A Guide to Taking Photos in Traditional Chinese Hanfu at the Forbidden City

If you’re planning a visit to the Forbidden City and want to take some beautiful photos while wearing traditional Chinese Hanfu, this guide is just for you.

1. Taking Photos in Traditional Chinese Hanfu at the Forbidden City: Allowed or Prohibited?

Taking photos while wearing traditional Chinese Hanfu at the Forbidden City is fully permitted, but there are specific rules that must be followed. The key distinction is between “personal photography” and “commercial photography”—personal photography is allowed, while commercial photography is prohibited.

✅ Permitted Activities

Personal Photography: You may ask friends or family to take photos of you using a cell phone or standard camera.

Chinese Hanfu: Various styles of Chinese Hanfu, such as Ming-style Hanfu and Tang-style Hanfu, are all acceptable.

Small props: Small traditional props such as round fans and oil-paper umbrellas are allowed, which can make your photos more distinctive.

❌ Prohibited Activities

Commercial Photography: Photography for profit, such as charging others for photos taken at the Forbidden City, or bringing a professional team (makeup artists, photographers, assistants) to conduct a photo shoot.

Professional Equipment: Professional photography equipment such as tripods, reflectors, stabilizers, and jib arms is prohibited from being brought into the Forbidden City.  

Hanfu Selection: The hem of the Hanfu you choose should not have a long trailing hem (which may damage cultural relics or block other visitors).  

Photography Etiquette: Do not lean against ancient buildings, scribble on walls, or touch cultural relics while taking photos.

2. Chinese Hanfu Selection Guide

Choosing the right Hanfu can make your photos more harmonious with the style of the Forbidden City. We recommend the following styles:

• Hanfu styles: Ming-style Hanfu (such as the horse-face skirt) and Tang-style Hanfu are the best choices. They are elegant and grand, and match the red walls and golden tiles of the Forbidden City very well. Avoid overly exaggerated modified styles or long trailing hems.
• Cheongsam (Qipao): If you don’t want to wear Hanfu, simple and elegant cheongsams (light colors or dark solid colors) are also a good choice. They can show the elegance of Oriental women and are suitable for taking photos in the corridors and pavilions of the Forbidden City.

Regarding color coordination

We suggest choosing light colors (moon white, light pink, light blue) for a fresh and refined look; or dark colors (dark green, crimson, dark blue) for a dignified and majestic appearance. Avoid too many bright colors, which will conflict with the ancient architecture of the Forbidden City.

Regarding Makeup & Hairstyle

• Makeup: Light and elegant makeup is the key. Focus on modifying the eyebrows (slightly curved willow-leaf eyebrows are recommended), apply light eye shadow, and use a moderate amount of red lipstick to highlight the Oriental temperament. Do not use heavy makeup, which will look inconsistent with the ancient atmosphere.
• Hairstyle: Simple updos, such as a low bun or a half-up half-down hairstyle, can be matched with hairpins, tassels and other small hair accessories. It is simple and not cumbersome, and looks natural in photos. Avoid overly complicated hairstyles that are difficult to maintain during the visit.

3. Best Shooting Spots & Time in the Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is large, and choosing the right shooting spots and time can help you avoid crowds and take more beautiful photos. The following are the most practical recommendations, which are easy to find and suitable for foreign friends who visit for the first time.

Best Shooting Spots

Inside the Meridian Gate (Wumen): As the main entrance of the Forbidden City, the red walls and archways here are very spectacular. Stand sideways, let the archway frame your figure, and take a photo with an upward angle to avoid crowds easily.

Red Wall Alleys (such as the alleys beside Cining Palace): The tall and straight red walls are the iconic scenery of the Forbidden City. Lean against the wall slightly, look into the distance or lower your head and smile, and the photos will be full of ancient charm. The light and shadow in the afternoon are the most beautiful here.

Imperial Garden: There are pavilions, ancient trees and exotic rocks here. Stand in front of the pavilions or beside the ancient trees, hold a round fan or an oil-paper umbrella, and you can take gentle and elegant photos easily. Avoid the crowded rockery area.

