April's Main Article

Flower Festivals and Nature

Spring Flowers and Greenery in Seoul

Seoul's spring flower festivals are one of many reasons to look forward to springtime in Seoul. April in the city means fragrant flowers are blossoming everywhere, and bright greenery abounds after a cold winter. Enjoy the city's greenery and visit Seoul's colorful flower festivals in April.

Yeouido Spring Flower Festivals

Yeouido is Seoul's financial district, and it's also home to the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival. For 2017, the festival will take place from April 1st through April 9th. Yeouido bursts with flowers during the springtime as there are tens of thousands of blooms here. Flowers aren't the only attraction at the Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival; there will be live concerts, group walks, a basketball event, arts events, and other events and fun activities to join.

Visitors who want to get away from the bustle of the festival may want to visit the nearby Yeouido Hangang Park. The festival takes place along a stretch of Yeouiseo-ro, the road that runs behind the National Assembly building. Walk away from the start of Yeouiseo-ro, and after a few minutes the park will be visible. Yeouido Hangang Park has beautiful views of the Hangang River and lots of green space. Situated in the middle of the Yeouido neighborhood, the park is one of Seoul's most popular and well-known public spaces.

Seonyudo Park is located just a short distance away from Yeouido Hangang Park and it's well worth a visit. Because the park is a small island in the Han River, it's especially nice to visit during the warmer months of the year. Seonyudo Park was once the site of a water filtration plant and the plant was closed down and converted into the park that thrives today. Due to its history, the park's aesthetic is a unique mix of the industrial and the natural and it's one of Seoul's best parks.

Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival

Seokchon Lake is encircled by over 1000 cherry blossom trees and when the trees are in bloom, it's truly breathtaking. There is an annual cherry blossom festival that takes place in April, and the festival's dates for the 2017 Lake Seokchon Cherry Blossom Festival are April 1st through April 9th. The cherry blossom trees will be lit up at night during the festival duration, and there are many fun events scheduled to take place. Visitors can enjoy concerts, movie screenings, and more at the festival. April 2nd will be a special day to visit the festival as Lotte World Tower's grand opening will also be taking place that day. The grand opening ceremony will include a special fireworks show that will light up the sky.

Olympic Park is located not too far from Seokchon Lake and the park is home to both vast expanses and the remnants of an ancient, earthen. Mongchontoseong Fortress. The Mongchontoseong Museum of History and the SOMA Museum of Art are also located at Olympic Park. The park is the best of all worlds as it has the same green space and outdoor features as a regular park with the added advantage of museums and history.

The Herb Astronomy Park and the Gildong Ecological Park sit next to each other and are located to the east of Olympic Park. The Herb Astronomy Park is full of fragrant flowers and herbs that are sure to make visitors want to savor their time here. The park's name is a nod to the astronomical telescope that is set up for public use. At the Gildong Ecological Park, visitors can observe wildlife and plants in their natural habitats.

Eungbongsan Mountain Forsythia Festival

The forsythia is the official flower of Seoul and Eungbongsan Mountain is the best place in the city to see lots of forsythia blooms. Though forsythia can often be seen in various locations throughout the city, Eungbongsan has the greatest concentration of forsythia in Seoul. The 2017 Eungbongsan Mountain Forsythia Festival will take place from March 31st until April 2nd. Forsythia tend to have a shorter bloom duration than other spring flowers, Because the bloom period of forsythia tends to be shorter than other spring flowers, so visitors should make time to see the blooms before they wither.

Seoul Forest is a large park that is just a short distance from Eungbongsan Mountain. Seoul Forest is divided into 5 different sections and each section has its own theme. There is the Culture and Arts Park, the Eco Forest, the Nature Experience Study Field, the Wetlands Ecological Field, and the Hangang Riverside Park. Seoul Forest also has many great footpaths and biking trails for visitors to enjoy. Bicycles are available for rent at the park.

Another great attraction for outings is the Seoul Children's Grand Park. The park is perfect for family trips and children are sure to enjoy the many facilities the park has to offer. Though the park is over 40 years old, the facilities don't look outdated thanks to renovations that took place in 2009. The Seoul Children's Grand Park features a zoo, aquarium, playgrounds, an outdoor theater, and a musical fountain. Because the subway connects to the subway station, it's very easy to get to the park from anywhere in Seoul.