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Beijing Tours
4 hours Beijing Layover Tour to Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square
4.5

4 hours Beijing Layover Tour to Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square

By Airport Layover Tour
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Ages 2-70
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Chinese, English
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Written guide
Print or digital reading material such as a guide, map, brochure, etc.
: German, Italian, French, Spanish
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  • Private, well-conditioned vehicle with driver
  • Well-tranined English-speaking guide service
  • Admission ticket(the first entrance)
  • Free bottled water in the vehicle
  • Local tax
  • Entry/Admission - Tiananmen Square (Tiananmen Guangchang)
  • Entry/Admission - Forbidden City-The Palace Museum
What's not included
  • Any Meals
  • Gratuities (RMB100-200 if you enjoy our service)


Start:Traveller pickup offered.
    Pickup details
    • 1. It normally take about 1.5-2 hours to get out of airport, so please select the suitable pick up time base on your flight arrival time accordingly. 2. You will be picked up from Beijing capital airport (outside baggage claim), or hotels close to capital airport(in the lobby), or hotels in Beijing city center (in the lobby), or Beijing train stations (at exit gate ).
    Airport pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.
    • Capital Airport, Shunyi, Beijing 101300 China
    End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

      • Not wheelchair accessible
      • Infants must sit on laps
      If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 64944P7

      • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
      • Most travellers can participate
      • A current valid passport is required for security check to Tiananmen area
      • Forbidden city opens from 8:30am to 3:30pm from Tuesday to Sunday, so this tour is not available if your flight arrival time is later than 12:00pm, because it take about 2 hours to get out of airport and around 1 hour drive to downtown from airport.
      • It require at least 9 more hours layover between the two flights to make this tour availabe.
      • If you are not able to go through customs for any reasons, please take your own responsibility. There is no refund for the same day cancellation
      • Visa Process: 1) Arrive in Beijing and get off the plane. 2) Follow signs to baggage claim, then you will find China immigration inspection. 3) Apply 24-144 hours visa(fill out a long white form beforehand) 4) After get visa, walk back to the regular line for immigration clearance. 5) Walk outside baggage claim to find your driver. 6) Driver will hold your name sign outside baggage claim.
      • Since it is difficult to book tickets for the Palace Museum after the epidemic, as only 30,000 tickets are sold every day, so we will try our best to help you get tickets. If we really can't get tickets for you, we will take you to Tiananmen Square and Temple of Heaven as an alternative, thank you for your understanding.
      • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

      • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

      If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 64944P7

      From
      £95.73
      per adult (price varies by group size)
      Select date and travellers
      Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

