When shooting the city skyline at Huacheng Square in Guangzhou, the following recommended locations and tips can help you capture the most representative images:

Pertama, the core shooting location

The central axis of Huacheng Square

Recommendation reason: As a core node of Guangzhou’s new central axis, the square offers a great opportunity to capture the symmetrical skyline formed by the Canton Tower and the East and West Towers, known as the “twin stars”. The geometric patterns laid on the ground of the square form a visual extension effect with the architectural lines, which is suitable for shooting panoramic views with wide-angle lenses.

The best time: from dusk to the blue hour (30 minutes after sunset), when the sky gradually turns bluish-purple, creating a contrast of warmth and coolness with the building lights.

Haixinsha Asian Games Park

Recommendation reason: The park and Huacheng Square face each other across the river, offering a perspective where the reflection of the Pearl River and the skyline are in the same frame. You can find a low camera position along the riverside walkway and use the water surface as the foreground to enhance the layering of the picture.

Equipment suggestion: Use a telephoto lens to compress the space and highlight the curve of the “little waist” of the Canton Tower. Polarizing filters reduce reflection on the water surface.

The steps of the Guangzhou Opera House

Recommendation reason: The streamlined building of the Grand Theatre, designed by Zaha Hadid, forms a dialogue between modern art and urban landscape with the skyline. The steps offer a height difference, allowing you to avoid the crowd and capture the integration of the building’s outline with the skyline.

Composition technique: Utilize the curved glass of the grand theatre to reflect the skyline lights, enhancing the interest of the picture.

Kedua, shooting techniques and parameters

Time choice

In the early morning, one hour after sunrise, the sky gradually brightens but the building lights are still on. You can capture the contrast between warm and cool tones.

Night: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 20:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays at 15:00/20:00. When the musical fountain is activated, a dynamic skyline is captured in conjunction with a light show.

Equipment parameters

Tripod: Stable long exposure shooting, capturing the light trails of traffic or the water mist of fountains.

Filter: Gradient gray filter balances the light ratio between the sky and the ground. The exposure time of the medium gray density mirror is extended to 10-30 seconds to make the sense of cloud flow more obvious.

Bracketing exposure: ±3 stops for HDR synthesis, preserving highlights details (such as the lighting of the Canton Tower) and dark textures (such as the building facade).

Creative composition

Foreground elements: Add fountain mist, petals or silhouettes of figures to enhance the story-telling quality of the picture.

Upward shooting Angle: Use a low camera position in the square green space to capture the skyline with trees as the frame, highlighting the height of the buildings.

Time-lapse photography: Capturing the gradual change of lights from dusk to night, and then compositing dynamic video in post-production.

Ketiga, practical information

Angkutan: Take Metro Line 3 or 5 to Zhujiang New Town Station. Exit B1 leads directly to Huacheng Square.

Surrounding facilities: There are direct drinking water points, convenience stores and shared power banks in the square, which is convenient for long-term photography.

Safety tip: When shooting at night, be aware that the fountain area on the square ground is slippery and avoid approaching areas by the river without guardrails.