Seoul is the capital of South Korea. Seoul has a long history stretching far back into Korea’s dynastic past. Filled with skyscrapers, street markets, palaces, and temples, Seoul is a buzzing hub of energy and enterprise mixed with tradition and serenity. In just 50 years, Seoul has grown to one of the world’s most modern and vibrant megacities and one of the hottest tourist destinations in Asia.
- The Han River
The Han River runs through the heart of the city. The river divides the city in two; the northern part of the city is a focal point for culture and history, while the southern part is well known for its business district.
- Gyeongbok Palace
This former seat of power is probably Korea’s most famous royal palace. It’s tough to miss given its location at the northern end of Seoul’s main boulevard, Sejongro, a stone’s throw from the Blue House (the President’s residence) and the U.S embassy. This was the first palace used by the Joseon Dynasty. Large parts have now been restored and the vast grounds also house the Joseon Palace Museum and the Korean Folk Museum. Give yourself at least an hour to stroll around the pavilions and halls within the palace’s spacious walled grounds.
3. Bukchon Village
It’s not hard to imagine the days of yore when you stroll through this utterly picturesque neighborhood. The neighborhood is also peppered with quaint cafés, art galleries and restaurants, including the popular Wood & Brick, which serves up divine lobster ravioli down the road from the Art Sonje Center gallery.
4. Gwanghwamun Square
Gwanghwamun Square is divided into six sections. Gwanghwamun Square is famous for its beauty after dark with the dramatically and colorfully illuminated statue of King Sejong and the 12·23 Fountain at its center.
5. War Memorial of Korea
Korea has been invaded about a gazillion times and this is the best place to learn about its troubled history, especially its relationships with its near neighbors. Though it calls itself a war memorial, this is really a huge military historymuseum ($3 admission), with tanks, planes and guns on display
- Mount Bukhan
Seoul offers many excellent opportunities for hiking. The mountains in Seoul are at most 800 m (3,000 ft), accessible by public transit and the trails range from easy to difficult. This place offers probably the best hiking opportunities in Seoul. It is in the north of Seoul and can be extremely crowded on holidays. To visit a popular area, take line 1 to Dobongsan station.
- Boramae Park
Formerly the site of the Korean Air Force Academy, which in 1986 turned into a park – Boramae, or hawk in English, symbolizes the Air Force. The size of the park is about 360,000 square meters and its sports facilities, a small zoo, a pond, and walking paths are well designed. The huge pond, which is 9,000 square meters, is surrounded by willow trees and benches, and people love to sit here. The pond is full of cool shades during the summer, and is spectacular when snow falls in the winter.
- N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower)
Once the tallest tower in Asia, it has the best panoramic view in all of Seoul. Many Seoulites and visitors have visited the tower to catch a glimpse of the city’s landscape while enjoying the nature of Namsan Mountain and a host of other attractive facilities. Owing to the tower’s unique structure, the observatory section boasts spectacular views of the changing foliage throughout all seasons. N
9. Deagakse Temple
Daegaksa is a Buddhist temple found in 1911 by Yongseong Seunim (1864~1940). Yongseong Seunim was one of the 33 citizen representatives in the March 1 Movement and an activist leader in establishing Korean independence. He also left a significant legacy in reforming modern Buddhism in Korea. In 1986, Daegaksa was demolished for reconstruction, and the current three-story temple is a traditional wooden building with a strong frame and good foundations. Its exterior was built to accommodate future expansions in keeping with modern Buddhist architecture.
10. Namdaemun Market
The Namdaemun market is seemingly open round-the-clock (though a few retailers close on Sunday) and is a fantastic place to pick up inexpensive clothing, housewares, fabrics, jewelry, accessories, toys, food, flowers, stationery and appliances. But it’s easy to get turned around here, as there are thousands of shops located in the 30 or so multistory buildings, not to mention an endless sprawl of street-vendor stalls.
Let’s take a trip to Seoul to experience the greatest things with your family and friends.
TRAVEL GUIDE TO SEOUL
No comments:
Post a Comment