When photographing the ancient architecture and its surroundings, you can position yourself next to the building or slightly behind the flowers. This way, you can capture both the glazed tiles and intricate decorations of the ancient building, as well as the delicate beauty of the flowers. Place the distinctive features of the building (such as ridge beasts and glazed tiles) or the flowers at the center of the frame or follow the rule of thirds to highlight the main subject. Incorporate details of the flowers or the building to complement each other. Shooting at eye level can convey the solemnity of the building and the naturalness of the flowers; slightly tilting the camera upward can emphasize the grandeur of the building. Using a medium to long telephoto lens can blur the background and highlight the foreground subject; if you want to capture the entire building and its surrounding floral environment, a wide-angle lens is recommended. 1. Equipment Recommendations: We recommend using the Nikon D850, which offers high resolution and excellent dynamic range, allowing for clear capture of the texture of the glazed tiles and the details of the flowers. Pair it with the Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens, which can bring out the details of the building and the close-ups of the flowers while achieving a blurred background. 2. Dress Code Suggestions: Choose light-colored traditional Chinese attire, such as a beige改良旗袍 (改良旗袍 can be translated as a modernized cheongsam) with a light blue shawl, showcasing a gentle and elegant appearance; or a light pink Hanfu with matching accessories, complementing the ancient architecture and flowers, adding a touch of classical charm. 3. Additional Tips: It's best to shoot between 10 AM to 11 AM or 3 PM to 4 PM. The light during these times is bright and soft, casting a warm glow on the glazed tiles, highlighting the building's magnificence, and making the colors of the flowers more vibrant. You can use the flowers in the foreground as a framing element to include the ancient building within the frame; or wait for the changing light and shadows, and press the shutter when the sunlight creates unique shadows, adding artistic elements to the photo.

The Forbidden City in Beijing - Eaves and White Flowers

Created bytklib

33.8k reviews

No. 82-5, Dongsi Sitian, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Photography Tips

When photographing the ancient architecture and its surroundings, you can position yourself next to the building or slightly behind the flowers. This way, you can capture both the glazed tiles and intricate decorations of the ancient building, as well as the delicate beauty of the flowers. Place the distinctive features of the building (such as ridge beasts and glazed tiles) or the flowers at the center of the frame or follow the rule of thirds to highlight the main subject. Incorporate details of the flowers or the building to complement each other. Shooting at eye level can convey the solemnity of the building and the naturalness of the flowers; slightly tilting the camera upward can emphasize the grandeur of the building. Using a medium to long telephoto lens can blur the background and highlight the foreground subject; if you want to capture the entire building and its surrounding floral environment, a wide-angle lens is recommended. 1. Equipment Recommendations: We recommend using the Nikon D850, which offers high resolution and excellent dynamic range, allowing for clear capture of the texture of the glazed tiles and the details of the flowers. Pair it with the Nikkor AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II lens, which can bring out the details of the building and the close-ups of the flowers while achieving a blurred background. 2. Dress Code Suggestions: Choose light-colored traditional Chinese attire, such as a beige改良旗袍 (改良旗袍 can be translated as a modernized cheongsam) with a light blue shawl, showcasing a gentle and elegant appearance; or a light pink Hanfu with matching accessories, complementing the ancient architecture and flowers, adding a touch of classical charm. 3. Additional Tips: It's best to shoot between 10 AM to 11 AM or 3 PM to 4 PM. The light during these times is bright and soft, casting a warm glow on the glazed tiles, highlighting the building's magnificence, and making the colors of the flowers more vibrant. You can use the flowers in the foreground as a framing element to include the ancient building within the frame; or wait for the changing light and shadows, and press the shutter when the sunlight creates unique shadows, adding artistic elements to the photo.

Walking Guide

Get off at Tiananmen West Station after 1 stop. Enter from the west side of Tiananmen Square, and walk about 200 meters to reach Tiananmen. After passing through Tiananmen and Duanmen, you will arrive at the Wu Gate of the Forbidden City. After entering the Forbidden City, follow the central axis to the Taihe Hall area. Walk about 80 meters in the surrounding courtyards to find the scenery with eaves and white flowers.