Tips for China Visit

[raid]

Hi,
I am sure that some people here could advise me on what type of equipment is best suited for a short trip to Beijing. In particular, do I need a fast lens for the Forbidden City or is available light sufficient for max aperture 2.0~4.0?
My favorite travel gear usually includes a Canon P plus Bessa T plus a 50mm/2 lens plus a short tele, such as the Leitz Elmarit 90mm/2.8, plus a wideangle lens such as the CV 25mm/4 lens. This set is very light and manageable for long walks.

 

[bmattock]

There is plenty of light, you'll have no trouble at all with standard film and lenses. Beijing is very polluted, the air will burn your eyes if you are not used to that sort of thing. Taxis are cheap and everywhere, but the drivers speak zero english (they are supposed to all learn 100 words of English by the 2008 Olympics). When you get to your hotel, get a business card at the front desk to give to the taxi driver to get you 'home' after your visits. Tell the front desk where you want to visit and they will write it down in Chinese - give that to the taxi driver. No tipping.

Try to visit the hutongs (alleyways) if you can - a vanishing way of life, much is being pulled down and modernized for the upcoming Olympics - they have been FOCUSED on that since I was there in 2002. Big time.

Confirm with your bank and your credit card companies before you go that you will be there. I took some money out of an ATM, they decided it was fraud (my bank, that is) and deactivated my card. Not something you want to try to fix from Beijing.

Be careful of people who want to 'practice their English' on you. They're selling things. Just up the road. Could you walk with them a little ways? In here. Yes, in here. Door locked. Now, how much art would you like to buy? And yes, you will buy some overpriced crappy art or the door does not open.

However, China is a fantastic place - I loved it. They thought I was a very big boss, because I was so fat. And people commented on it, too. Oh well.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Tin]

Hi,

You wouldn't have much opportunities for interior shots in the rbidden City. Visitors are not allowed to go inside the buildings except for the museum section. (Perhaps that is why it is called the Forbidden City!) Visitors are still allowed to take a peek inside the buildings from the front doors, which are cordoned off. But depending on the number of tourist visiting at the time, there may be some pushing and shuffling at those doorways. Therefore, the Forbidden City is basically good for exterior shots.

My lens choices for a Beijing trip (or a China trip in general) would be 25/35/90. If you have a fast 35 mm (like the f1.7 Ultron or an f2 Cron) then you can skip the 50mm. But that is only my preference. Just like shooting in any city, a 25mm will be a great lens to have. Last time when I was in Beijing, I brought my Nikon SLR with the 24/35/105 combination, and that was very adequate for the occasion.

My next advice is on the time to visit. If your interest is primarily in shooting buildings, I find the late afternoon better. The roof tiles will give you a brilliant golden color when shot from the appropriate angle. (But don't go too late though---I think the gates close at 4 or 4:30 or so, and after that it is exit only. So arriving after lunch is just right---unless you plan to spend the whole day there.)

Tin

 

[raid]

Bill: Thanks for the useful tips. I will inform my bank and credit card company about my trip so that I don't get surprises there. Also, I will stay away from any street vendors trying to get us into any building.

 

[raid]

Tin: Your tips are also welcomed. Thanks. As for visiting the Forbidden City, does it really take half a day if foreigners are not allowed inside buildings? As for having a fast 35mm lens, I like my tiny Canon 35mm/1.8 lens. I forgot to mention above that I use it often in trips.

 

[bmattock]

Bill: Thanks for the useful tips. I will inform my bank and credit card company about my trip so that I don't get surprises there. Also, I will stay away from any street vendors trying to get us into any building.

They are not street vendors - they are friendly people who just wander up and strike up a conversation. They tell you that they are students practicing their English, can they try a short conversation with you? They speak English pretty well, you compliment them. They smile and are VERY nice. Often a young couple - the woman will fawn on you and describe her companion as a 'friend' or her 'brother'. I even mistook some of them as prostitutes - they're not. They have legitimate jobs - steering you blocks or even miles away into their stores. And they'll follow you and work on you for an hour or more. Seriously. Once burned, though - you know what's coming and politely brush them off. No harm done - they smile and move on to the next tourista.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Tin]

Tin: Your tips are also welcomed. Thanks. As for visiting the Forbidden City, does it really take half a day if foreigners are not allowed inside buildings? As for having a fast 35mm lens, I like my tiny Canon 35mm/1.8 lens. I forgot to mention above that I use it often in trips.

