From American Cinematographer, A Chinese Epic- On a Less-Than-Epic Budget by Patricia Thomson (December 1999)
"Chinese architecture in the olden days was constructed with such aesthetics in mind, with an emphasis on symmetrical balance. When you're shooting a film and looking for the best angle, it's probably the symmetrical one. That was also the best way to convey the elegance and general milieu of the palace."
- Zhao Fei, cinematographer of The Emperor and the Assassin