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The Forbidden City Corner Tower at sunset

故宫角楼

The most-posted Beijing photo on RedNote. Is it worth the crowd? Yes — if you get the timing right.

The northeast Corner Tower reflected in the palace moat is Beijing’s most-shared photo spot. Chinese travellers call it a must-shoot, and for once the hype holds up: it is genuinely beautiful at golden hour.

Go on a clear day, 30 minutes before sunset, and stand on the east side of the moat along Beichizi Street. Weekends get a row of tripods by late afternoon — weekdays are easier.

It’s free and outside the ticketed area, so it pairs well with Jingshan Park across the road.

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