Anime Inspired Beijing Palace Tour with Pop Culture and History

Beijing, China
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Duration4h - 5h
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

You might not expect to enjoy anime culture while traveling in Beijing — but we’re here to prove you absolutely can. This tour lets you experience anime-inspired places, connect them with real Chinese history, and explore the local fan world. It’s fun, affordable, and a truly unique way to understand Chinese culture from a fresh angle.

Options

Trip without Ticket Booking
Trip with Ticket Booking

Ticket to the Forbidden City: This option authorises me to purchase your ticket to the Forbidden City on your behalf.

What's included

  • English-speaking anime-savvy tour guide
  • Small-group experience (max 4 people)
  • Cultural insight sessions with real-life anime parallels
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Personal purchases (souvenirs, blind boxes, etc.)
  • Travel insurance
  • You can choose to have lunch inside the imperial palace (around 50 yuan per person), or bring some snacks to make sure you won’t get too hungry during the tour.

What to expect

  1. Meridian Gate (Wu Men)
    10m · Admission ticket not included
    The Meridian Gate is the main entrance to the Forbidden City, where emperors and their attendants entered and exited the palace grounds.
    Please note that entrance tickets must be purchased in advance. You can either book them yourself on the official website or select the “with ticket” option when booking this tour.
  2. Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihe Dian)
    10m
    The grand hall where emperors conducted state affairs — often depicted in anime scenes as the center of royal power.
  3. Gate of Heavenly Purity
    10m
    The dividing line between the Outer Court and Inner Court, representing the transition from political to private life, much like the area where concubines live in anime.
  4. 25m
    Yonghe Palace — Imperial Pharmacy Hall (永和宫御医药馆)
    The place where Maomao and the court physicians prepare herbal medicines, just like in The Apothecary Diaries.
  5. The Imperial Garden of The Palace Museum
    20m
    A lush garden filled with diverse plants, a perfect spot to imagine where Maomao might have searched for medicinal herbs throughout the seasons.
  6. Gate of Divine Prowess
    10m
    Known as the “back gate” of the Forbidden City, traditionally used by the emperor’s concubines to enter and leave the palace.
  7. Huawei Dasha
    40m
    Huawei Building Anime Street (华威大厦动漫街)
    A bustling shopping area packed with affordable anime merchandise — find your favorite characters and collectibles here.
  8. Joy City
    15m
    At Xidan Joy City, immerse yourself in Pop Mart, where you can explore the thrilling world of Asia’s most popular blind boxes — perfect for anime lovers and toy collectors.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

If you see the Chinese characters “标婷护肤品专卖店”, you’re at the exact meeting point.
You can easily spot me standing in front of the store — I’ll be holding an umbrella with a cat on it (Nyanko-sensei from the anime Natsume's Book of Friends).

End point

We will wrap up our trip at the POP MART store in Xidan Joy City.

Additional information

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$5.00 per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by PackAndGo · Booked through Viator
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