Review · SUMMER PALACE AND FORBIDDEN CITY TOURS
Ticket to Forbiden City Summer Palace Temple of Heaven Mutianyu
Beijing’s biggest sights are spread across a huge city, so this flexible ticket service lets you choose the place you actually want to see. The most useful feature is the option to arrange entry for the Forbidden City, where advance booking can be difficult, or to buy a simpler Mutianyu ticket with shuttle buses included.
I like the quick contact through WhatsApp or an online group, and I like the practical PDF guides covering food, shopping, city walks, and Chinese history. The catch is important: this is not a full sightseeing tour. You must arrange your own transport, meals, and most guide services.
Key points to know before booking

- Choose one attraction: The product offers separate ticket options rather than one bundled tour covering every listed stop.
- Forbidden City help: Passport details are needed in advance, and peak-season reservations may need to be made seven days ahead.
- Mutianyu includes shuttle buses: Entrance and shuttle service are covered, but cable cars, ropeways, and the toboggan are extra.
- Private English guide option: Separate Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City options can include a private English-speaking guide.
- Useful planning material: Free PDFs explain city walks, food, shopping, modern Beijing, and Chinese history.
- You pay for getting around: Car rental, hotel pickup, drop-off, taxis, Didi, and most transport are not included.
What this Beijing ticket service really offers
The title lists several of Beijing’s grand sights: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and Jingshan Park. In practice, this is a separate-ticket product. You select the attraction or option you want instead of joining a single 12-hour bus tour that visits them all.
That distinction matters. Seeing all six places in one day would be exhausting and, given their distance from one another, unrealistic as a relaxed sightseeing plan. A day split between the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park makes sense. A separate day for the Summer Palace works better. Mutianyu deserves most of a day by itself.
The price begins at about $7.90 per person, though the cost depends on the attraction you choose. That is potentially good value for an entry ticket, especially when advance access to the Forbidden City is hard to arrange. It is not good value if you expect a vehicle, lunch, hotel pickup, and a full guided day, because those items are not part of the basic price.
You receive a mobile ticket and instructions for entering. The service also provides a 24-hour online contact group, which can be helpful when you are standing outside a Beijing attraction and need quick directions or confirmation.
More Beijing Imperial Tours in Beijing:
- Beijing: The Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace Entry Ticket
★ 4.6 · 1,286 reviews - Beijing: Mutianyu Great Wall & Summer Palace Day Tour
★ 4.8 · 1,004 reviews - Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options
★ 5.0 · 816 reviews
The Forbidden City: the option where advance planning matters most

The Palace Museum, usually called the Forbidden City, is the strongest reason to consider this service. This enormous imperial complex served as China’s royal center for centuries and remains Beijing’s essential historic sight.
Allow about three hours for a useful visit. You will pass through grand gates and courtyards, then move among ceremonial halls, palace rooms, and quieter sections of the complex. The scale is part of the experience. It is easy to underestimate the walking involved because the buildings look close together on a map.
The service requires the first name, last name, and passport number of every person in your group. That may feel like extra paperwork, but it is tied to the reservation process. During busy periods, tickets can be scarce, and advance booking may be required as much as seven days before the visit.
There is also a separate option that can provide a private English-speaking guide for the Forbidden City. That guide service is not available as part of every ticket choice, so check the exact option before paying. If you select the basic separate ticket, you should expect to handle the visit independently.
One practical strength is the staff contact system. You may be contacted through WhatsApp and shown a quick way to enter. Keep your passport details and booking information ready, and do not wait until the last moment to arrange this sight.
Tiananmen Square: a short but meaningful stop

Tiananmen Square lies directly in front of the Forbidden City, making the two places natural companions. A typical visit here is listed as about one hour, though the time you spend depends on security procedures and how much you want to look around.
The square is vast and formal. It is less about small architectural details than about scale and the role it has played in modern Chinese history. You can use it as an introduction to the capital before entering the imperial palace beyond it.
The separate Tiananmen option may include a private English-speaking guide. That can be useful if you want context rather than a quick photograph. The guide can also help with practical movement around the city, although taxi or Didi fares remain your responsibility.
Do not assume that buying the Forbidden City ticket automatically covers every service connected with Tiananmen Square. Read the chosen option carefully. The attraction choices are separate, and guide coverage depends on what you select.
Jingshan Park: the best pairing with the Palace Museum

