Glints at the City’s Corner – Beijing, China

Title of the Artwork: Glints at the City’s Corner – Beijing, China

Printing Process: ILFORD MULTIGRADE IV RC photo paper, hand-printed using silver halide process

Artwork Dimensions: Height 9.5 in, Width 12 in (the artwork is in perfect condition)

Artist’s Reflection

Standing by the moat, I looked up at the ancient turret nestled at the corner of Beijing’s old city walls. When I pressed the shutter, it felt as if time stood still. Black-and-white film stripped away the noise of modern life, leaving behind only pure form—lines, light, shadow, and structure. The turret, with its flying eaves and tiered rooftops, cast a mirror-like reflection on the water, like an image from a classical scroll painting.

I chose a frontal composition to highlight the solemn symmetry and quiet dignity of this Ming Dynasty structure. On the day I photographed it, drifting clouds softened the sky, enhancing the turret’s depth and stillness—echoing the gentle presence of history etched into the fabric of the city.

Background Story

The Corner Tower of the Forbidden City in Beijing was constructed during the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty. It marks the highest point of each corner of the imperial palace and served both as a lookout post and as part of the defensive system. More than that, it is considered a pinnacle of ancient Chinese architectural artistry. With three layers of eaves, nine main beams, eighteen supporting columns, and seventy-two ridges, its intricate and symmetrical design exemplifies the brilliance and aesthetics of Ming craftsmanship.

In ancient times, the turret was both a sentry post and a vantage point from which to survey the capital. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic images of the Forbidden City. Perched at the edge of the fortress wall and reflected in the still waters of the moat, it bears silent witness to the rise and fall of dynasties—and the enduring quietude of the present. A thousand years of grandeur, distilled into this corner of the city.