I woke up at 8am, why? Because I want to and I have plans. Sort of… I talked with Phill in the morning and got ready to go visit the Hwaseong Fortress and the detached country Palace, Hwaseong Haenggung, in Suwon. http://ehs.suwon.ne.kr/
When I left my apartment, it was still sunny, but after I reloaded my transportation card with another 10,000 Won at the nearby FamilyMart the skies were starting to look as rain would quickly come through my region. I went to the 301 bus stop as soon as I could, but it was too late. It rained and rained with short periods of sun for the whole day. I had about 22 stops from my home to the fortress, so for my duration of the bus ride (40 minutes) I listened to Pimsleur ‘Learning Korean’ on my iPod.
As I arrived at my stop near the fortress the rain started to let up a bit, temporary. I started at the Janganmun Gate, the north entrance. It is the largest gate in South Korea and it was constructed from Feb. 28 – Sept. 5, 1794. Unfortunately, during the Korean War the overall structure was compromised and it was restored to its former glory in 1979.
To take a walking tour of the Fortress it costs only 1,000 Won, but you must be ready for a lot of climbing and walking! From the north gate I headed west. Near Hwaseomun, it started to rain again and I went to seek shelter for temporary sanctuary.
Once the rain cleared up I continued on my walking journey to Seobukgangnu, the northwestern pavilion command post, for my next sanctuary for another period of moderate rainfall. I spoke with an elderly Korean man, he asked my age and profession. I told him I was 25 and an English teacher in Osan. He said I was a baby, very young, which I said yes, still young. He told me he had two children, a son: 31, and a daughter: 27. He was kind and wished me a safe journey. I said thank you in Korean. I continued on my long journey as the fortress went further and further into the higher elevation.
It was arduous and I felt extremely out of shape. When I finally reached Seonodae (west multiple-arrow-launcher platform) and Seojangdae (western command post), I could hardly believe I made it to the highest point. And it was worth every grueling step upwards to the top of Mt. Paldalsan.
The panoramic view of Suwon was just breathtaking, despite the hazy sky. I rested there for a while, despite waiting for the rain to stop. It was just so beautiful.
Further to the south was the Bell of Hyowon, which you can hear from Seojangdae, creating a peaceful atmosphere. From there, I went to Seonamgangnu (southwestern pavilion) on the southern ridge of Mt. Paldalsan.
Very beautiful with vibrant colors, almost hidden away, past the Seonamammun (southwestern secret gate).
Climbing down into the south my next sanctuary from the rain was Nam-Poru (southern sentry post), a small artillery post.
From there, I walked to the Hwaseong Trolley Platform for a drink of water to quench my thirst and I continued down Mt. Paldalsan towards Hwaseong Haenggung.
Hwaseong Haenggung is considered a temporary palace but it was also utilized as the Suwon government office for a period of time. King Jeonngjo had this palace constructed as a refuge away from Seoul as a ‘country palace’. It cost a bit more than the fortress, but it doesn’t break the bank at 1,500 Won, about the same as my bus fare to Suwon.
The temporary palace was very beautiful with a simple elegance. It is one of the largest and most elegant temporary palaces in South Korea. I can’t describe it enough, but it was much larger than I originally thought, as it covers a lot of distance with many compartments, at the time of its construction there were 600 different compartments.
Also, Hwaseong Haenggung was used as a filming site for the Korean drama ‘Daejanggeum’ and many of the character’s attire are shown on display.
After touring the large palace I walked to the Suwon station to catch my bus home. My legs ached all evening, but visiting those historical sites made my pain worth it.
Wow, those are some very beautiful photographs! You also look incredibly tired too :) Get some rest ^_^
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