The photographer shoots from a level angle in front of the wood carving, using red doors and windows and grayish-white brick walls as the background to highlight the wood carving, which is positioned at the center of the frame, becoming the focal point.

Travel Tip: The place can get very crowded on weekends and holidays, so it's recommended to visit outside of peak hours.

Fayuan Temple in Beijing - Dragon-Headed and Fish-Bodied Wood Carving

The photographer stands at a lower position near the ancient building, using an upward angle. Employing a frame-within-a-frame technique, the branches of flowers in the foreground serve as a natural frame, enclosing the ridge beasts of the ancient building in the midground. Using a medium to long telephoto lens, the foreground flowers are blurred to highlight the ridge beasts as the main subject. Travel Tip: It is recommended to go on a sunny day for the best拍摄效果. 

(Note: The phrase "拍摄效果" is translated as "shooting results" to maintain fluency in English.)

Travel Tip: It is recommended to go on a sunny day for the best shooting results.

Fayuan Temple in Beijing - The Hanging Beasts Amidst Blossoms

Photo by Beijing Fayuan Temple - Amitabha Buddhist Mantra Wall and Ginkgo Trees

Beijing Fayuan Temple - Amitabha Buddhist Mantra Wall and Ginkgo Trees

The photographer captures the scene in front of the gate, where the red gate contrasts sharply with the gray walls, highlighting the gate as the focal point. The gate serves as a frame, enclosing the view within and adding depth to the image, guiding the viewer’s eye from the outside to the inside.

Travel Tips: Weekends and holidays can be very crowded. It’s recommended to avoid peak times.

Fayuan Temple - Beijing Buddhist College Sign

The photographer uses an eye-level angle and a central composition, placing the incense burner in front of the Heavenly King Hall at the center of the frame, while including an orange and white cat on the left side of the image.

1. Admission: Free.
2. Opening Hours: 08:30 - 16:00 daily, with the last entry at 16:00.

Fayuan Temple in Beijing - Incense Burner in Front of the Hall of the Heavenly Kings

The photographer can stand a bit further in front of the stone stele, using a symmetrical composition with the two steles as the main subjects. Use the green plants as a foreground element to add depth, and focus on the intricate carvings of the steles with a medium focal length lens to capture the ancient simplicity and garden charm of the Chinese steles.

Additional Tips:
1. Although located in the bustling Second Ring Road, the temple is very peaceful with few visitors, making it perfect for a tranquil experience.
2. You can enjoy the lilac flowers and pet the cats.
3. The Ullambana Festival is held on July 15th.

Beijing Fayuan Temple - Steles Framed with Greenery

The model stands in front of the stone stele, and the photographer positions themselves a bit farther away to take the shot, using a 2x/medium telephoto lens.
Shooting Equipment: Fujifilm XE4 + 18-50mm f/2.8
Shooting Time: Around 3:00 PM, with great sunlight
Outfit: The temple is primarily red, so a simple outfit works well. Black, white, and gray are versatile colors.
Poses: The model can stand sideways and look at the camera, or look away from the camera. This is a very friendly pose.

Fayuan Temple in Beijing - In front of the stone stele

The model stands next to the red wall merit monument, and the photographer shoots from the lower platform. A 1x/ wide-angle lens can be used.
Shooting equipment: Fujifilm XE4 + 18-50mm f2.8
Shooting time: Around 3 PM, with great sunlight
Outfit suggestions: The temple is predominantly red, so simple outfits work well. Black, white, and gray are versatile colors.
Posing tips: The model can stand sideways and look at the camera, or look away. This setup is very friendly to the subject.

Fayuan Temple in Beijing - in front of the Red Wall Merit Stele

The photographer stands slightly to the right of the front of the building, using an upward angle to highlight the details of the eaves and the plaque, with the sky as the backdrop to enhance the sense of openness. The rule of thirds is employed, with the building’s eaves positioned at the right one-third of the frame, and the sky occupying the upper two-thirds, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between the subject and the environment.

Travel Tips:
① Admission Fee: Free;
② Opening Hours: Daily 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM.

Fayuan Temple - Bell Tower Plaque

The model stands next to the red pillar, and the photographer stands a little further away to take the shot. A 1x/wide-angle lens can be used.
Shooting equipment: Fuji XE4 + 18-50mm f/2.8.
Shooting time: Around 3 PM, with great sunlight.
Outfit: The temple is primarily red, so a simple outfit works well. Black, white, and gray are versatile colors.
Poses: You can stand sideways and look at the camera, or you can look away from the camera. Both options are very friendly to the subject.

Fayuan Temple - Red Pillar Corridor