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      About the operator
      Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
      • Airport Layover Tour
        456
        Beijing, China
        Joined in February 2013
      • 780nimt
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing layover tour
        I had amazing tour with Tony. My flight arrived 1 hour early and he was already waiting at arrivals. I had a 8 hour layover and this filled the gap perfectly I was back in time with 2 hours to spare. Tony is a great guide and very knowledgeable.
        Written 1 December 2024
      • dominikt88
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing
        I mean look at the view. Everything was Perfect. Had no Stress. He came on time was an Amazing person. I can really recommend it
        Written 12 November 2024
      • paulhI6249WO
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        First Class tour guide
        In a word - fantastic. Tony does it all for you. His knowledge of the wall is first class, matched by his English. We had an engaged and open conversation on the trip to and from the wall. We learnt loads. In Summary - if you are looking for a short layover tour, look no further.
        Written 4 November 2024
      • julialF8425VU
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Smooth & perfectly timed layover tour to Huanghuacheng Great Wall
        We used our 7.5h layover in Beijing to see the Great Wall and what can I say: It was stunning! Our guide Shane picked us up at T3 and drove us to Huanghuacheng Great Wall. The whole trip was smooth, perfectly timed, and planned - thanks to Shane we learned a lot about China, and the Chinese wall and overall had an awesome experience. I would highly recommend this tour! Thanks for this experience! :)
        Written 21 October 2024
      • Emma F
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Perfect short layover activity
        Fantastic tour and highly recommend to anyone who has a 10hour plus layover at Beijing Capital! After getting a visa and clearing customs Shane greeted me at arrivals and we set off to the Great Wall. On the drive Shane provided some history of the wall. The Great Wall site we visited had a stunning mountain backdrop and good amount of wall to explore and plenty of good photo opportunities. After a couple of hours of exploring we headed back to the airport feeling refreshed and slept like a baby on the next leg of my journey. Highly recommend this tour especially to anyone wondering what to do with a 10-12 hour layover.
        Written 24 September 2024
      • RuthR762
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        An amazing layover tour to the Great Wall !
        If I could give 6 stars I would! Tour guide Shane was waiting for me at arrivals, straight to his beautiful car and on the road, he was very well spoken and informative, with just enough local history and guidance that I was in the mood for in between long flights! We got to the wall and on a very lucky day there were no ques, popped in for a coffee in one of the Great Wall shops to reenergise and set off, luckily again with no que for the cable car we were extremely efficient! I had a knee injury and Shane was very patient and accommodating to my slow pace. The cable car up was spectacular with thw hills surrounded and the wall just coming into view, and then when up there Shane explained the different towers, peaks and stretches of the wall with super helpful videos to show the difference in spots and different times of years and weather! Also excellent photo skills! Even though I had a tight layover with just 8 hours, because of the lucky quiet day at the wall we were able to do a quick pitstop at a local authentic Chinese buffet for lunch which was so good and great value with Shane even cooking my dumplings for me ! I’m still amazed I got to do this on an airport layover, can not recommend more!
        Written 3 September 2024
      • danielbS2310PP
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Tour
        Booked this tour to go to the Great Wall and had an incredible experience! The guide, Shane, was thoughtful and knowledgeable, making the trip smooth, worry-free and memorable!
        Written 24 August 2024
      • Bea82S
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Amazing experience!
        Amazing tour! Tony has been fantastic sharing the history and taking us to taste special food along the way! We had 12hrs transfer: we highly recommend this tour!
        Written 19 August 2024
      • Sightsee47080671486
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Worth taking!
        My son and I had a great time. Our guide Shane was very knowledgeable and showed us the best views and history of the wall! Definitely recommend.
        Written 8 July 2024
      • robertosJ6586XH
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Two fantastic days in Beijing
        I went to Beijing two days. The guide SHANE helped me through my whole journey. He brought me to great wall, forbidden city and summer palace. He told me the story of all this place with some other curiosities about he cinese culture, it was very interning listening to him. He is always on time, professional, friendly and available. (He speaks english very well). Thank you very much
        Written 2 July 2024
      • 862aur_liep
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Excellent, don't hesitate!
        Thank you so much Tony for this amazing tour, he picked me up and brought me back on time even though I only had a short layover, highly recommend it don't hesitate! Tony is the best tour guide ever
        Written 29 June 2024
      • V4502JFdanielm
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Highly recommend!
        Great host and amazing views! A truly unreal trip and easily doable in a 8-9 hour layover. So worth it, would highly recommend!
        Written 13 June 2024
      • ellenhempfe
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great Tour for a Stopover in Beijing!
        Great Tour, Tony was friendly and answered all of our questions. We highly recommend Tony and this Tour. Hope to see you soon!
        Written 12 May 2024
      • U529OXbeatriceb
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Great wall layover tour with Tony
        Great tour! Tony was a very friendly, competent and patient gide. To see the great wall was amazing!! We had a short layover in Beijing with four kids and going on this tour was the perfect way to spend this time:-)
        Written 5 April 2024
      • Ahilito
        0 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Quick yet enjoyable visit during 8-hr stopover
        We were on a quite tight schedule, having arrived at 5am and having to clear migration/24hr transit free visa desk. But our tour guide, Shane, was very conscious of it and even managed to appease my daughters' desire for noodles by taking us to a great restaurant in one of the villages along the way. We still managed to see a good part of the wall and get its history despite the limitation. Feedback: the ppl at the helpdesk for purchasing this ticket weren't really able to help us with questions concerning the 24-hr visa-free transit and whether or not we could get it without a hotel reserved (and just by showing the reservation for this tour). In the end I ended up booking a hotel as well, just in case. I'm not sure if the migration officer really paid it much attention.
        Written 16 January 2024
      See all 456 reviews
      These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

      Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.


