classical royal garden with lakes, corridors and pavilions, creating poetic Chinese painting-style Hanfu photos

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Youbo Member Selected Hotel
Sunflower Hotel
Yuanchang Hotel
Yuhui Hotel
Wancheng Huafu International Hotel
Xiudong Hostel
Wuyulong Hotel (Beijing Tiantan South Gate)
Xiyanhe Sixth Hotel
Tianyou Hotel
Yahua Hotel
Yuanbei Hotel (Beijing First)
Hi Inn Beijing Guomao Jiulongshan Subway Station

and 2,516 more pickup points

Free pick up including hotels in Beijing within the 4th ring road, if your hotel is out of the city, will have extra cost, you also can travel into city to meet your tour guide

Using your ticket

Dress code is smart casual
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
To Ride a Bike Minimum age is 14 years

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Forbidden City entry is via passport scan with the registered passport number—please provide your valid, exact passport number for ticket booking.
We offer 4 tailored tour packages with different inclusions; select the one that best fits your travel needs and schedule.
Hanfu/imperial robe rental fees vary by costume style and are not included in the tour price—simply pay the costume studio directly on-site.

Options

P3: Add Temple of Heaven

P3: Add Temple of Heaven: 6-hour Forbidden City&Temple of Heaven tour with an English-speaking guide&private car; costume rental&lunch at your own cost

Pickup included
P2: 4H Forbidden City+Transfer

P2: 4H Forbidden City+Transfer: 4-hour Forbidden City tour with English-speaking guide&round-trip downtown hotel transfer, costume rental at your own cost

Pickup included
P4: Add Summer Palace

P4: Add Summer Palace: Includes a 6-hour Forbidden City&Summer Palace tour with English-speaking guide&driver; costume rental&lunch at your own cost

Pickup included
P1: 4H Forbidden City on Foot

P1: 4H Forbidden City on Foot: Includes 4-hour Forbidden City tour with hotel pick-up (guide on foot), transportation & costume rental at your own cost.

Pickup included