Beijing Ancient Costume Photo Studio Review: From Ordinary Girl to...Well, You'll See!
Hey everyone! It's me again, the girl who did a 6-day, 5-night solo trip to 4 locations in China. Hopefully, the admin isn't tired of my short reviews and random clips.
Picture this: a crisp spring morning in Beijing, with sunshine so beautiful it felt like a poem. At 8 AM sharp, my friend and I hopped in a Didi (think Grab, but in Chinese, and just as confusing to use) to the Forbidden City. All I could think was: "Time to transform into a royal sister!"
Inspiration Strikes
Where did this idea come from? A TikToker's viral review, of course, boasting over 100k likes!
The Adventure Begins
From Donghuamen, we biked 600m to Wangfu Century - apparently, a hotspot for ancient costume photo studios. As soon as we arrived, a sales guy zoomed out and grabbed us like it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Instinctively, I haggled, and surprisingly, he gave us an even better deal than the price in the review clip. It felt like I was shopping at Ben Thanh Market!
Make-up and Outfit Mishaps (Maybe?)
I chose to be Xiao Yan Zi, but the final result looked more like a young Rong Mama (let's just say there was a slight disappointment). But honestly, the make-up at all the studios in this area is pretty similar - a slightly too "retro" style. So, my tip is to bring your own make-up and ask the artist to use it for you. Oh, and I heard you can book a handsome male make-up artist in advance, so if you're interested, book early!
The Studio Experience
The studio is located on B1, number B1-22, exactly as shown in the video. As soon as we entered, they showed us hairstyle and dress options, and asked straight away: "Do you want to be a Gege or a Guang Houz?" After 30 minutes of make-up (powder, eyeliner, lashes, hair), we were transformed. Ideally, you change clothes before make-up, but hey, we all have those first-time blunders.
Photo Shoot Location
Our guide led us to the main entrance, added us on WeChat, and took us straight to a tall, handsome photographer waiting at the Donghuamen gate.
Important note: Photographers aren't allowed inside the Forbidden City, so we shot in the park opposite (entrance fee is 2 yuan) or at the Temple of Heaven. Any photos inside the Forbidden City were selfies. The stunning photos were taken in the park with the help of Photoshop and amazing sunshine.
The Real Value
The best thing was the incredible enthusiasm of the whole team!
- The sales guy was super attentive, from WeChat messages to seeing us off, asking about every little detail.
- The photographer always asked if we were happy with the photos, if we wanted to retake any. Even though the sun was harsh, and our faces were scrunching up, he kept saying "Mei shi mei shi" (no problem!).
I recommended Beijing to my friend yesterday, and they upgraded her package to the VIP version, with a 30-minute shoot turning into 1.5 hours. He's been messaging me all morning asking if my friend is happy, which is actually quite touching. My friend confirmed that she was extremely happy, and her photos were even better than mine (seriously!), so I'm writing this review as a thank you.
The Price
So, how much did it cost? 550 yuan for two people! Full combo:
- Gege style ancient costume
- Professional photoshoot
- 30 original photos each, over 1.2GB in size (plenty for editing and posting for ages!)
Get in Touch
If you want to go, inbox me now and I'll give you the sales guy's WeChat (the one wearing the hat in the clip) so you can:
- Haggle freely - mention you're my friend for a better price
- Book in advance, specify the locations and number of photos you want
- Choose your outfits remotely
- Book a handsome photographer or make-up artist (I can recommend some privately, with photos, haha)
- Discuss the best angles with the photographer beforehand [WeChat translates automatically, so just type in Vietnamese]
In Conclusion
The studio isn't amazing because of its décor or make-up; it's amazing because of the service.
5 stars for the "one step transformation - photos for a lifetime" experience!
More of an ad than a review, because I genuinely think it's worth it!
My photos are at the end of the post. Tell me if I look like Xiao Yan Zi or just a Gen Z version of Rong Mama =))
