A traveler visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xi’an wanted to rent Hanfu (汉服, Hànfú), hire a photographer for two or three hours, and find the best locations without spending the whole day walking around in costume.
The Traveler’s Question
Hi. We would like to hire Hanyu costume and also photographer if it’s not cost too much for 2–3 hours.
Where are the 2 best places to take photo shots with less walking (don’t want to walk around whole day in costume)?
Beijing (temple of heaven), Shanghai (?), Chengdu (?), Xian (Bell tower)?
How to book? Any affordable recommendation on Klook, Trip?
We can’t speak Mandarin. Any tips appreciated. Thanks.
AI Travel Planner Answers
For a 2–3 hour Hanfu photoshoot with minimal walking, I would choose Beijing and Xi’an from those four cities. They give you the strongest traditional Chinese backgrounds without needing to spend an entire day moving around in costume.
Beijing — Temple of Heaven: This would be my first choice. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests gives you an unmistakably Chinese imperial setting, and Hanfu works beautifully against its architecture. Ask the photographer to plan one compact shooting area, rather than walking through the whole park. Early morning is preferable for cooler temperatures and fewer people. The Temple of Heaven also has real cultural meaning: it was where emperors performed rituals connected with harmony between Heaven, nature and society.
Xi’an — I’d choose the City Wall area rather than the Bell Tower itself. The Bell Tower is attractive, particularly illuminated at night, but its busy road setting makes relaxed portrait photography less convenient. Xi’an’s historic architecture and city wall provide a much stronger “ancient capital” atmosphere for Hanfu.
Chengdu would be my third choice if you prefer something softer and more relaxed; traditional gardens or historic-style settings can work nicely. Shanghai would be my fourth choice for Hanfu specifically. Shanghai is excellent for photography, but its strongest visual identity is the Bund, historic international architecture and the modern skyline—great photographs, just a different story.
For booking, I wouldn’t limit the search to Klook or Trip.com. Hanfu photography is extremely popular domestically, so local studios may offer a package including costume rental + hair/makeup + photographer + retouched photographs. Search Chinese platforms for terms such as 汉服写真 (Hanfu portrait photography), 汉服旅拍 (Hanfu travel photography) and the city name. Before paying, confirm exactly how many hours, costumes, edited photos and original files are included, plus whether attraction tickets/transport are extra.
Since you don’t speak Mandarin, that’s still quite manageable—show the studio example photos of the style you want and have your hotel help with any difficult communication. You certainly don’t need a guide simply for this. If photography is important, I’d spend the money on a good photographer and hair/makeup, rather than trying to arrange shoots in all four cities.
One practical point: July can be very hot, especially in elaborate Hanfu. I’d book an early-morning session, keep it to 2–3 hours, and choose one location per session. That will be much more enjoyable than trying to squeeze several landmarks into the costume rental.
Further Reading
Beijing Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Getting Around & Smart Day Trips for First-Time Visitors
Read the article: https://chinatravelbug.com/beijing-travel-guide-where-to-stay-getting-around-smart-day-trips-for-first-time-visitors/
Useful for planning the Beijing portion around your photoshoot without adding unnecessary travel.
ChinaTravelBUG Editorial Note
The AI Travel Planner answer above is published unedited as part of our AI Travel Planner Answers series.
This traveler question originally appeared in an online China travel community. Personal identifying details have been omitted.
Prices, photography packages, attraction rules, opening hours and booking arrangements can change. Check current information with the attraction, photographer, studio or booking platform before paying.
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