The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower framed by Cherry Blossoms

This photo of the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower was taken from the garden surrounding the tower, looking up through a frame of cherry blossoms. To get here, take Line 2 to Lujiazui Station. Head west on Fenghei Rd, head through the roundabout, and walk straight until you read the gardens surrounding the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower. I positioned myself in the gardens directly south of the tower.

In order to view the tower through the frame of cherry blossoms, you'll need to visit when the short-lived flowers are blooming. This is generally between late March and early April.

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower is an amazing sight anytime of day, but in order to capture the multi-colored glowing lights that radiate from the tower, you'll need to visit at night.

Make sure to bring a tripod in order to stabilize your shot — this is essential for clear night photography.

When composing your shot, try using the cherry blossoms or trees in the surrounding garden to create a natural framing device for your image.

Experiment with various depths of field to change the focus in your photo. In my image, I kept the focus on the building in the background, but it would also make an interesting shot to blur out the tower and focus on the blossoms instead.

The Bund, directly across the Huangpu River, is Shanghai's historic, 1,500-meter-long waterside promenade with incredible views of the city skyline.