6 Days Leisure Beijing Photography Tour

There is no another place on earth can match the fabulous imperial culture that Beijing has. In the past 5 hundred years, Beijing was always the royal center of China. Many brilliant imperial palaces, halls, temples were built as a very important part of Federal existence. Every brick, every tile, every slate records the solemn history of ancient Federal China. Take the Forbidden City for instance, there are more than 8,000 rooms, which make it impossible to shoot every details. So you should pay most attention to discover some of most featured from all sites.

Best Sites for Photography

Forbidden City

Forbidden City – most outstanding highlights of Forbidden City are: palaces, city moat and towers, which showcase the imposing scene of royal city. The grandiose city gates with red paint are also shooting scene. If you are interested in Chinese architecture, you can pay more attention to the detailed parts, such as eave, window carving, pillars, etc.

Summer Palace

Summer Palace – it is a great experience to take a stroll in the private garden of ancient emperors, to record some unique scenery which used to be only enjoyed by royal families. There are temples, gardens, pavilions, bridges and corridors, together with a huge lake and small hill forming an enchanting traditional Chinese painting.

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven – The temple of heaven is rather an altar than a temple. It is a great place to shoot another unique architecture style - fashioning order and symmetry. Its size is 4 times of Forbidden City’s. The arrangement embodies the ancient theory – “Heaven is round, Earth is square”. You can first take the panoramic view from a high point, then go to get some close shots of temples. The most famous one is Qinian Temple – a giant temple poking into sky with ornate stage.

Beijing is not only the political capital city of the ancient empires, but also the home of local Beijingers whose ancestors made Beijing as their home thousands years ago. Hutong is the unique residential unites created by local which combine living, trade and entertainment together. Every Hutong has its own story, every street tells its own history. Today, some Hutongs become scenic sites which are preserved by government; some Hutongs still serve as their original roles – residential house, workshop, market; some Hutong are ruins.

For photographers, there are two main highlights you should focus on – architecture and folk living. Hutongs were built and decorated by different style depending their different roles and budgets. You may have no idea that some royal families and famous figures once also lived in Hutong. Well, their Hutongs were designed, built with better materials and large size. While, the regular Hutongs which belong to civilian are typical quadrangle courtyards.

Featured Hutongs for Photography

South Gong & Drum Alley

South Gong & Drum Alley (Nan Luo Gu Xiang) –this Hutong is the best preserved Yuan Dynasty Hutong which keeps an entire checkerboard-style traditional residential arrangement. 16 unique hutongs lies from east to west. Known for its fabulous Hutong architecture, many teleplays once framed here. There are some boutique bars gathering here, which allows you to take some photos with leisure taste of life.

Pipe Slanting Street

Pipe Slanting Street (Yandai Xie Jie) – as the name suggest, this street used to be a trading place for pines during late Qing Dynasty. These Hutongs are best place to take some themed photos which reflect the combination of sentiments of both old and present days.

Above two Hutong are two recommended place to explore the contrast of the OLD and NEY Beijing. Well, following two Hutongs are very unique, have rich history and keep old tradition. And you can concentrate on shooting in a quiet surrounding.

West Four Hutongs

West Four Hutongs (Xi Si Hutong) – Zhai Hongqi, famous researching expert of Chinese Hutong Culture, recommends Xi Si Hutongs to those who are seeking wild and well-preserved Hutong and quadrangle courtyards. Though close to the prosperous Xidang Commercial District and Financial District, Xisi Hutongs consist of 8 parallel alleys which keep original wild features.

Rice Market Hutongs

Rice Market Hutongs (Mi Shi Hutong) – here used to be the rice trading market. Streets here are wide. Many aristocratic houses with large courtyards locate along the street. It is said this place were residential area for powerful officers and famous scholars.

The Great Wall is richly endowed with unique top visual views and profound history, which makes it as the perfect photography subject. It has a total length of more than 8,851km, and the section in Beijing is the best for photography because it was built in Ming Dynasty with all features of great wall. The Great Wall in Beijing includes Simatai Great Wall, Jinshanling Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, Badaling Great Wall, Jiankou Great Wall, etc. Each great wall has its own beauty. Generally, Simatai, Jinshanling and Jiankou Great Wall are relatively WILDER, and keep their original features. While Mutianyu and Badaling Great Walls are restored, but offer grand panoramic views.

The Great Wall stretches wide and long, and not every section is suitable for photography. To catch the best scene of Great Wall, you should consider more about the natural environment where the great walls are located.

Recommended Great Wall Sections for Photography

Simatai – Jinshanling Great Walls

Simatai and Jinshanling Great Walls are located in the boundary of Beijing and Hebei Province. Here you can take photos of standing tall towers, detailed structure of great wall, or shoot the panoramic views of great wall snaking on the lofty mountains. As the landmarks of Simatai Great Wall, Wangjing Tower and Xiannv Tower are very famous among photographers for the far-reaching views you can have from the high point. On the Wangjing Tower(986m), you definitely will be busy with pressing the shutter to shoot the breathtaking picture as many as possible. If lucky, you may see the god-given cloud sea. Just imagine the picture that the dominating great walls crawl like a dragon in the cloud sea.

Jinshanling Great Wall is located on the west of Simatai Great Wall. It is the best section for you to observe the diverse architectural style of Great Wall here. Towers were built by different styles for different use. Impeccable unites for battles were also built on the great wall, including walls for block enemies and horses, crenels for shooting, etc. The spectacular mixed view of cloud, mist and sunset glow is a famous feature of Jinshanling Great Wall. Jinshanling Great Wall has the most fabulous sunrise and sunset.(Sunrise: 5:30 ~ 6:30; Sunset: 18:00~19:00)

Mutianyu – Jiankou Great Walls

Mutianyu and Jiankou is a combination of contrasts of wildest great wall and restored great wall. Some sections of Mutianyu Great Wall are restored, and some not. Mutianyu Great Wall features in dense vegetation, ornate forts and towers, steric views. Here you can take the best photo that great wall integrates with beautiful natural surrounding – mountains, trees, sky…

Jiankou Great Wall is the most famous wild great wall for its incredible precipitous landscape. The main body of great wall was built on up-and-down peaks without any possibilities to climb up. So far, there is no any restoration on Mutianyu Great Wall. Many sections are ruined by wild, rainfall, which shows an incomplete beauty.