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The golden-tiled roofs and red walls of the Forbidden City under a clear sky

The Forbidden City

Private trips only 北京

Custom Beijing tours from Singapore

A private Beijing trip planned around who’s coming: the Forbidden City, the Great Wall section that suits your pace, hutong lanes and Peking duck, with hotels, transfers and walking set out before you decide.

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  • Your group only, no join-in tours
  • Your dates, your pace
  • Hotels and inclusions named in writing

Beijing at a glance

Beijing is China’s capital and the one place where the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven fit into a single trip. From Singapore, non-stop flights take about six to six and a half hours, and Singapore passport holders can currently visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. Most first visits need four to five full days. The most comfortable months are April to May and September to October, avoiding the national holidays in early May and the first week of October.

Travel details last checked on .

Flight from Singapore
6 to 6.5 hoursNon-stop, into Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX)
Visa for Singaporeans
Visa-free, 30 daysOrdinary passports. Check before you travel
Days to allow
4 to 5 daysAdd 3 days for Xi’an
Best months
Spring and autumnApril to May, September to October
Time difference
NoneBeijing and Singapore are both UTC+8
Currency
Renminbi (CNY)Mobile payments are the norm
Language
Mandarin ChineseEnglish is limited outside hotels
Pairs well with
Xi’an, Harbin, ShanghaiBy fast train or a short flight

A Beijing trip for your group.

The same city plays very differently for a couple, a family with grandparents and a company team. Tell us who’s coming and the route is built around them.

  • Three generations of a family resting on a stone step by a moon gate in a red palace wall, the children eating ice lollies and a grandmother in a white sun hat laughing

    Families and grandparents

    One hotel base, short transfers and a Great Wall section with a cable car. Big sights in the morning, lighter afternoons, and time for an acrobatics show or a park.

    Plan a family trip
  • Four friends chatting on the Great Wall in early morning light, with the wall and its watchtowers climbing a green ridge behind them

    Couples and friends

    An early start at the palace, a night in a hutong courtyard hotel, a longer walk on a wilder stretch of the Wall and evenings for food.

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  • Six colleagues laughing over dinner at a round table with Peking duck, pancakes and a blue-and-white teapot, one passing a plate of green beans

    Company teams

    A capital-city programme that can combine meetings or visits with a shared Great Wall day and group dinners, travelling as your own private group.

    Request a corporate proposal

What to see and do in Beijing.

11 places trips are built around, from imperial palaces to lakeside evenings and a theme park day. Each shows how long it takes, how much walking to expect and who it suits best.

Suggested itinerary

Five days in Beijing

The palace, the Great Wall, the temple park and the hutongs, one big sight a day with time left for food. It is the route most first visits start from, and every day can change.

Length
5 days, 4 nights
Pace
Moderate
Suits
First visits, couples, friends and families

Easy to change

  • Add Xi’an and the Terracotta Army by fast train, about 3 more days
  • Slow it down for grandparents, with rest afternoons and one hotel
  • Swap Mutianyu for a wilder walk at Jinshanling
  • Add a day at Universal Beijing Resort
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A starting point, not a package. Your proposal sets out the hotels, transfers and what is included.

  1. Slices of crisp roast Peking duck on a white plate with fresh mint leaves

    Day 1

    Arrive and settle in

    Transfer to your hotel. If you land early, an easy first walk around Qianmen or Wangfujing, then a Peking duck dinner.

    • Airport transfer
    • Peking duck
  2. The curving Inner Golden Water River and white marble balustrades inside the Forbidden City

    Day 2

    Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

    Through the square and the palace from south to north, then up Jingshan Park for the view back over the golden roofs.

    • Half a day on foot
    • Booked ahead
  3. The Great Wall at Mutianyu winding over wintry hills, framed by a watchtower doorway

    Day 3

    The Great Wall at Mutianyu

    An early start to beat the crowds, the cable car up and a walk between the watchtowers. Back in the city by late afternoon.

    • About 1.5 hours each way
    • Cable car
  4. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven against a blue sky

    Day 4

    Temple of Heaven and the hutongs

    Morning in the temple park while it fills with tai chi and music, then the lanes around Shichahai by rickshaw or bicycle, with lunch in a courtyard restaurant.

    • Easy walking
    • Rickshaw or bicycle
  5. Boats on Kunming Lake at the Summer Palace, with the Tower of Buddhist Incense above the shore

    Day 5

    Summer Palace and departure

    A morning by Kunming Lake and along the painted Long Corridor, then the transfer for your flight home.

    • Half a day
    • Airport transfer

What’s included when we plan your trip.

Your written proposal sets out each of these for your dates and group, with the total for everyone, so you can see what you are paying for before you confirm.

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What you can change.

Every part of the trip is open to change before you confirm. Your written proposal sets out what is included, so you can see what you are paying for.

