【Beijing Five-Day, Four-Night Photography Roaming Guide | Capture the Capital's Light and Shadow Epic for Under 3000 RMB

Beijing Five-Day, Four-Night Photography Roaming Guide | Capture the Capital's Light and Shadow Epic for Under 3000 RMB 📷🏯】

As a blogger who loves travel and visual creation, I've customized a high-value, photo-rich, in-depth Beijing itinerary for you! Five days and four nights, with a budget under 3000 RMB, travel through ancient and modern times, and use your lens to capture the historical echoes and urban pulse of the imperial city.

Day 1: Forbidden City's Red Walls and Golden Tiles · Jingshan Overlooking the Central Axis
Arrive in Beijing, take the subway directly to an economy hotel near Qianmen (e.g., Orange Hotel, approximately 1000 RMB for four nights). In the afternoon, book tickets for the 【Forbidden City】 (60 RMB), capture symmetrical compositions of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, red walls, yellow tiles, and the light and shadow corridors. After closing, ascend 【Jingshan Park】 (2 RMB) for a panoramic view of the Forbidden City from above, with golden light bathing the palace roofs at sunset – truly breathtaking.

Day 2: Summer Palace's Kunming Lake + Old Summer Palace's Poetic Ruins
In the morning, take the subway to the 【Summer Palace】 (30 RMB), focusing on capturing the sunrise reflection of the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, painted long corridors, and the silhouette of the Tower of Buddhist Incense. In the afternoon, head to the 【Old Summer Palace】 (25 RMB), and at the Grand Fountain ruins, capture the poignant composition of broken pillars against the sky, brimming with historical significance. For dinner, try Xinchuan Noodle Restaurant (approx. 25 RMB per person).

Day 3: Early Morning Wild Photography at the Great Wall · Mutianyu Sea of Clouds
Join a one-day photography tour group (including round-trip transportation + tickets, approx. 280 RMB), depart early in the morning to ascend 【Mutianyu Great Wall】. With fewer crowds and wilder scenery, capture the majestic dragon-like structure winding through rolling mountains. During the rainy season, you might encounter a sea of clouds; wide-angle shots from below are magnificent, and drone aerial photography is even better.

Day 4: 798 Art Zone's Industrial Style + Sanlitun Nightlife
In the morning, explore the 【798 Art Zone】. Graffiti walls, metal factories, and avant-garde exhibitions all make for great photos. Recommended are the interior and exterior spaces of UCCA. In the evening, move to 【Sanlitun Taikoo Li】, capture reflections in glass curtain walls and urban crowds; the atmosphere is fantastic as the neon lights come on.

Day 5: Temple of Heaven's Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests + Hutong Street Photography Finale
In the early morning, check in at 【Temple of Heaven Park】 (combo ticket 34 RMB), symmetrically photograph the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests against the blue sky. Afterward, cycle through the 【Nangongluogu Alley side streets】, avoiding the main street crowds, to capture snippets of old Beijing life: pigeon coops, clotheslines, brass door knockers – authentic and full of life.

✅ Budget Checklist: Accommodation 1000 + Transportation 300 + Dining 600 + Tickets + Experiences 800 = Approx. 2700 RMB

📸 Beijing is a millennium-old central axis and a flowing theater of light and shadow. Bring your camera and embark on a pilgrimage for photographers.