Jingshan Park is directly north of the Forbidden City. Its central peak and Wanchun Pavilion provide a broad view over the former imperial palace, making this one of the smartest add-ons to a Palace Museum visit.
The planned time here is about one hour. That is enough for a short walk up to the viewpoint and time to look back across the palace roofs. The park gives you a chance to understand the Forbidden City as a whole after spending hours inside its courtyards.
I would choose Jingshan with the Forbidden City if your schedule allows it. The two sights fit together geographically, and the view helps make sense of the palace’s orderly design. This is not a guided walking tour, however, unless your selected option specifically includes a guide.
More Palaces to Tour in Beijing:
- Beijing: Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour
★ 4.7 · 810 reviews - Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven
★ 4.0 · 610 reviews - Beijing: Mutianyu & Summer Palace Tour–Group/Private Options
★ 4.9 · 423 reviews - Temple Heaven, Lama Temple, Summer Palace & Peking Duck Bus Tour
★ 5.0 · 377 reviews
Temple of Heaven: ceremony, symmetry, and open space

The Temple of Heaven takes about two hours and offers a different kind of imperial experience. Instead of focusing on royal residence, it shows the ceremonial side of the Ming and Qing emperors, who came here for solemn rites.
The architecture is carefully arranged, and the complex gives you room to appreciate its proportions. After the enclosed courtyards of the Forbidden City, the open setting feels like a change of pace.
This attraction works well for visitors who want more than palace rooms. It also makes sense as its own half-day visit, since the basic product does not provide a vehicle linking it with the other sights. You will need to arrange your own route and pay for your transport.
The stated ticket includes the admission fee, but not lunch, dinner, a car, pickup, drop-off, or guide service unless those are specifically part of the option you book.
Summer Palace: lakeside scenery and royal garden design

The Summer Palace, or Yiheyuan, is a former royal garden built in 1750. Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake shape the setting, with old architectural features spread across a large area of nearly three square kilometers.
Allow about two hours, though you may want longer if you prefer a slower walk. The appeal here is the combination of water, hill paths, pavilions, and imperial garden design. It feels less formal than the central palace complex and gives you a broader view of how Beijing’s rulers used gardens for rest and retreat.
Because the Summer Palace is separate from the central sights, plan your transport before setting out. This service does not supply an air-conditioned vehicle or hotel transfer in the standard ticket arrangement. You may use public transport, a taxi, or Didi, but those costs are yours.
The free planning PDFs can help here. They reportedly include route ideas and location information for city walks, shopping areas, modern Beijing, and food stops. These files will not replace a guide, but they can make a self-directed day less awkward.
Mutianyu Great Wall: the most independent option

Mutianyu is the clearest choice for people who want a Great Wall visit without purchasing a complete private excursion. The ticket option includes the entrance fee and shuttle bus service in both directions.
That inclusion is useful because the shuttle connects the access area with the wall itself. It does not mean the provider drives you from your hotel to Mutianyu. You must arrange that part separately, and the listing specifically excludes car rental, pickup, and drop-off.
Allow about three hours at the site. Mutianyu is known for its restored wall sections, mountain setting, and watchtowers. The site includes stairs and uneven walking, so plan around your own pace and energy.
Cable cars, ropeways, and the toboggan ride are not included. If you want any of those, pay separately or tell the provider in advance so the arrangements can be explained. Do not assume the basic Mutianyu ticket covers them.
One particularly useful part of the service is a map showing ways to reach Mutianyu. You may be given information about bus or taxi options. The choice is yours, but the route needs planning because Mutianyu is outside central Beijing and is not a casual walk from the city center.
The free PDFs are more useful than they sound

