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11/15/2004 01:25:27 PM · #1 |
| I'm going to China and Thailand in January to visit my brother. Aside from the obvious (Great Wall, Forbidden City) any suggestions for photo ops? We are going to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing (where he lives) then to Phuket and Bangkok for the weekend. I'll be there about 2 weeks. Probably not the prettiest (or warmest?) time to be going, but... Would love to hear stories from anyone who's been there. I doubt i'll be seeing very many DPCers there! ;) |
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11/15/2004 02:18:02 PM · #2 |
The Beijing zoo for shots of Pandas, in Shanghai walking along "The Bund", a river cruise, view of Pudong...photo ops all over the plavce really...
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11/15/2004 02:23:01 PM · #3 |
Thailand is great in Januari, it's the best time to visit because it is not so hot and the rain season is over.
Phuket... Well Phuket is one big photo op.... You will be amazed by the beauty of it...
Just a tip, browse Librodo's portfolio once.
He lives there, see what kind of photo's he takes...
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11/15/2004 02:31:20 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by neesa108:
I'm going to China and Thailand in January to visit my brother. Aside from the obvious (Great Wall, Forbidden City) any suggestions for photo ops? We are going to Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing (where he lives) then to Phuket and Bangkok for the weekend. I'll be there about 2 weeks. Probably not the prettiest (or warmest?) time to be going, but... Would love to hear stories from anyone who's been there. I doubt i'll be seeing very many DPCers there! ;) |
Send a message to Josh Pritchard. He's living in China right now and can probalby give you some good information...
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11/15/2004 03:08:49 PM · #5 |
My wife and I have visited there several times. While I would never suggest that you skip the Forbidden City, I didn't enjoy it very much: it's quite rectilinear, very official and foreboding. However, I found the Summer Palace to be a MUCH more human place, with many magnitudes more elagance, and I wish I could go back. Regarding the weather, I was there at the beginning of February, and it was only modestly cold and we had some rain. The weather will be better outside of the city due to pollution in the city.
Other things to see: the night market, silk row, Tiannamen [sp?] square (which is at the foot of the Forbidden city). There are many markets that are quite interesting. Also, the Beijing Opera (the proper name escapes me) is quite cool -- part martial arts, part soap opera, part fable. It was put on for the merchant class, so the style is quite loud and eye-catching. A good test of your camera's ISO 800+ performance.
My ultimate unfulfilled photo quest: I was told that there is actually a Starbucks INSIDE the Forbidden City.
Regarding Thailand, we visited Bangkok and Koh Samui in March, right after Songkran... all I can say is that it was my fundamental idea of a tropical paradise. Definitely visit the flower market in B'kok.
One last piece of advice: if you get a taxi from Beijing Airport, the driver will probably try to screw you. The rate to downtown from the airport shouldn't be more than about 80RMB. One driver was trying to charge us 300 RMB until we called the hotel Concierge over. For other things, particularly in markets, haggling is the norm, don't be affraid to start the bidding at 20% of the quoted price. |
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11/15/2004 03:51:10 PM · #6 |
| You guys are awesome! Thanks for the tips and the references!! Keep them coming! |
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11/15/2004 04:16:15 PM · #7 |
isnt librodo somewhere over there?
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11/15/2004 04:39:11 PM · #8 |
I was just in Beijing last month. There is in fact a Starbucks in the Forbidden City; it's on the east side (follow the sign for "coffee shop"). It closes at 4:00.
I highly recommend Temple of Heaven Park (Tiantan Gongyuan). While there, be sure to wander off the beaten (read: tourist) path to find some wonderful, uniquely Chinese moments. Beihai Park and the back lakes area are nice, too. Be sure to wander around the hutong (residential alleys) for some local color.
While in Tiananmen Square, don't let an "art student" rope you into visiting the art museum. He'll try and charge you $20 for a bad calligraphy of your name in Chinese. And waste an hour of your time.
If you're in Beijing over the weekend, go to Panjiayuan market, on the southeast corner of the Third Ring Road.
