Kaiyuan Temple East and West Pagodas, Quanzhou

Kaiyuan Temple in Licheng District, Quanzhou, in southern Fujian, China, is famous for its East and West Pagodas, two stone pagodas that stand in the temple's large courtyard and are among the tallest historic stone pagodas in China. The temple is located on Xi Street in Quanzhou, a city whose historic port and heritage sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing 'Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China'. For photographers, the frame offers two symmetrical octagonal stone towers rising above tiled temple roofs and ancient trees, with carved reliefs and guardian figures on the pagoda faces. A wide-angle lens captures the pagodas together from the courtyard, while a telephoto lens isolates carved details and the upper storeys. Light is best in the late afternoon, when warm low sun falls on the grey stone and brings out the carving; in the evening, illumination at night can give a second set of images with the towers lit against a deep blue sky. Morning light can be flatter on some faces of the pagodas, and midday sun is harsh. October to April offers cooler, clearer weather, while summer is hot, humid and often rainy. The temple is a working religious site and a popular visitor attraction, so crowds are largest on weekends, holidays and at midday; arriving soon after opening or near closing gives a calmer courtyard for composing wide shots. Tripods may be restricted inside the temple and visitors are expected to be respectful of worshippers, so it is worth asking staff before setting one up. Drones are generally prohibited over heritage buildings in a dense city centre. An entrance ticket is normally required for the temple, with the price set locally and subject to change. Restrooms and refreshments are available nearby in the old town around Xi Street. A polarising filter helps deepen the sky and reduce glare on the pale stone.