We will be leaving soon for 2 weeks in Beijing, Xian, Shanghai - I have heard that<BR>in certain places cameras and camcorders are not allowed, such as the Terra Cotta Warriors and the Forbidden City. <BR><BR>Is this true or am I getting bad information?

It is true that they do not allow people to use their own cameras inside the Terracotta Warrior area (the actual site in which you can see the warriors is an enclosed area). Instead, they have a professional photographer who will take your picture and deliver it to your hotel in a few hours for a fee (I THINK it was maybe US 20???).<BR><BR>This is the ONLY place I can think of (other than inside museums, which is standard) that cameras aren't allowed. Most of the tour of the Forbidden City is outside, and cameras are allowed. The few buildings one is allowed to peek into are roped off, and tourists are allowed to take photos pointing into the rooms.<BR><BR>In some temples that are still being used cameras are not allowed (they are allowed in the Temple of Heaven, since it's not used on a daily basis as a temple anymore).<BR><BR>Have fun - and click away!

A few exhibition halls of Shanghai Museum do not allow people to use cameras at all. And in some other halls, you can take photos either freely or without flash.

I concur with the above. The Chinese are very strict with their no photo rules. When I was in Xian viewing the terracotta warriors, a Frenchman very discreetly clicked his camera...unfortunately, he was spotted and the guard took hin to the office where his film was stripped. Chinese are meticulous rule followers and expect others to follow suit....

Temujin,<BR>The Chinese may be strict where they have rules against taking photographs (such as the Terra Cotta Warrior site, where such rules are unambiguous, and the Frenchman was clearly breaking them). However, as Andrea and Ricky said above, the rules are the exception.<BR>On my trips to China, I was able to freely use my camera everyplace I wanted to, except the TCW site, and at Guilin airport, where a policeman stopped me from photographing a group of MIGs lined up on the runway (even then, he just asked me to stop - he didn't take my camera or film).

For what it's worth-I was in China in June 2000 and at the Terra Cotta Warrior site, flash bulbs were very visible throughout the warehouse enclosing the army. Our guide had cautioned us that flash cameras were forbidden and strictly enforced, but no one seemed to pay any attention. Even I gave in to the temptation and was very disappointed in the results, as the building is huge and lighting is quite poor. The post cards in the gift shop are so much better. I'm not sure about using video cameras--just remember all the flashes. <BR>

Went to China 3 years ago and never had a problem with taking pictures except for the terracotta soldiers and a couple of the temples that were still in use. At one of these our guide showed us how to get a photo of a giant budah that was a no no just by moving a few feet around a corner. I found the Chinese people wonderful about letting me photo them. I "only" shot 14 rolls of viedo and my husband "only" shot 54 rolls of 36 exposure film. With the viedo I was able to take photos that otherwise could not be taken just by starting to pan from a distant point and work my camera angle around to the shot I really wanted. Have a wonderful time. We did and are planning on going back either this year or next.

Hi, <BR> <BR>i'm a photo.pro.. don't worry about <BR>taking pictures anywhere! it's allowed <BR>in Xi an and at the forbidden city. <BR>I just returned and never had a problem <BR>and didn't have to show any credentials <BR>ever.Not in Temples however

Just returned from China and took pictures everywhere including at the Terracotta warriors. Our guide advised it was not a problem and people were snapping everywhere, even right beside the guards. We never even saw a professional photographer or the suggestion of one to take our pictures. Nobody was even sneaking around. I think we have a picture with the guard in it. Definitely a non-issue.

Occasionally (1994) a soldier or policeman would gesture to tell me not to take a picture of him, but if you are smart about it, you can do it. Just have someone stand in front of your subject, pretending to be the real subject, and then zoom in to capture the real subject. I use this method for candids all the time.