China · HISTORY TOURS IN BEIJING
The 9 best history tours in Beijing you can book today, with what each one costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Review of Beijing’s Lama Temple, Summer Palace, pandas, lunch, and silk stop, with practical advice on value, timing, shopping, and guides.
“Tea ceremony was fantastic and very interesting. Michael was very helpful and polite. We had plenty of time to do all what was in the programme and more.”
Review of Beijing’s 7-hour tour covering Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven, with lunch, guide, and hotel transport.
“Guide was ok at English, however she was quick and knew how to avoid the crowds. So shes perfect.”
Walk Beijing’s hutongs, guild hall, Liulichang, Dashilan, and Qianmen with a local guide, plus calligraphy and street food insights.
“It was a huge group and it wasn't what I expected, but I'm glad I went. I thought we'd do all the big stuff like Tiananmen Square, etc. and instead we went to a Hutong neighborhood but it was good, because I learned about that instead!”
Brew Chinese tea, play the ancient Guqin, and practice calligraphy in a small, thoughtful Beijing workshop led by cultural masters.
“Unlike museums where you just look at artifacts, here you touch the culture. You write with a brush, drink the tea you brew, and feel the strings of a thousand-year-old instrument. Totally unforgettable.”
See Beijing’s Forbidden City with a private English-speaking guide, hotel pickup options, key palace halls, and practical Tiananmen Square advice.
“This was one of the best, if not the best tour we have taken, because of our guide, Albert. He was extremely well spoken in English and quite knowledgeable about everything we saw. I would recommend anyone wanting a great educational tour of Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City to select him as your guide.”
Explore Beijing’s Bell and Drum Towers, see the 63-ton ancient bell, and catch a five-minute drum performance with flexible entry.
“Una torre de tambores frente a un campanario. No está mal si ya has hecho todo lo que podías hacer en Pekín y te apetece saber cómo daban la hora en la ciudad antigua. Sin más”
Reserve Tiananmen Square entry in advance, receive a map and visual guide, and plan around long security queues in central Beijing.
“I had no idea of the time it takes to visit this place. Standing in line for 2 hours is minimum, so it takes at least half the day, if you rush it. In the end I missed it because I had to leave for another tour, so I stayed in line 1h for nothing. I believe the preparation of time should be listed loud and clear. Because if I knew it, I would have planned accordingly.”
Compare six private Beijing tours covering the Forbidden City, hutongs, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, or Mutianyu Great Wall.
“Our tour guide Lucy Yue is very professional guide with a lot of knowledge and knows how to use the short time well and efficiently. She is also very cheerful. Our driver mr Zhang Bo is a very skilled driver and very friendly. Lucy came with the suggestion to take our luggage and dropped us after the tour to our next hotel. We really appreciate here help. It saved us a lot of time.”
Explore Beijing’s hutongs, temples, church, pagoda, and local life on a small-group walking tour with practical city tips.
“Lori was a great guide through the Hutongs explaining how they were laid out and significance of the doors. It was a fun sight seeing day and got me more familiar with the city.”
Start with a city. Or start with the thing you came for.
