VIP Beijing: Forbidden City, Tiananmen & Great Wall Tour

I travel a lot to China on business, so it was such a treat to spend a day in Beijing to see the sights for my very first time! I booked a tour through a Marriott experience and was fortunate enough to have Catherine Lu Tours handle my reservation. We were assigned to Jenny and her driver, and we had the safest, most informative visit to Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, and ending with The Great Wall. The experience was so great, it felt as though we gained new family by the end of the day.

Had a great private tour with my host Amy. Everything ran super smoothly. We did the Great Wall early which was a great idea to avoid the crowds. Forbidden city was amazing especially with the insights from Amy. Happy to recommend this tour

Wendy was an amazing guide! Her deep knowledge of Beijing’s culture, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall made the day unforgettable. As a native speaker of English, her clear communication made everything easy and enjoyable. When I wasn’t feeling well, Wendy was incredibly patient and caring—offering rest breaks and even finding green tea to help settle my stomach. I felt completely safe, comfortable, and cared for throughout the tour. Wendy’s professionalism, warmth, and passion made this experience exceptional. Highly recommend her to anyone visiting Beijing!

I had a wonderful time with James. He went at my pace, no pressure, no rush. He took the time to explain everything and educate me regarding Chinese history and ancient traditions. 100% recommended.

We booked a full day excursion with Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Summer Palace plus a full day to the Great Wall at Jinshanling. Our guide Justin was excellent, good English en knowledgeable. He also gave us ample time to enjoy on our own and choose great lunch places for our breaks. All in all, 2 excellent days!

I had a truly wonderful one-day tour with Maggie. Everything was flawless from start to finish. She is organized and efficient. The service was punctual, with no delays or complications whatsoever, and communication was excellent throughout the entire process. Choosing a private tour made all the difference — it allowed me to learn more about each site, ask questions freely, and go at my own pace. Maggie was attentive and perceptive. Noticing my interest in traditional Chinese vases, she took the time to explain the history of Chinese enamel and even brought me to a local workshop where I could see the production process firsthand and purchase a piece of my own. It was a truly special experience. I now have a unique and meaningful souvenir — a piece of Beijing that I will cherish forever, even from the other side of the world. Highly recommended!

My family and I had a great experience with Adam. He was friendly, patient, and so well-studied and knowledgable about the history and culture of the sites we visited. The next time we come we may take a whole half-day just at the Great Wall--that was the shortest but most inspiring and jaw-dropping part of the tour. Thanks very much Adam for the company and conversation, and thanks to Catherine Lu Tours for arranging it all!

I’ve been wanting to come to China all my life and I finally got here with my 12 year old son. I booked a one day tour of Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Great Wall and I’m glad I did because navigating them on my own would have been impossible. It was July when we took our tour, and it was very hot and humid but our guide James and the driver took good care of us and made sure we had enough water and were comfortable. The car was air conditioned and very nice and the driver was very safe. James was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable. It was all incredible but highlight for us was definitely the Wall - I have been dreaming about it since I learned about it in school and it was even more amazing than I’d imagined. I think I’ve now passed my fascination with China and the history here down to my son! After the forbidden city and Tiananmen Square portion of the trip we stopped at a restaurant that was excellent and James made sure we had dishes we would enjoy. My son has declared kung pao chicken to be his new favourite food. Overall we just had the most wonderful day and wish we could go back and do it all again. Note: there is a lot of walking so make sure you wear comfortable shoes!

Justin met me at my hotel lobby early and we started at the Forbidden City and Square, then we made our way to the Great Wall. Justin was very helpful in explaining everything and with my interaction with the locals. Making the experience wonderful. Our driver was always on time, with cold water and drove safely to all destinations. Everything was a 10 of 10

Iris is an awesome tourist guide. She gives us valuable information and takes us to an amazing places. I totally recommend her.