Photo by The Old Summer Palace: Unforgettable

The Old Summer Palace: Unforgettable

The photographer positions themselves at a lower angle in front of the flowers, shooting upward to place the vibrant peony at the center of the foreground. Using a wide aperture to blur the background, the focus is drawn to the flower. The wooden fence, green trees, and blue sky in the background create natural layers. A medium telephoto lens compresses the space, capturing the atmosphere of the sea of flowers and the expansive scenery. Travel Tip: It’s best to go early in the morning when there are fewer people, which makes for better photos.

The Old Summer Palace - Hongci Yonghu Peony Flowers

The photographer captures the lake and the scenery across it from an eye-level angle by the lakeside. The reflection in the lake creates a symmetrical composition with the actual landscape, enhancing the stability and beauty of the image, and producing a harmonious visual effect. Travel tip: It's best to choose a clear, windless day for shooting reflections.

The border beside the three gardens of Yuanmingyuan.

The model sits on a rock by the pool, and the photographer uses a 75mm lens or 3x zoom on a phone to shoot from a slight top-down angle, keeping the line of sight close to the model's level to maintain a natural angle. Use the rule of thirds for composition, with the model positioned slightly to the right of the center. The peony flowers in the foreground, along with the pool water and trees in the background, create clear layers and enhance the depth of the scene. Pose: The model sits sideways and raises a hand to adjust her hair accessory.

The Old Summer Palace - Moon and Cloud Residence Peony Flowers

The model stands next to the flowering tree, and the photographer steps back 3-5 meters to shoot at eye level, ensuring that the model and the tree create a sense of depth in the photo. Use the rule of thirds for composition, with the flowering tree occupying the upper half of the frame and the model positioned at the lower right third, enhancing visual balance. Posing suggestions: The model can turn her head back or sway her skirt to showcase natural movement, adding dynamism to the photo.

The Old Summer Palace - Under the Peach Blossom Tree at the Zaoyuan Gate

Photo by Take a photo with the stone and woods at the Apple Fragrance Pavilion in the Old Summer Palace.

Take a photo with the stone and woods at the Apple Fragrance Pavilion in the Old Summer Palace.

The model stands among a field of February orchids, with the photographer shooting from a slightly lower angle than the model, using a centered composition with the model positioned in the center of the frame. The background features an evenly distributed sea of purple flowers and a blue sky, creating a strong sense of visual balance. It is recommended to use a 50mm lens or the 2x zoom on a smartphone to highlight the soft transition between the subject and the background. Pose suggestion: The model can stand sideways, gently swaying her skirt, holding a woven straw bag, to display a natural and elegant dynamic.

The Old Summer Palace - February Orchid Sea

The model is sitting on a rock by the water, with the photographer positioned in front, shooting from a downward angle. Cherry blossoms branches are used as the foreground, with the subject centered in the frame. A medium focal length lens is used to clearly capture both the subject and the surrounding environment. Travel Tips: Open hours are as follows: Off-season (Nov 1 - Mar 31): 6:30 AM - 7:30 PM (last entry at 5:30 PM), Peak season (Apr 1 - Oct 31): 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM).

The Old Summer Palace - Moon Land Cloud Residence Peach Blossom Trees by the Shore

With boulders by the lakeside as the foreground, highlight the stone arch bridge at the center of the frame. The photographer should use a low-angle shot to ensure the lake surface, swimming koi, and ducks are clearly captured, while including the stone bridge and surrounding greenery in the mid-ground. Additional tips: Be mindful of safety when shooting by the lake.

The Old Summer Palace - Remnant Bridge by the Lake

The photographer is positioned above the landscape, shooting from a bird's-eye view. The composition uses leading lines, with the path serving as a guide, and a wide-angle lens is employed to showcase the vastness and depth of the landscape, enhancing the sense of depth in the image. Travel Tips: The admission fee is 10 RMB.

The Old Summer Palace - Kingfisher Bridge