No body is allowed inside the buildings in the Forbidden City. That rule is not made for foreigners alone.

Your Canon 35/1.8 would be a very useful general purpose lens for that environment. In most cases, the buildings inside the Forbidden City, while large in size, are separated from the adjacent buildings by large courtyards. So a 35mm is quite adequate for capturing those buildings for documentary purposes (except for the arched gateways). You only need the 25mm or the 21mm for creating contrasts in perspectives, etc.

As for length of visits, you probably need only a couple of hours if you simply walk through with the stream of tourists. But if you want to stop often to take pictures from various angle and locations, you should plan on half a day. Further, in front of the front entrance there are many vendors and artisans showing off their crafts. So if you wish to take some people pictures, you may wish to spend some time there too.

Tin

 

[Tin]

Tin: Your tips are also welcomed. Thanks. As for visiting the Forbidden City, does it really take half a day if foreigners are not allowed inside buildings? As for having a fast 35mm lens, I like my tiny Canon 35mm/1.8 lens. I forgot to mention above that I use it often in trips.

Another reason for lingering for a longer time period is to allow yourself the opportunity to contemplate on the long history of China as represented by the Forbidden City.

Spend some time to read up on the history of China before your trip, and you can enjoy more while you are there.

BTW, the museum inside the Forbidden City desn't have a lot of displays. The best collection of artifacts from the Forbidden City is found in the Museum of the Imperial Palace (this is not necessarily the official English name of that museum) in Taipei, Taiwan.

Tin

 

[RicardoD]

I go to Shenzhen (near Hong Kong) a couple a times a year and the pollution in China in the major cities is real bummer. You will be fighting constant overcast skies and the brown haze. Or perhaps that is just a Shenzhen thing but my colleagues at work who have been to the other cities have reported similar situation in their visits to Tianjin which is near Beijing.

That being said my last trip to China is what started my search for a small, good, fast lens, digital camera. They don't exist so now I have jumped both feet into this rangefinder business and I have realized that I will be using my rangefinders for so much more. I am actually looking forward to my next trip because of this which is surprising cause my China trips have very little "vacation" time built in.

See if you can pick up some of that Shantou Era B&W film that Bill Mattocks is importing at the local prices and just shoot away. 😀

Share your photos upon your return!

 

[Taipei-metro]

They are not street vendors - they are friendly people who just wander up and strike up a conversation. They tell you that they are students practicing their English, can they try a short conversation with you? They speak English pretty well, you compliment them. They smile and are VERY nice. Often a young couple - the woman will fawn on you and describe her companion as a 'friend' or her 'brother'. I even mistook some of them as prostitutes - they're not. They have legitimate jobs - steering you blocks or even miles away into their stores. And they'll follow you and work on you for an hour or more. Seriously. Once burned, though - you know what's coming and politely brush them off. No harm done - they smile and move on to the next tourista.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Bill,
Are you sure you're not visiting Tijuana?
True that some overly 'warm' people will try to strike conversation w 'white' people to practice English, most of the time they're harmless, this is a country of 1.3 billion and almost w one race, the 'Han' people, most of them have yet to meet any foreigners.
If Mr. Amid is Anglo maybe he has more chance of being swampped.
I'm from Taiwan, my Mandarin(Kuo-yu, or Putonghua) has Taiwanese accent.
"From Taiwan? So how is Taiwan? lots of banana there?...'

 

[clarence]

I'm from Taiwan, my Mandarin(Kuo-yu, or Putonghua) has Taiwanese accent.
"From Taiwan? So how is Taiwan? lots of banana there?...'

Plenty of bananas further down south.

Clarence

 

[Taipei-metro]

The National Palace Museum in Taipei is undergoing major renovation and is at the moment only showing a limited selection. Works are scheduled to end June of this year. For info, go to http://www.npm.gov.tw/renovation/index_e.htm. It's an impressive museum, but not worth a trip from Beijing only to go see it.

