추석 in Seoul (part 2)

My second and third days in Seoul were as awesome as the first.  During these days, I visited some traditional areas and some of the modern areas of the city.  The following are some of the highlights, in my (not-so-) humble opinion.


Hwa-seong (화성)

Hwa-seong is a fortress.  It is located in the central part of Suwon (수원), a city accessible by the Seoul metro.  Apparently, one of the Korean kings thought the capital should be moved from Seoul to Suwon.  He ordered the construction of a fortress wall to surround Suwon.  The wall was built, but the king died and the capital was never moved from Seoul.  Today, the wall is a UNESCO world heritage site, along with its many gates, signal stations and observation turrets.  In my view, it's as imposing as the fortress of Québec city.

One of the entrances of Hwa-seong fortress

The fortress wall, with the city of Suwon in the background.

Yin and yang symbols on the inside of the fortress wall.

Painting on the roof of one of the fortress gates.

In-wang-san (인왕산)

In-wang-san is a mountain located in the northern part of Seoul.  On this mountain, there is a neighbourhood that is known as a Shamanist village.  The village is interesting for a number of reasons.  First of all, the streets there are very narrow, too narrow for cars.  In fact, they can more accurately be described as staircases than streets, staircases that climb up In-wang-san.  Secondly, there are a number of Buddhist shamanist shrines in the village.  One of them is like other Buddhist temples that I have visited.  Another is an unusually eroded rock that appears to have been deposited on the mountain by a glacier.  Thirdly, it is possible to climb to the top of In-wang-san after walking through this village.  The view of Seoul from the top of the mountain is spectacular.  The mountain itself is also quite interesting, as there are many large boulders on it, boulders that I think could fall down the mountain at some point in the future.

A street in the Shamanist village.

The view of Seoul from the top of In-wang-san.

Boulders on In-wang-san.

Gyeong-bok-gung (경복궁)

Gyeong-bok-gung is one of the palaces of the former royal families of Korea.  It is located in the northern part of Seoul, a kilometer or two north of Seoul city hall, in front of two gorgeous mountains.  Leading up to the palace's main gate is a walkway featuring a statue of King Sejeon The Great (세종대왕), one of Korea's most respected kings.  Perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the introduction of the Korean writing system, Han-gul (한글).  A little further south, there is a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin (이순신), who was instrumental in repelling an invasion of Korea by the Japanese in the late 1500's.  He is credited with the invention of the turtle ship.

The statue of Admiral Yi, with Gyeong-bok-gung in the background.

The entrance of Gyeong-bok-gung.

Close-up of the statue of Admiral Yi.

Miniature replica of a turtle ship.

Cheong-gye-cheon (청계천)

This is a stream running through downtown Seoul.  Until recently, it ran through a culvert underneath the city. The current president of Korea, when he was still mayor of Seoul, undertook to restore the stream to a more natural state.  Cheong-gye-cheon is gorgeous!  I particularly appreciated the contrast between the natural greenery of the stream and the urban landscape of the city.  One criticism...  It seems to me that the area surrounding the stream has been overly americanized.  It would be nice if more Korean shops and restaurants were located there.

A view of Cheong-gye-cheon.

Another view of Cheong-gye-cheon.

Buildings beside Cheong-gye-cheon.

More buildings beside Cheong-gye-cheon.

Hong-ik University (홍익대학교)

This is an art school located north of the Han river, but west of Seoul city hall.  Restaurants and bars in the vicinity of the university don't seem to have a closing time.  There's something for everyone near Hong-ik University.  Dance bars, pubs, jazz, hardcore indie rock, cuisine from all over the world...