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AmeriSpan Study Abroad |
The main gate to the palace is believed to be the oldest in Seoul. Adjoining the palace are the Secret Gardens, a picturesque area of lakes and woodland which was once a retreat for members of the royal family.
The UNESCO-listed Chongmyo Shrine, a wooded garden containing the royal ancestral tablets of the Choson Dynasty, is also worth a visit; one of Korea's interesting ceremonies takes place there on the first Sunday in May, when an annual Confucian ceremonial rite is celebrated in public.
Toksukung Palace was once a royal villa, but is now the Museum of Modern Arts, while Kyongbokkung Palace, which dates back to 1394, was burned during the Japanese invasion of 1592 and was left in ruins until 1868, when it was rebuilt.
The grounds house many of Korea's most historic stone pagodas and monuments. The Great South Gate of Seoul, called Namdaemun, is regarded as Korea's foremost national treasure. It was built in 1448, but had to be repaired after the Korean War.
Seoul's Pagoda Park commemorates the spot where the Korean Declaration of Independence was proclaimed in 1919; the park was designed as a setting for the huge Wongak-sa Pagoda, built of marble and granite. A good viewpoint is Namsan Mountain in the middle of the city. On the top is the Seoul Tower, a TV transmitter with an observation deck, which has spectacular views extending west to Inchon.
Other spots for city sightseeing include the Octagonal Pagoda, built in 1348, and the East Gate Market Place; and the Everland leisure complex, which consists of three theme parks - 'Festival World' (offering flower festivals and a zoo), 'Carribbean Bay' (a gigantic themed water park) and 'Speedway' (Korea's best racing track).
Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Below are some of our recommended highlights. Some tours and packages can be organized when booking your program, please see the program price page for more information.
A 'must see' is Toksugung Palace opposite City Hall. The palace complex is filled with commanding structures such as Taehanmun, the main gate, Chunghwajon, the throne room or audience hall and Sokchojon, the first Renaissance-style building in Korea, which now houses a cultural institute offering monthly public audio-visual programs. The palace and grounds are open all year round.
The 40 acre Kyongbokkung Palace was built in 1394 in the third year of the Choson Dynasty and is a most impressive building with a throne room and audience hall. Kyonghoeru, is a spacious two storey pavilion which overlooks a picturesque man-made pond north-west of the throne hall, while Hyangwonjong is a secluded pavilion nestled in the middle of a pond at the northern end of the palace complex where the royal family once enjoyed special private occasions. The Kyongbokkung Palace grounds contain the National Folk Museum and a ten storey stone pagoda, which is one of the most beautiful stone structures in Korea.
Close by, near the Kwanghwamun Gate, which was the original entrance to the palace, is the National Museum of Korea which houses five storeys of artifacts covering 5,000 years of Korean history and culture.
Ch'angdokkung Palace, just east of Kyongbokkung Palace, is also a popular destination with visitors. It is known for its Secret Garden or Piwon, which consists of 78 acres beautifully landscaped with pavilions, ponds and wooded areas.
Ch'anggyonggung Palace, adjacent to Ch'angdokkung Palace, is another well preserved royal complex with magnificent gates and elaborate bridges. The Chongmyo Shrine located across the street from the palace is a heavily wooded garden with buildings containing the royal ancestral tablets of the Choson Dynasty.
East Gate, or Tongdaemun, part of the ancient city wall is surrounded by a market offering a variety of fascinating bargains, and South Gate, Namdaemun also has an excellent market selling every imaginable type of product.
For a different perspective on the city, Seoul Tower on the mountain's summit provides a panoramic view, as well as a restaurant. Finally, visitors can relax and take a ride in a river boat on the Han-gang River through the city and enjoy a view of Seoul's modern skyline and Mount Namsan as they travel between Youido Island and Chamshil.
Outside of Seoul are attractive rural districts and the two large cities of Inch'on and Suwon in Kyonggido province. In Kwach'on, the Korean Folk Village re-creates the lifestyle of several centuries ago in a living museum. Near the port area of Inch'on it is possible to feast on seafood and catch excursion boats to some of the beautiful outlying islands.
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