Mr. Amin,
Even under renovation, The NPM in Taipei has a lot to see.
Back in 1949, the old Generalisimo Chiang Kei-shek move a huge amount of the Chinese artifacts from Nanking( old capital of China) to Taipei, rumor has it, if one museum exhibition last 3 months, it'll take 100 years to see all the artifacts. An unbroken recorded culture of 5,000 years is, phenomenon.
It is worth to visit Taipei just for the Museum, IF you're interested in these 'old Chinese stuff'. Chiang will be tried as 'war criminal' if captured by Chinese Communist just for this single act of 'unauthorized removal' of national treasures, of course, he is the guy who's in charge of the Chinese Army back in WW-II, so he kinda order himself to do so.
The revovation will end in 7-2006, and will give you a free pass for next visit if you came before July.
Bring 4x5, 6x6, 35mm, Dslrs or Leica Panasonic digitals or your newly acquired Natura if you can. 28 and 35 are best choice.
Have a great trip.
You know that Qin-hai, Tabet, Singjiang they all belong to China, so hop on the newly built train from Chendu to Lahsa(3650 m)...enjoy your trip!

 

[Taipei-metro]

Plenty of bananas further down south.

Clarence

So you are from Taiwan too?
I studied in California for a few years, Taiwan has about 100 more choice of fruits then California.
Loong-gan, Leechee, Sei-ja (from Taidong), how about 'fire dragon fruit'...exotica...

 

[clarence]

So you are from Taiwan too?
I studied in California for a few years, Taiwan has about 100 more choice of fruits then California.
Loong-gan, Leechee, Sei-ja (from Taidong), how about 'fire dragon fruit'...exotica...

Hello,

No, I'm from Singapore. I haven't tried Sei-ja, and I don't like dragon-fruit, but I like Long-yan and lychee.

Raid, you must eat lots of proper Chinese food while you're there. Nothing outside of Beijing can offer Beijing (Peking) cuisine as good as the capital itself. I don't know if there are available sources of halal food in that part of China though.

Clarence

 

[Taipei-metro]

'Peiking roast duck' from 'Chung-ju-te' restaurant in Beijing. YES, expensive, after having the duck you can died without regret.
The old Mr. Georgr Bush's favorite when he was the US to China ambasedor, and of course he told President Bush to try the duck when visiting Hu Jen-tao. He did and no Texas BBQ can match the duck...
Now you need a 24.

 

[Hamster]

I have lived in BJ for 2 years, I would suggested the following choice of gear:

50mm, something really FAST!!!

What you will find in BJ is that the place is very congested, also when shooting on the streets, you will find a lot of electrical wires in the wrong places that will screw up your composition, so 35mm and wider will be difficult to use.

Also Hutongs, ChanganDaJie/TienAnMen area and the area around Hou Hai are very nice for photo shooting at night, I have had good results with a Takumar 50/1.4 lens for street scene with good results.

Wides

For wide angle shots in Forbidden City etc, I would say forget it and buy a post card, you will understand when you are actually there. And for going to the Greal wall, you really need something medium format, reason being that the great wall is not really that grand but it is really long, which also means it is very important to compress perspective. On the other hand, if you have tilt/shift lens, then bring it, you won't be disappointed. One more thing on the great wall, try to get a few people together and go to the wall at HuangHua (it is a bit of a trek but it was worth it!!! I have gone 3 times even though I am not a touristy type.), not only is it cheaper (you only pay the random farmer here and there), it is also a lot more authentic. Whatever you do don;t go to BaDaLing!!!!!!! I SAY AGAIN NO GO BADALING!!!!

Teles

A 85mm is can be useful, but I would suggest instead of bringing a megabuck lens, you should buy a Seagull TLR whilst loco ~300RMB/50US for the 75mm perspective, I thinks using a Seagull whilst in Beijing adds to the experiance.

By far the most important factor in photography in Beijing is the Choice of Camera, light conditions changes very rapidly, especally in the Hutongs, this is because the trees are in full leaf in summer and the shadows from buildings. You want something small, easy to change shutter speed, and inconspicious and quick to use. Light conditions changes at every corner and there are lots of corners!!

