Autumn is, IMHO, the most spectacular of Korea’s four seasons. The entire nation is awash with vibrant colors, be it the cloudless blue sky, the yellow of the ginkgo trees, or the fiery red of the maple leaves. Anyway, I shot a couple of photos today as I was walking around Samcheong-dong, which — with its abundance of hanok houses and ginkgo trees and proximity to the Gyeongbok Palace and Cheong Wa Dae — may be the best spot in Seoul to appreciate the fall scenery.
This would be the doldam-gil, or "stone-wall road," that runs alongside Samcheong-dong Street. The wall, of course, belongs to the Gyeongbok Palace. The doldam-gil is lined with ginkgo trees, so if you want to take in the falling ginkgo leaves, this would be the place to do it. If you follow the road up, you come to Cheong Wa Dae.
This, of course, is the obligatory pic of the Hyangwon Pavilion, which sits in the middle of an artificial pond located in the back of the Gyeongbok Palace. Nice, ain’t it? For the history buffs:
To the far north on the palace grounds sits Hyangwon-jeong, an attractive hexagonal pavilion surrounded by a lotus pond. When King Kojong had Hyangwon-jeong built in 1867, he had a pond dug to the south of it and the pavilion built on an island in the pond. Hyangwon-jeong was originally connected to the north shore of the pond by a bridge named Ch’wihyang-gyo and the King enjoyed strolling across it to the pavilion. Visitors are not allowed on the bridge or to the pavilion. Instead, they must content themselves with the serene view. This is one of the most painted and photographed places in Korea.
And, in fact, two guys were painting it when I took the photo.
Just a little fall foliage near the Jeongdok Library, the former site of Kyunggi High School. Nice place to go for a stroll.
Here are some more photos for your viewing pleasure:
3 Comments
I love November in Seoul. I used to love October but now I prefer November. Not sure why, but it seems to be getting warmer in October? Maybe it’s me.
I’m missing the Korean autumn right now. Texas may be a fine state with proud residents but, come on, how does 90 degree heat with 80% humidity compare to a crisp fall day anywhere in Kyonggido? I used to find excuses to make trips over to CRC when I was at Camp Essayons in Uijongbu and just walk trough the city instead. I remember one day when the round trip took four hours. I’ll never forget my squad leader’s expression when I got back. “Traffic was bad” is all I said. LOL
I love that picture in your title, Marmot! I’ve been to Gyeongbokgung four times, now, but the only time I remembered to take a picture of that pavilion was a day where the area was walled off for construction.