Corner Tower (Jiaolou) and Moat: After visiting the Forbidden City, you can go to the moat beside the corner tower. At sunset, the golden light reflects on the water, and the corner tower and your Chinese Hanfu form a beautiful picture, which is very suitable for taking silhouette photos.

Best Time

Morning: 8:30-9:30 on working days. At this time, there are few people, the light is soft, and the golden light shines on the red walls and golden tiles, which is very suitable for taking photos. It is recommended to enter the palace as soon as it opens.

Before closing: 1 hour before the Forbidden City closes (usually 16:00-17:00, depending on the season). The crowd decreases significantly, and the sunset light is warm, which can take photos with a sense of story. The blue hour after sunset is also a good time to take night scenes of the corner tower.

Avoid weekends and holidays: There are too many people, which is not convenient for taking photos, and it is easy to have other people in the photos.

4. Practical Shooting Tips

You don’t need professional photography skills. With these simple tips, you can take beautiful Chinese Hanfu photos even with a mobile phone.

Angle: Use an upward angle to shoot the combination of people and ancient buildings, which can highlight the grandeur of the Forbidden City and the elegance of the Hanfu; use a flat angle for close-up photos of the face, which is natural and comfortable.

Posture: Don’t be stiff. You can lean against the wall, hold a prop, turn around and smile, or look into the distance. The natural posture is the most beautiful. For grand styles such as Ming-style Hanfu, keep your figure straight to show dignity and elegance.

Light: Avoid shooting in strong midday sunlight, which will cause overexposure or heavy shadows. Choose soft morning or evening light, which can make your skin look better and the photos more warm.

Props: Use small props such as round fans and oil-paper umbrellas to enrich the picture. You can also hold a scroll or a small lantern (for night shooting) to increase the sense of ancient charm. Avoid carrying too many props, which will be cumbersome and may be asked to check them in.

5. Pre-trip Preparation

A good preparation can make your photo-taking trip smoother. The following preparations are necessary, especially for foreign friends who are not familiar with the Forbidden City.

Book tickets in advance: The Forbidden City requires online booking 7 days in advance. You can book tickets through the official WeChat account or official website. Remember to bring your passport (for foreign friends) when entering the palace.

Do makeup and change into Hanfu outside the palace: There is no Hanfu rental or makeup service in the Forbidden City. It is recommended to finish makeup and change into Chinese Hanfu outside the palace (such as Nanchizi Street near the Meridian Gate), which can avoid occupying roads in the palace and save time.

Bring necessary items: Wear comfortable shoes (the Forbidden City is large, and you need to walk a lot); bring a power bank (taking photos consumes a lot of power); bring simple snacks and water (there are few restaurants in the palace, and the price is relatively high).

Understand the opening hours: The opening hours of the Forbidden City change with the season. Check the official website in advance to avoid missing the best shooting time. Generally, it opens at 8:30 and closes at 17:00 in summer, and closes at 16:30 in winter.

6. Important Reminders

Respecting the rules of the Forbidden City and protecting cultural heritage is the premise of taking beautiful photos. Please remember the following points to ensure that your visit and photo-taking go smoothly.

Do not touch cultural relics: Do not lean on ancient buildings, touch cultural relics, or scribble on walls. Protecting cultural heritage is everyone’s responsibility. Any behavior that damages cultural relics will be punished.

Do not disturb others: When taking photos, avoid blocking the way of other visitors, and do not make loud noises. Be a polite visitor.

No flash in exhibition halls: If you take photos in the exhibition halls of the Forbidden City, do not use flash, which will damage the cultural relics inside the exhibition cases.

Follow the staff’s instructions: If the staff reminds you of irregular behaviors (such as occupying roads, using prohibited equipment), please cooperate actively.

Taking photos wearing Chinese Hanfu in the Forbidden City is a very wonderful experience. As long as you follow the rules, choose the right Hanfu, shooting spot and time, you can take beautiful photos that integrate Oriental charm and the grandeur of the palace. We hope this guide can help more foreign friends who love Chinese culture take beautiful photos in the Forbidden City.