These Forbidden City Panoramic Pictures were taken using my Samsung Note on my whirlwind trip to the capital of China in October 2012. I had only two full days in Beijing, and among the places that I wanted to visit most were the Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.

There were no two ways about it. After I checked into the hotel and had a quick shut-eye for about five hours, the first thing on my mind was how I would get to this fantastic place. According to the Wahaha Hotel reception, a taxi cab was the best solution. Yes, that is the name of the hotel I was put up at by OptionTown, which gets you seat upgrades on AirAsia X flights.

Forbidden City

Back to the journey—A quick 10-minute taxi ride put me in front of the north entrance. The fare was a cool RMB10, which I found very cheap and comfortable. Walking into the main entrance, the first thing that welcomed me was a lovely lake with beautiful trees that looked like giant weeping willows.

After passing the lake and a 10-minute leisurely walk, a giant red temple-like structure suddenly welcomed me. Pulling out my Nikon DSLR to photograph it was frustrating, as the entire place could not fit into my lens. Then I remembered that the Samsung Note has a panoramic function.

The shots below are taken with my mobile phone in the best resolution. Please click on each picture to view the panoramic images in full size.

Forbidden City Panoramic Pictures

Two days was not enough to see Beijing, but due to my work schedule, I had an opportunity to visit and did it over the weekend. However, the next time, I will try to spend at least 4 to 5 days here. AirAsia X flies into Beijing daily, and with ongoing promotions, I know I can get some excellent prices on the flights for under RM1600 return.

You can also get the Premium Flatbed Seats or Empty Seat Option (ESO) from Optiontown. On a single visit, one can see the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, and some interesting places around Beijing.

Conclusion

For photographers, a word of advice – bring your wide-angle lenses, as some of the structures are humongous. Another tip is to visit the attractions early in the morning as fewer people are around.

I chose October simply because the weather was terrific. Blue skies and a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius were just perfect. There you go, and I hope you enjoy my Forbidden City panoramic pictures in Beijing, China.