A private full-day combo: the Forbidden City in the morning and the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon, with flexible pacing and expert guidance from Beijing.
A private full-day combo: the Forbidden City in the morning and the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon, with flexible pacing and expert guidance from Beijing. Our delivery style is relaxed, comfort-first, and flexible to your pace and interests.
Route and experience
We pick you up in Beijing and start at the Forbidden City: you'll enter through the Meridian Gate and follow a clear route through the main halls and courtyards. Your guide explains the imperial history and symbolism. After the palace, we drive to the Temple of Heaven for the afternoon. There you'll see the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Circular Mound Altar. The order (Forbidden City first, Temple of Heaven second) works well for crowds and light. At the end of the day we return you to your hotel or another location. Want a different combo? See our [Beijing day tours](/tours/beijing/day-tour) for the [Forbidden City and Summer Palace](/tours/beijing/day-tour/forbidden-city-summer-palace) or [Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace](/tours/beijing/day-tour/temple-of-heaven-summer-palace) options.
Outline
1
Pickup in Beijing, start at Forbidden City
2
Forbidden City (Meridian Gate, main halls, courtyards)
3
Transfer to Temple of Heaven
4
Temple of Heaven (Hall of Prayer, Imperial Vault, Circular Mound)
5
Return to hotel or other location
How DragonTrail runs this
Our day-tour approach is flexible pace, comfort-first, and stress-free in execution. We keep route density realistic, reduce unnecessary transitions, and preserve buffer so your day feels smooth from pickup to return.
What's included
What's included
Hotel or designated pickup and drop-off in Beijing
Private English-speaking guide
Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven entrance tickets (pre-booked where required)
Full day (typically 8–9 hours)
Flexible start time and pacing
Not included
Meals and personal expenses
Optional add-on tickets not listed above
Gratuities (optional)
Practical fit
Duration: Full day, typically 8–9 hours from pickup to drop-off
Pickup: Your Beijing hotel or a central address
Best for: Short-stay visitors who want two major imperial sites in one day
We usually do Forbidden City in the morning and Temple of Heaven in the afternoon for ticket and crowd flow; we can discuss alternatives when you inquire.
Roughly 3–4 hours at the Forbidden City and 2–3 hours at the Temple of Heaven, plus transfer time; we can adjust to your pace.
You can book a half-day Forbidden City or half-day Temple of Heaven and use the rest of the day for something else or add the Summer Palace in a custom combo.
Share your dates and pace preferences, and we can confirm a suitable full-day route.