{"id":7470,"date":"2025-08-02T18:31:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T18:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelcsnell.com\/travelphotographyblog\/?p=7470"},"modified":"2025-08-02T18:31:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T18:31:36","slug":"photographing-the-forbidden-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelcsnell.com\/travelphotographyblog\/index.php\/2025\/08\/02\/photographing-the-forbidden-city\/","title":{"rendered":"Photographing the Forbidden City"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Roughly 36 hours after leaving my house in Kansas, I found myself making my way through the crowded streets of Beijing. Thirty-six hours is assuming that I’m doing the time math correctly, which I very well may not be. I get thoroughly confused when the dateline is involved and I arrive a dozen hours into the future. Needless to say, it was a long day.<\/p>\n

Thankfully the day had been made much less arduous by the generous people at the tourism office that provided me with a business class seat from LA to Beijing. The ability to sleep a few hours inflight (unheard of for me) made my being somewhat alert on the street possible.<\/p>\n

This would be day one of a two week adventure through Beijing and the Gansu Province to the west, roughly following the Silk Road.<\/p>\n

Buckle up.[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7456″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]So, just a few hours after landing at around 5:00 am Beijing time, we’re making our way on foot past scores of rental bikes and fellow (mostly Chinese) tourists in 90 degree heat, heading for the imperial palace complex known as the Forbidden City. According to Wikipedia, it is “arguably the most famous palace in all of Chinese history, and is the largest preserved royal palace complex still standing in the world.”[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7457″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7458″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]As we joined the line for entry, I saw that my streak was holding for visiting world landmarks while they are covered in scaffolding. I really need to do a book on all of the places I’ve seen buried in scaffold, but that’s another story. This scaffolding was of little concern. After all, it’s a huge complex and there would still be plenty to see and photograph. We handed over our passports (which are now used as ticketing id all over China now) and waited for our guide to signal for us to enter.[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”2″ divider_color=”extra-color-gradient-2″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”5″][vc_column_text]\n

China travel tip #1: always have your passport handy. You’ll use it every time you check into a hotel, for entrance to museums, etc.<\/h4>\n[\/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”Full Width Line” line_thickness=”2″ divider_color=”extra-color-gradient-2″][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][image_with_animation image_url=”7459″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]The scene is impressive. If you’ve seen the film, “The Last Emperor” (imdb link<\/a>) you’ll know what I mean. It’s a vast complex. Each courtyard is immense, making it difficult to imagine how much more lies beyond each gate. \u00a0The entrance was through the Meridian Gate and the next (seen above) was the Gate of Supreme Harmony. Beyond it is the enormous Hall of Supreme Harmony and that only brings us about halfway through the Outer Court. The Inner Court then occupies nearly the same amount of space beyond the Gate of Heavenly Purity. In total, it is said the Forbidden City covers 178 acres.<\/p>\n

There are some pretty good maps of the Forbidden City on the Beijing Walking Tours site here<\/a>. It looks like my group did the short 2-hour tour which cuts right up through the center of the complex, from south to north.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]It became evident to me at some point that I was actually photographing two subjects here. Thinking in terms of stock photography, I was photographing for two different potential stories: the story of the location itself, and the story of the visitor experience. I like to keep this in mind when photographing in heavily touristed areas. I can often find myself completely obsessed with trying to get clean photographs void of all humans, but sometimes the visitors themselves are just as interesting. It just depends on the story you’re trying to tell with your photos.<\/p>\n

I was also reminded that the desire for selfies is not a uniquely American trait. Here, as well as in other parts of China that I would be seeing later in the week, it was not uncommon for visitors to rent period outfits from street vendors to wear during their tour. It seemed to be the ultimate selfie opportunity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7460″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7462″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]After passing through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, the space opened up again and the crowds dispersed. There was also a covered walkway surrounding the even larger courtyard which offered some welcome shade. I took the opportunity to continue to photograph the architecture and looking for ways to include fellow tourists as well.[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7463″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” bg_color=”#5e1d00″ scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7464″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]The photo below shows, I believe, the Hall of Supreme Harmony on the left, the Hall of Central Harmony in the center, and the Hall of Preserving Harmony on the right. Beyond that, further to the right, is the Gate of Heavenly Purity which leads from the Outer Court to the Inner Court. I’m looking west here, so the south-to-north path I’m taking through the city goes left-to-right in this image.<\/p>\n

The complex is so large, and the architecture so uniform, that it gets a bit disorienting. We conducted our entire tour in about two hours and I’m sure we only saw a fraction of the city. It’s just an enormous space. I think a traditional visitor could easily spend a whole day in the Forbidden City and still probably not have covered it all.[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7465″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7466″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”7467″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”30″][vc_column_text]Inside the Inner Court, the spaces became less wide open and my focus began to return to my fellow tourists. It was a hot day, and umbrellas seemed to be the preferred counter to the sun.[\/vc_column_text][image_with_animation image_url=”7468″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]The sheer number of people taking photos with phones always astonishes me. One has to wonder how many images get made of a destination like this over the course of a year, and how many people ever really go back through and look at the images they’ve made.<\/p>\n

Squeezing through the last few doorways in the area of the imperial garden we found ourselves finally outside the walls of the Forbidden City. We were next supposed to hike up the hill in Jingshan Park for that classic view overlooking the Forbidden City from the north but our guide saw the effect that the heat and the long day of travel had had on us and took pity. We went for lunch instead, which is never a bad thing.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/2″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”7469″ animation=”Fade In” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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