Seoul is an incredibly large city overflowing with culture. Even those who have lived in Seoul all of there life would be unable to discover all of the wonders it holds. So it goes without saying that it would be impossible to see all of Seoul in a single day. But occasionally schedules only permit visitors to stay in Seoul for a few days. For these short-term visitors we have put together some suggestions of things they should try to see in order to get the most out of their Seoul experience.
For visitors with only one day to spend in Seoul it¡¯s difficult to suggest where to go, but the area in Seoul with the most to see would have to be the downtown area. Specifically in downtown some must see locations for any short-term visitors would be Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Cheonggyecheon and Deoksugung Palace.
Start your tour at Gyeongbokgung Palace in the morning. Wander around the most magnificent of the ¡°Five Grand Palaces¡± of the Joseon kingdom. Spend sometime exploring the different parts of this incredibly large and beautiful structure, constructed by Jeongdo Jeon, a famous Korean architect, in 1394. Make sure to take care and read the posted signs to gain as much meaning from the individual buildings like Geunjeongjeon, the imperial throne room, or Gyeonghoeru Pavilion that stands on 48 granite pillars in an artificial lotus pond. If it interests you spend 30 or 40 minutes looking around the National Folk Museum of Korea located to the rear of the palace complex. As you walk around the back of the palace complex be sure to look towards the mountains and see Cheongwadae, the presidential residence, and compare and contrast the differences in the way Korean leaders have lived from the Joseon era until the present.
After finishing at Gyeongbokgung palace, take a short walk over to Insadong. Insadong, the largest market of traditional Korean art and cultural items, is ideal for visitors looking to see more of Korean culture. Wander around the alleyways and examine the antique stores, Korean stationary shops, frame stores, handicraft and pottery shops. As you wander down the street you will see a variety of restaurants that serve masterfully prepared traditional dishes and teas. Take a moment to choose one that seems just right for you and get a bite to eat. After finishing your meal continue down the road until you reach the Cheonggyecheon Stream. Walk along the banks of this revitalized stream. Listen to the sounds of the water and spend some time taking in the sights as well as visiting the various shopping establishments along the way. Stop to examine the modern sculptures and see how Seoul is adapting the new with the old and nature with man-made progress. Follow the lower half of the stream to the main road where you will turn and head towards Deoksugung Palace.
Walking down the street you will be walking amidst skyscrapers and city hall through one of the busiest parts of the beautiful metropolitan city of Seoul. Across from Seoul City Hall you will see Deoksugung Palace. Deoksugung Palace is also one of the ¡°Five Grand Palaces¡± of the Joseon era and is home to a special changing of the guard ceremony performed several times a day. Enjoy the ceremony and take photos to your hearts content before or after exploring the inside of the palace, the first place in Korea to feature Western architecture built during the latter part of the Joseon era.
Getting There:
Take the subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Palace station and begin your tour.
[Input: Jan.08, 2007, 13:30/Modified: Jun.30, 2008, 13:49]
Source : Tourism Promotion Division, Seoul Metropolitan Government
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