Photo by The Forbidden City - Taking a photo with the ancient architectural glazed tile roof.

The Forbidden City - Taking a photo with the ancient architectural glazed tile roof.

Photo by The Forbidden City - Close-up of Golden Dragon and Phoenix Pattern Relief

The Forbidden City - Close-up of Golden Dragon and Phoenix Pattern Relief

The photographer used a level shooting angle, placing the bronze incense burner with its beast head and copper ring at the one-third mark on the left side of the frame. This highlights the intricate decorative details. The composition employs a foreground-background technique, with the foreground beast head in sharp focus and the background featuring a blurred view of the Forbidden City’s yellow rooftops, enhancing the sense of depth. The close-up focuses on the beast head and copper ring while retaining part of the roof and blue sky in the background, compressing the background to emphasize the subject’s details.

Beijing Forbidden City - Bronze Incense Burner with Animal Head and Copper Rings

Use an upward shooting angle and a diagonal composition, with the moon positioned at the upper left corner and the building’s roof (including eaves and decorative details) at the lower right corner, creating a diagonal balance. The framing should include the top of the building and the moon, with the black night sky as the background to highlight the contrast between the subjects.

Travel Tip: The entrance ticket costs 60 RMB.

The Palace Museum - Nighttime Architecture

The photographer stands below the plaque, looking up to capture the “Jiaotai Hall” plaque in the center of the frame. This central composition highlights the main subject, while the symmetrical roof decorations on either side enhance the sense of balance. The blue roof and golden patterns above, along with the red door frame in the foreground, form a framing effect. A wide-angle lens is used to fully showcase the details of the plaque and the architecture.

Other tips: Avoid peak hours and travel off-peak to minimize crowds.

Beijing Palace Museum - photographing the plaque of Jiaotai Hall

Use an upward shooting angle, framing the yellow roofs of the Forbidden City with the flowers and branches in the foreground. Employ foreground composition by placing the flower branches on both sides of the frame to add depth. Ensure the full view of the roof and parts of the architectural structure are retained, with the background slightly blurred.

Travel Tip: Admission is 60 RMB.

The Palace Museum - Branch-structured Roof Architecture

Using a level angle, the photographer stands in front of the golden dragon and phoenix relief, which is centered in the frame. On both sides, black carved elements are symmetrically distributed along with red lacquered wooden beams, highlighting the details of the decorative patterns. The composition focuses on a close-up view, capturing the main relief and the symmetric decorative elements above, below, and to the sides. It is recommended to use a standard lens to ensure the clarity of the patterns.

The Palace Museum - Gold Dragon and Phoenix Relief

The model stands in front of the red-roofed architecture of the Forbidden City, positioned on the right side of the frame, highlighting the details of the attire against the sky background. The left side of the image includes the roof of the building to balance the composition. The background features a clear blue sky with white clouds, enhancing the atmosphere. The model stands sideways, with her head slightly tilted back and eyes closed, in a graceful and natural pose.

The Forbidden City - Take a photo with the yellow-tiled and red-walled architecture.

The model sits sideways on a redwood bench, arms crossed, looking towards the background, with a natural posture. The photographer shoots at eye level, using a centered composition with the subject placed in the middle of the frame. The scene includes the ancient architecture of the Forbidden City's rooftops, red walls, and tree-filled background, while retaining the details of the bench’s armrests, highlighting the integration of the subject with the traditional setting.

Travel Tips:
① Ticket Price: 40 RMB per person;
② Opening Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

The Palace Museum in Beijing - Taking a Photo with Redwood Benches and Patterned Decor

The photographer stands below the building, using an upward angle to capture the roof details. It is recommended to use a medium to long focal length lens with a diagonal composition, allowing the roof ornaments to extend from the upper left to the upper right, guiding the viewer's eye to highlight the details. Frame the shot to include the red pillar on the left as the foreground and a clear blue sky as the background to enhance the depth and ancient charm.

Travel Tips:
① Ticket Price: 60 RMB;
② Opening Hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays).

The Forbidden City - Local roof structure of the Forbidden City buildings