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      4.5
      4.5 of 5 bubbles7 reviews
      Excellent
      6
      Very good
      0
      Average
      0
      Poor
      0
      Terrible
      1

      Laura K
      34 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Jan 2020 • Family
      This was our second tour with the company and it was fantastic. Sherry picked us up promptly at the airport, taught us quite a bit on the ride, and gave us a wonderful tour through Forbidden City. She explained so many interesting facts and took us through many places we may have missed on our own. It was nice having a driver as well because he picked us up on the other side so we didn’t have to walk all the way back. Highly recommend both this and a Great Wall tour if your time allows!
      Written 10 January 2020
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Justin P
      Santa Cruz, CA7 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This was a terrific way to spend my long Beijing airport layover. As soon as I registered for the tour, I received an email with very specific directions on how to obtain the necessary visa and then locate my guide. Special thanks to Jessica for being very knowledgeable about Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City- she knew lots of little details that really enriched the experience. The entire airport pickup and drop-off went without a hitch.

      Note: for anyone visiting in the winter, dress VERY warmly, including long underwear. The windchill factor is not to be underestimated.
      Written 7 December 2018
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Cruiser32608140332
      1 contribution
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This tour was very well organized. All involved were extremely helpful and considerate, and Sherry the tour guide went over and above from what was expected from her. She taught us a great deal of her city and her culture, and conducted a superb tour.
      As we were transfer people we did not have alot of time, but organized it on line from our hotel and were picked up at our hotel and met Sherry on route. Excellent.
      Written 16 December 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Thanks for your review and warmly welcome again:)
      Written 18 December 2019
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Clara G
      1 contribution
      1.0 of 5 bubbles
      Nov 2023 • Couples
      Can‘t recommend this tour! We were really looking forward to see the forbidden city but unfortunately our flight was delayed. After 2:30 hours delay and the crew telling us it will be at least another hour we contacted the tour straight away. We asked kindly for refund because we can’t make the tour. We had a originally layover of 9hours but with the 3hours delay it won’t be enough time. The agency just told us no you can’t cancel it anymore. I was really hoping for a better customer service because we told them straight away 11 hours in advance. Really disappointing!
      Written 30 November 2023
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      I am very sorry for the inconvenience caused! Your guide received a call from someone and told tour guide that you would not go on the tour, but when tour guide asked to talk with you on the phone, she refused and hang off. So tour guide actually did not know what happened at that time, and after 1 more hour waited at airport, then tour guide left and your tour was cancelled due to no show. But I understand your situation, and looking foward to your next trip with us and would like to offer you a discounted tour to Beijing city. Thank you for your support with us.
      Written 16 April 2024
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

      Samuel G
      Oceanside, CA56 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Sherry was our tour guide and she sure was knowledgeable!! Her and the driver were on time from picking us up at the airport and were super nice. We also asked for jackets prior to tour via email, which they provided. Not only did my wife and I feel very safe with driver and tour guide, but had a lot of fun! The car was very clean, looks brand new! Highly recommend. Also, pick up and drop off from airport was included in price, which was very convenient.
      Written 18 November 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Oct 2019 • Couples
      Me and my wife took a trip to great Wall with Tony the guide in Beijing. He made our trip very enjoyable and comfortable. On our way back he took us to an automatic halal Chinese restaurant for soup and BBQ. In our next trip to Beijing we will use this company and also refer to our friends and families.

      Thank you Tony.

      Rizwan & Nausheen Tabani
      Written 14 November 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

      Angelika H
      2 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      I had a 22 hours layover in Beijing and booked this tour to escape the airport and see some of the beautiful things of the surrounding of the city.
      It was a day full of walking, good exercise btw after a long flight:). We spent a few hours in the forbidden city. As it was very warm and I was a little bit tired we had a short coffee break there.
      After lunch which we had in a very good restaurant we went for another long walk at the summer palace.
      I got a lot of informationen about the chinese history and about the places we had been.
      My tourguide Michael was always kind, caring and focused on my welfare.
      I would highly recommend this tour if you are interested in seeing nice places, getting plenty of informationen and having a great exercise in between your flights.
      Have fun:)!
      Written 19 April 2019
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

      4 hours Beijing Layover Tour to Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square provided by Airport Layover Tour

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