Ditto what alanbataar said about cab fare from the airport. Either take a shuttle bus (for Y16) into town or go to the line of cabs waiting out front. Any time you're in a cab, sit in the front seat with a map and pretend you're following it.
As for the Great Wall, try to go to Simatai. It's farther away, more authentic, and has far fewer tourists. Check with the youth hostels about catching a bus there. Fair warning: it's a rough climb. |
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11/15/2004 05:00:38 PM · #9 |
I was in Bejing and Shanghi in August. First of all, buy a lonely planet or a rough guide book for the cities you are going to, they are invaluble.
Temple of Heaven in Bejing is amazing, especially if you are lucky enough to get there on a clear day. Same is said of the summer palace. When you are in Tianamen square, avoid openly taking pictures of the guards in green, although they make great subjects, they don't seem to like their pictures taken.
If you go to forbidden city, go early in the morning just as it opens. In the afternoon the place gets full of tourist groups and is really a pain to take pictures of interesting subjects.
Bejing opera is an interesting experience, I took my camera there with a long lens and was able to take great pictures of their amazing costumes. Try to find out which story they are playing long before you go and read up on the story line, its much easier to understand the opera that way (without it, u might get totally lost).
Shanghai the insect and flower market is very interesting, also visit the Hutongs there for some great candids, but don't buy any food on the street that you have not seen them cook right in front of you (trust me, I speak from personal experience).
If you are going to the great wall, go to Simatai or Mutianyu. If you do descide to go to Balding pass after all, don't take the tour buses which go there despite that they stop at the ming tombs (buses #1-5), take the public bus 919 instead. The tour buses will rip you off (50rmb per person instead of 5-10rmb for the public bus) and will let you stay at the great wall for only 2 hours. Many of the buses that go to the great wall tend to stop at some weird Amusment parks. Dont go in those no matter how great they sound, they are just a scam to get your money.
Message edited by author 2004-11-15 17:22:59. |
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12/03/2004 09:18:20 AM · #10 |
I haven't made it to Beijing or Shanghai, but in Hong Kong I find alot of the day to day life to be quite photogenic. Visit flower markets, wet markets, night markets, etc., etc. for some interesting shots. Also, with the Olympics in Beijing 4 years from now the city is undergoing a major overhaul so you might want to photograph a few the older buildings since they might not be around in a few years.
Bangkok - The Grand Palace is stunning though largely overrun by tourists. Some of the markets can be quite interesting including an absolutely huge weekend market called Chatachuk though it is a bit claustrophobic and dark for photographic purposes. Thai dance and handicrafts are quite lovely and you might find some good photo ops with them. And of course, Bangkok has a seedier side which is about all I can really say about it as it isn't my preference, but I suppose there may be some interesting photos down those side streets as well.
If your tickets aren't firmly set, Harbin in China has a winter ice carving festival that is supposed to be excellent, Ching Mai in the north of Thailand is supposed to be lovely country with lots of wildlife, and I can offer specific advice about Hong Kong. Pleasant and safe travels. |
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11/06/2005 08:23:41 PM · #11 |
Harbin Ice & Snow World 2005
BTW: The forum search is working quite nicely now... :-)
I ran across this link today and thought others might enjoy the shots of the ice festival too.
Message edited by author 2005-11-06 20:24:39. |
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11/06/2005 08:38:27 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by doctornick:
The Beijing zoo for shots of Pandas, in Shanghai walking along "The Bund", a river cruise, view of Pudong...photo ops all over the plavce really... |
The bund is a must! it's awesome after they turn the lights on. The beijing zoo is actually pretty terrible. I saw 1 panda and it was through dirty glass. It was also sleeping and facing away from us.
You have to see the summer palace, it's awesome. Go and see some of the gardens, they very cool. I'm sure you'll have a blast in China, I sure did. I'm actually hoping to go back but to the hong kong area (instead of xian, beijing, shanghai) this summer with any luck!
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