The extra material is a modest but practical benefit. You receive PDFs covering:
- City walks and modern Beijing places
- Shopping locations, shop names, and directions
- Special foods and where to find them
- Beijing duck, Beijing barbecue, and Donglai Shun hotpot
- Traditional foods such as donkey rolls
- Introductory Chinese history
I like this because a ticket alone can leave you with a narrow visit: enter, take photographs, leave. Food and neighborhood suggestions help you connect a major sight with the rest of the city.
Still, treat the PDFs as planning aids, not a replacement for transportation or personal research. The information promises locations and ways to go, but the basic service does not include a driver or meal. You remain responsible for checking your route and paying local costs.
What you pay for, and what you do not
The low starting price is attractive, but you need to separate ticket value from tour value. Your payment covers admission to the selected attraction. It does not cover a complete Beijing day.
Not included in the standard arrangement:
- Lunch and dinner
- Air-conditioned transportation
- Car rental
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Taxi or Didi fares
- Cable car, ropeway, or toboggan at Mutianyu
- Guide service, unless specifically included in the Tiananmen or Forbidden City option
That can still be a sensible deal. If you already know how you want to move around Beijing, a low-cost entry service may be exactly what you need. If you want someone to manage the entire day, this product will leave too much work in your hands.
The private English guide option changes the value calculation. For Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City, a guide can add context and help with local arrangements. Confirm whether your chosen price includes that guide, since the separate-ticket terms say guide service is generally not included.
Communication, booking, and cancellation
Confirmation is provided at booking, and staff may place your group in an online service group for ongoing contact. The fast WhatsApp communication is especially useful for the Forbidden City, where timing and ticket availability matter.
Book early for the Palace Museum. The provider needs passport information for everyone, and peak-season tickets may require prebooking seven days ahead. The service has received strong praise for quick ticket purchasing and clear entry assistance, but the practical lesson is simple: do not leave this sight until the day before.
Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations inside that period are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The experience also requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.
Who should choose this service?
I would consider it for an independent visitor who wants help securing one difficult ticket, especially the Forbidden City, without paying for a full private day. It also suits someone who wants Mutianyu admission and the return shuttle but prefers to choose their own route to the wall.
It is less suitable if you want a single vehicle, a fixed schedule, meals, and a guide from morning to night. The advertised 12-hour duration should not lead you to expect all six sights in one organized day. Think of it as flexible access, not a complete sightseeing circuit.
The product is also useful for people who appreciate quick communication. Staff can send maps, help explain entry, and keep contact through an online group. That support does not remove every travel task, but it can reduce uncertainty in a large and unfamiliar city.
Should you book it?
Book this if you want one Beijing attraction ticket with added planning help, especially for the Forbidden City or Mutianyu. The low starting price, mobile entry, free city and food PDFs, and responsive contact system give the service real value.
Skip it if you need transport, meals, or a guide included by default. Before paying, confirm the exact attraction, whether a private English guide is included, and which Mutianyu extras you want. Used that way, this is a practical ticket service for an independent Beijing visit, not a substitute for a fully arranged tour.
FAQ
Is this one tour covering all six Beijing attractions?
No. You choose a separate ticket option for the attraction you want. The listed choices include Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, the Summer Palace, and Jingshan Park.
What does the Mutianyu ticket include?
The Mutianyu option includes the entrance fee and shuttle bus service in both directions at the site.
Are the Mutianyu cable car, ropeway, and toboggan included?
No. Cable cars, ropeways, and the toboggan ride are extra and are not included in the basic Mutianyu ticket.
Is transportation from my hotel included?
No. Car rental, hotel pickup, drop-off, and air-conditioned vehicles are not included in the separate-ticket options.
Is a guide included?
Guide service is generally not included. The separate Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City options can provide a private English-speaking guide, so confirm the exact option before booking.
What information is needed to reserve the Forbidden City?
The provider needs the first name, last name, and passport number for every person in your group.
How far ahead should I book the Forbidden City?
Peak-season tickets may need to be prebooked seven days in advance. Booking early is advised because availability can be limited.
Are meals included?
No. Lunch and dinner are not included.
Can I cancel for a refund?
Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Poor-weather cancellations can also result in a different date or a full refund.
Newly added in Beijing
- All Inclusive Great wall and Summer palace VIP Pivate Tour★ 5.0 · 11 reviews
- Half Day Tour of Beijing’s Summer Palace with Guide and Driver★ 5.0 · 8 reviews
- Ming Tombs Sacred Way & Underground Palace & Water Wall P Tour★ 5.0 · 3 reviews
- The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) Entrance Ticket★ 4.5 · 2 reviews
- Summer Palace Walking Tour – Beijing★ 5.0 · 3 reviews
- Summer Palace Admission Ticket – Main Entry or Combined Ticket★ 4.5 · 47 reviews
- Summer Palace and Temple Of Heaven Private Tour★ 5.0 · 9 reviews
- Summer Palace and Hot Spring Private Tour from Beijing★ 5.0 · 2 reviews
Summer Palace and Forbidden City Tours, compared.

The Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace Entry Ticket
Read our review →
Mutianyu Great Wall&Summer Palace Excursion:Group/Private Options
Read our review →
Summer Palace Entry Ticket and Optional Guided Tour
Read our review →
Beijing Classic Full-Day Tour including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven
Read our review →
Mutianyu & Summer Palace Tour–Group/Private Options
Read our review →
Temple Heaven, Lama Temple, Summer Palace & Peking Duck Bus Tour
Read our review →
Private Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In Summer Palace Tour
Read our review →
Temple Heaven, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, Hutong Bus Tour
Read our review →Browse the lists this tour appears in