  • Where you stay

    A courtyard hotel in the hutongs, a central hotel near Wangfujing, or somewhere quieter. The proposal names the hotel and the room type.

  • How busy each day is

    Late starts, rest afternoons or full days. Tell us who is travelling and how far they like to walk.

  • Which part of the Wall

    From the cable car at Mutianyu to a long walk at Jinshanling, chosen for your group’s fitness.

  • Guides and getting around

    Ask for guided days, free days or a mix, and how you would like to travel between sights.

  • Meals and dietary needs

    Halal, vegetarian, no pork or children’s tastes. The proposal says which meals are included.

  • Where else to go

    Add Xi’an by fast train, Harbin for the winter ice festival or Shanghai, or keep it to Beijing.

The best time to visit Beijing.

Spring and autumn have the most comfortable weather. Public holidays matter as much as the season, because the main sights reach their daily ticket limits.

Winter is a good time to pair Beijing with Harbin’s ice festival in January and February.

Practical tips for Singaporeans.

Things worth knowing before you go. Entry and payment rules change, so they are checked again when your trip is confirmed.

  • Entry for Singaporeans

    Singapore ordinary passport holders can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days under the mutual visa exemption in force since 9 February 2024. Rules can change, so check before you travel.

    Singapore MFA travel page for China (opens in a new tab)

  • Booking sights ahead

    The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and many museums need advance, real-name booking with each traveller’s passport, and the same passport on the day. The Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, except public holidays.

  • Paying

    Most places expect Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both apps accept linked foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Carry some cash as a backup.

  • Staying connected

    Google services and WhatsApp do not work on Chinese networks. Roaming with your Singapore SIM, or a roaming eSIM, usually still reaches them.

  • Getting around

    Day trips to the Wall are easiest by private vehicle. Beijing’s metro is extensive, and fast trains reach Xi’an and Shanghai in about four and a half to six hours.

  • Walking

    The Forbidden City and Summer Palace mean long walks on stone, and the Wall has steep steps. Tell us about anyone who needs a gentler pace.

Last checked on .

What does a private Beijing trip cost?

There is no fixed price, because no two trips are the same. Your proposal gives the total for your group and lists exactly what it includes and what it doesn’t. These are the things that move the number most.

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When you travel
School holidays and the May and October national holidays cost more than quieter months.
Hotels
The hotel standard and area, and how many rooms your group needs.
Group size
Guides and vehicles are shared across the group, so the cost per person changes with numbers.
Guided days
How many days have a private guide and driver, and which are free.
Trip length and extensions
Extra nights, fast trains and add-ons such as Xi’an or Harbin.
Flights
Whether flights are part of the proposal or arranged by you.

Plan your Beijing trip.

Tell us who’s coming. The next step asks about dates, interests and how to reach you, with Beijing already chosen.

Who’s travelling?
Add another place? (optional)

Beijing trip questions.

Something else on your mind? Ask us on WhatsApp (opens WhatsApp).

How many days do I need in Beijing?

Four to five full days covers the Forbidden City, a day on the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the hutongs and the Summer Palace without rushing. Three days is possible but tight. Add three days if you want to include Xi’an and the Terracotta Army.

Do Singaporeans need a visa to visit Beijing?

Not for short trips at the moment. Singapore ordinary passport holders can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days under the mutual visa exemption in force since 9 February 2024. Rules can change, so check the Singapore MFA or ICA before you travel.

Which Great Wall section is best for families or older travellers?

Mutianyu is usually the easiest choice. It is restored, has a cable car and chairlift, and is less crowded than Badaling. The toboggan ride down has age limits and does not run in bad weather.

When is the best time to visit Beijing?

April to May and September to October have the most comfortable weather. Avoid the national holidays from 1 to 5 May and 1 to 7 October, when the main sights are at their busiest. Winter is cold but quiet.

Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?

Yes. Tickets are booked ahead in each visitor’s name with their passport, and the same passport is checked on the day. There is no walk-up ticket counter, and the palace is closed on Mondays except public holidays.

Can we combine Beijing with Xi’an or Shanghai?

Yes. Fast trains reach Xi’an and Shanghai from Beijing in about four and a half to six hours, so either works as a second stop. Harbin is a popular winter pairing for its ice festival.

Is Beijing suitable for young children or grandparents?

Yes, with the right pace. A single central hotel, morning sightseeing, rest in the afternoon and a cable car on the Great Wall make it manageable. Tell us about anyone who needs shorter walks.

Can we eat halal or vegetarian food in Beijing?

Beijing has a long tradition of Hui Muslim cooking and many halal restaurants, and vegetarian dishes are easy to find. Mention dietary needs in your brief, and the proposal will say which meals are included and where.

How much does a private Beijing trip cost?

It depends on your dates, hotels, group size, how many guided days you want and whether flights are included. Your proposal sets out the total and exactly what it covers.

Combinations that work well from Beijing. Choose one and it is added to your brief.

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