Originally Posted by
Hoyaheel
I think I am sad about Forbidden City too so will email the guide to ask for his reasons for preferring/pushing Summer Palace. He basically said it's the same as FC but he likes it better....(in the context of religious site vs "household" site to justify seeing TofH instead of SP and FC together - that I get, but he hasn't said why one "house" is better than the other...)
There's no need to be sad.
Thoughts:
-Swap out ToH for Forbidden City
-You could devise a walking plan that starts at Tiananmen and ends at your hotel (covering Forbidden City, Beihai, and Gulou)
*if you do this, pass on the Summer Palace unless you possess exceptional endurance