The photographer stands directly below the Forbidden City's architecture, using an upward angle to place the roof's flying eaves, golden carvings, and tile details at the center of the frame, with a clear blue sky as the background. This highlights the architectural layers, capturing the entire roof and part of the red wall below. Travel Tip: Open from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Forbidden City - capturing the golden carved designs and tiles on the roof eaves.

The photographer stands outside the moat near the northwest corner tower of the Forbidden City, avoiding the restrictions on shooting inside. This position allows for the inclusion of the tower and its surroundings in the frame. Using a low angle shot, the tower becomes the focal point with a clean background free of distracting elements, drawing attention to the architectural details of the tower itself.

The Forbidden City - Corner Towers in Beijing

Using a frame-within-a-frame composition, the photographer can use the overlapping branches at the top as a natural foreground frame to highlight the corner tower and moat in the middle. Combining this with a reflection composition, capturing the clear reflection of the tower on the water surface can enhance the sense of balance. The photographer should stand by the river, facing the tower, and use a level shooting angle to include the foreground branches, the middle water and stone railing, and the background tower. A wide-angle lens is recommended to ensure all elements are included and to create a strong sense of depth. Travel Tips: - Admission: 60 RMB (peak season), 40 RMB (off-season) - Opening Hours: Peak season (April 1 to October 31): 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:00 PM); Off-season (November 1 to March 31): 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM)

The Forbidden City - Stone Railing, Willow Trees, and the Corner Tower Reflected on the Lake Surface

With the arched gateway on the Meridian Gate wall as the foreground frame, capture the distant Hall of Supreme Harmony and the crowd in the square beyond. Stand inside the arch and shoot from a low angle to ensure the complete curve of the arch and the sky above are included in the frame, enhancing the sense of depth. Travel Tip: Admission is 60 RMB.

Beijing Forbidden City - Capture the scene of the Gate of Supreme Harmony Square framed by the archway.

The photographer stands in front of the building, using a low-angle shot to highlight its grandeur and solemnity. By employing central composition, the sign "Duanmen" is placed at the center of the frame, becoming the focal point and clearly showcasing the architectural details and colors. Travel Tip: No cost is required; you can take photos right at the entrance.

The Meridian Gate Plaque and the Forbidden City Museum Logo

I recommend using a wide-angle lens to capture the entire room layout, with vases and lanterns symmetrically placed on both sides, and the central plaque and table and chairs aligned in the middle to enhance the sense of solemnity. The plaque above, the intricately carved screen in the middle, and the table and chairs below, along with the symmetrical vases and lanterns on the sides, should all be included. Additional tips: Avoid peak hours and travel off-peak to have a better experience.

The Palace Museum - The vase display on both sides of Chuxiu Palace including the plaque.

Photo by The Palace Museum - Take a photo with the red pillared buildings, corridors, rockeries, and green plants.

The Palace Museum - Take a photo with the red pillared buildings, corridors, rockeries, and green plants.

The photographer stands 3 meters away from the water vat, placing the crabapple tree on the left side of the frame and the water vat at the lower right corner, with a red window as the background. 1. Equipment: Nikon Z6 II, 28-75mm lens. 2. Post-processing: Increase the saturation of red and green to make the image brighter and more harmonious. 3. Travel tips: It is recommended to shoot on a sunny day for better lighting.

The Forbidden City - Large water vat under the crabapple tree at Yihe Hall

The photographer stands in front of the bronze lion, using an upward angle to capture the lion at the lower part of the frame, with the blue sky as the background and the palace buildings as the side scenery. By emphasizing the lion’s heavy texture and the symmetrical layout of the architecture, the photograph enhances the spatial layers and historical atmosphere, highlighting the grandeur and solemnity of the iconic Forbidden City. Travel Tips: ① Admission Fee: 60 RMB during peak season (April to October), 40 RMB during off-season, discounted tickets available (60+ RMB for students, free for ages 14-18, advance reservation required). ② Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM during peak season, last entry at 3:30 PM; 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM during off-season, last entry at 3:00 PM.

The bronze lions in front of the Taihe Gate at the Forbidden City.

The photographer stands below the building, shooting upward to focus on the eaves, colorful dougong brackets, and part of the red wall, with green trees on the right to add depth. The background includes a clear blue sky, and the vertical lines of the building and the angled eaves guide the viewer's gaze, highlighting the painted details and structural beauty. The shot captures partial details and spatial depth, with attention to adjusting exposure to prevent the sky from overexposure, which could result in the loss of architectural details. Travel Tips: ① Admission Price: 60 RMB per person; ② Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.

The Palace Museum - Architectural Eaves, Flying Corners, and Colorful Paintings