The photographer stands at a lower position in front of the Paifang (archway) and shoots at eye level, using the rule of center composition to place the Cifu Paifang at the center of the frame. This method also utilizes symmetrical composition, leveraging the symmetrical structure of the Paifang to enhance the stability and balance of the image. Recommended shooting time: Daytime.

Summer Palace - Cifu Pavilion

The photographer shoots at eye level, maintaining a horizontal perspective with the stone lions to clearly showcase the intricate carvings and the spatial relationship with the background. Adjust the focus to make the stone lion and the Fragrant Hill Pavilion the foreground and background respectively, creating a sense of depth. Travel Tip: The Summer Palace is a popular attraction with many visitors on weekends. It’s recommended to visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds, which can improve your chances of getting great shots.

The Summer Palace - The Seventeen-Arch Bridge Stone Lions

1. Camera gear: Nikon Z5 camera with a 24-200mm lens. 2. Other tips: Visit on Friday for fewer crowds; you can shoot from both under and on the bridge.

Summer Palace - Embroidered Ripple Bridge

Photography Tips: Have the model stand slightly behind the Pavilion of Fragrant Buddha, while the photographer stands at a corner of the Long Corridor. Use an ultra-wide-angle lens and a centered composition with a slight upward angle to fully capture the eaves of the Long Corridor as the foreground. Posing: The model stands with their back to the photographer, elbows slightly bent, and hands crossed in front of the body. Must-Visit Location: Beijing - Summer Palace - Pavilion of Fragrant Buddha. Recommended Outfits: Neo-Chinese, cheongsam, or Hanfu. Visiting Tips: Tickets: Reserve and purchase tickets in advance through the Summer Palace mini-program (Standard ticket: $5, Combination ticket: $9). On non-holidays, if the crowd is small, you can also buy tickets on-site. Entrance is by ID card. Opening Hours: Peak Season: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Last entry at 5:30 PM. Off-Season: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Last entry at 4:30 PM. Best Photography Time: Around 11:50 AM. Photography Equipment: iPhone 16 Pro.

Summer Palace - Buddha Fragrance Pavilion

The photographer stands on the opposite side of the bridge, using a level shooting angle to ensure the bridge's reflection is included in the frame. Utilize the nearby willow branches as a foreground element to add depth to the scene. Shoot with a medium to long focal length lens to highlight the structural details of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge and the gentle layers of the distant mountains. 1. Travel Tips: ① Ticket Prices: Peak season (April to October) is 30 CNY per person, and a combo ticket is 60 CNY per person. Off-season (November to March) is 20 CNY per person, and a combo ticket is 50 CNY per person. ② Opening Hours: Peak season opens at 6:00 AM, entry stops at 7:00 PM, and the park closes at 8:00 PM. Off-season opens at 6:30 AM, entry stops at 6:00 PM, and the park closes at 7:00 PM. ③ Best Shooting Time: The best time for photography is at 16:00 during the Winter Solstice, when the sun illuminates all the arches of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge at a perfect angle, creating a golden and brilliant scene. 2. Additional Tips: ① On the Winter Solstice, the park can get crowded. Entry is restricted after 15:00, so it’s best to arrive early if you want to take photos. ② If it's too crowded and you can’t get to the front, consider using a selfie stick.

Summer Palace - Dawn and Dusk at the Seventeen-Arch Bridge

The photographer stands by the lakeside, with the camera lens pointed towards the Willow Bridge. Using a landscape orientation, the Willow Bridge is placed in the center of the frame, with the foreground featuring the forest and the lake, and the background showcasing the mountains, adding depth to the composition. 1. Equipment: Nikon Z6 II with a 28-75mm lens. It's recommended that the photographer also bring a telephoto lens to compress the scene and make the entire image more cohesive. 2. Shooting Time: It's best to shoot in the afternoon when the light is naturally soft and gentle. On clear days, the sky turns a beautiful shade of blue.

Summer Palace - West Causeway Willow Bridge by the lake

Use a telephoto lens to frame the Pavilion of Buddhist Incense with a surround of flowers for a framed composition. Travel Tip: It's recommended to go early in the day when there are fewer people, which will result in better photo opportunities.

Summer Palace - Under the Peach Blossom Tree at Zhichun Pavilion

1. Shooting Angle: The photographer stands at a lower position in front of the building and shoots upward. 2. Composition Technique: Use vertical line composition, allowing the multi-story tower of the Fragrant Buddha Pavilion to extend vertically in the frame, enhancing the sense of height. 3. Lens Usage: Employ a wide-angle lens to include more sky in the background, highlighting the grandeur of the Fragrant Buddha Pavilion.

Summer Palace - Buddha Fragrance Pavilion Entrance

The model is standing by the fence at the lakeside, and the photographer is positioned 3-4 meters to the side of the model, focusing on capturing the cherry blossoms hanging down and the red fence. This is a less popular spot, so few people visit. 1. Equipment: You can use a smartphone for shooting, but this photo was taken with a Fuji XT5 + 18-55mm camera. 2. Posing Suggestions: ① Grab the fence with one hand, lean back, and look up at the cherry blossoms. ② Stand sideways by the fence and look in the direction of the cherry blossoms. ③ Lean back against the fence, place both hands on it, and look up at the cherry blossoms. 3. Travel Tips: Admission: $20 per person. Enter through the West Gate of the Summer Palace for the closest access. Arrive before 8:00 AM to avoid crowds, otherwise, you may have to queue for popular spots.

Summer Palace - West Causeway Red Balustrade

It's recommended that the photographer use a low-angle shot, shooting from beneath the arch to place the main structures of the Four Continents at a higher position. This highlights the grandeur and solemnity of the architecture and creates a sense of reverence. A frame-within-a-frame composition is suggested, using the arch as the foreground frame to enclose the main buildings, directing the viewer's attention to the Four Continents and enhancing the depth and layers of the image. A wide-angle lens is recommended to capture both the arch and the distant buildings, exaggerating the perspective of near large and far small, further emphasizing the architectural grandeur. Additional tips: 1. The architecture here features Tibetan-style bases and windows. 2. It's perfect for sunset photography; the place is almost exclusively yours during sunset. 3. There are really very few people around.

The Four Great Continents in the Summer Palace - Take a photo with the arched gate and Tibetan-style architecture.