In summary, for Beijing, I would suggets the following kit:

For daytime:
35mm compact camera, small, inconspcious, quick to chages shutter speed, perferbly something suitable for zone focus.
TLR

For nightime:
Something that can mount a fast 50mm.

There is a camera market in beijing, about 1.5 km north of WuKeSong subway, on the right hand side just past the canal. Films are cheap and imported stuff are available at reasonable prices, as for camera gear, if you buy new, they sellers are fairly reasonable, good choice of russian optics tooo but check everything you buy throughtly. Stay away from the second hand gear at this market, I would say there is only one or two honest used camera sellers there.

And stay away from the friendly practise english people, especially in forbidden city and near HuangFuJiang. They also pray on local Chinese tourist so don't worry about being special.

I have hosted a lot of my friends coming to visit Beijing so you are welcome to PM me if you want to know more, I only left 3 months ago so my info are still quite current.

BTW my favourite photo of my time in beijing was a polaroid that I paid 10RMB to get taken, very kitsch but sums up the place perfectly!!
Good luck.

 

[bmattock]

Bill,
Are you sure you're not visiting Tijuana?
True that some overly 'warm' people will try to strike conversation w 'white' people to practice English, most of the time they're harmless, this is a country of 1.3 billion and almost w one race, the 'Han' people, most of them have yet to meet any foreigners.
If Mr. Amid is Anglo maybe he has more chance of being swampped.
I'm from Taiwan, my Mandarin(Kuo-yu, or Putonghua) has Taiwanese accent.
"From Taiwan? So how is Taiwan? lots of banana there?...'

I agree that they are harmless - no danger at all. I didn't mean that. I meant that they are all 'steerers' - they have a job, and that job is to steer you to a local shop, where you'll be trapped and guilted into buying something. They ask you if you like art. If you say yes, they say oh follow me, I will show you my friend's gallery, just one block over, he has many awards and will be doing a show in America soon.

I'm sorry, but that was my experience when I was there. They were everywhere, and as soon as I shook one group off, another would approach. Nice people, all of them. I never felt I was in danger.

I've been to Tiajuana many times - this is not at all the same. The pushers in TJ stand outside the bars and shops and yell and cajole and try to lure you in. These kids in Beijing go way away from the shops - miles, even - and seek out westerners to engage in conversation. Sorry, but what is, is.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[wtl]

No tipping.


Bill Mattocks

A lot of good advice there, only you DO tip in China today. Most Americans go by the old school teaching that no tip is needed for Chinese. But most Chinese today do tip, especially the younger ones. Taxi drivers earn very little, if at all, and most of them run the business by commisions they make so do tip them. Mostof them can't afford insurance for their vehicles for when they broke down, most of them have to scrap their funitures or whatever they have at home to get the vehicle repaired. So give them a break.

Regarding the lens for Forbidden City, chances are you won't need f2 at all. You are most likely use f8 and smaller. But fast lens in hand is always good.

Beijing is a big city and has a lot of exciting places to visit and hangout.

Don't be a typical American tourist. Be respectful and sensitive to the culture and the people. Chinese are extremely friendly and helpful, but only if you respect them. I am sure you already know that.

Have fun.

 

[ywenz]

Be sure to hit up the good eateries!

I'm jealous.. but I plan on being in China for a month this fall..

 

[Robin Harrison]

I'd like to second the comments about the Chinese being helpful and friendly, but beware that they arw sometimes too eager to help! When I was in China and desperate for directions, asking a local almost always resulted in a helpful pointed finger, but that direction often turned out to be bogus! Now some of this can be attributed to language problems, but generally I think they would rather guess at helping you than not helping at all.

I would also back up Bill's suggestion about the hotel cards. They say in English and Mandarin: "I am staying at this hotel, please drive me here", and I literally couldn't have got by without them in Shanghai!

As for gear, I took a CL with 21/40/90 lenses, shooting Tri-X/Acros and found it a pretty unbeatble combo. I'm hopefully off to Peru this autumn, and despitre having more cameras/lenses at my disposal now, I don't think I would vere from this combo. Check out the results at www.robincharrison.com/china .