South Korea’s Gyeonggi-do is home to the ancient city of Suwon, which may be found in that province. Within the confines of this walled city may be found the illustrious Hwaseong Fortress, which was built by King Jeongjo in 1796. In order to realise the king’s dream of having Suwon serve as the nation’s capital, construction of the stronghold began. In addition to it, he constructed a wall around the city that was reinforced. This wall was constructed with the purpose of guarding the grave of the king’s father. In 1997, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee designated the stronghold as a World Cultural Heritage site.
The city of Suwon is surrounded by a number of hills on all sides. Mount Paldal can be found in the middle of the city, and Gwanggyo, which rises to an altitude of about 582 m above sea level, serves as the northern boundary along the border with Yongin. Mount Yeogi, which takes the form of a folding screen with framed photographs, can be found to the west. The city of Suwon is traversed by a great number of rivers and streams. These waterways have their origins on Mount Gwanggyosan and other nearby mountains.
Main Tourist Attractions of Suwon, South Korea
Hwaseong Fortress
The Joseon Dynasty’s King Jeongjo was responsible for the construction of the Hwaseong Fortress. From 1764 to 1796, a total of approximately 700,000 people contributed to the construction of the fort, which took over 30 years to finish. The fort has a total size of more than 5.5 square kilometres and is protected by a total of four formidable gates. There are also floodgates and observation towers among the attractions. The fact that this stronghold was built with a scientific and practical approach in mind is perhaps the most notable quality it has.
Hwaseomun Gate
This Hwaseong Fortress gate, which can be found on the western side of the fortress, has been designated as a national treasure. The half-moon-shaped wall that serves as a powerful barrier in front of this gate is one of the distinctive characteristics that sets it apart from other gates. The fact that this wall was there helped to further strengthen the defences of the stronghold by blocking direct assaults from hostile forces.
Seoammun
It is reported that the Seoammun, which is located to the southwest of the Hwaseong Fortress, was one of the four gates that acted as hidden gates. This supply channel served as a gate that was aesthetically camouflaged behind the wall of the castle and was used to provide crucial reinforcements to the defenders of the stronghold. It also acted as a portal via which counterattacks might be organised.
Seobuk Gangno
The Seobuk Gangno is a watchtower that is located inside the Hwaseong castle. It was built at an angle so that it can better see the events that take place to the northwest. On top of the Hwaseomun gate, which is located on the western side of Fort Hwaseong, this structure was built. It is stated that it was erected as a tower with two levels and that it had an underground heating facility as well as a rest room for the guards to use during the winter months.
Seojangdae
An elevated structure is meant to be referred to as a “Seojangdae.” Both the eastern and western sides of the Hwaseong Fortress include a pair of Seojangdae on their respective sides. It is claimed that King Cheonjo established his command post in the western watchtower of the Hwaseong Fortress. This watchtower is the tallest of the fortress’s four. It is possible to have a glimpse of the whole citadel from this vantage point, and it is also known as Hwaseong Jangdae at times.
The Bell of Hyowon
The enormous bronze bell known as the Bell of Hywon may be seen hanging from the Pandalmun gate of the Hwaseong Fortress. This was done in recognition of King Jeongjo’s unwavering loyalty to the man who raised him, his father. The bell is rung three times over the course of the day, and each of those ringings has a specific significance. The first ring is worn as a token of affection for one’s parents, the second as a wish for joy in one’s family, and the third as a petition for one’s own personal development.
Korean Folk Village
The Suwon Korean Folk Village may be found in close proximity to the nation’s capital of Seoul. In this traditional village, there are a variety of activities that may be participated in to have a better understanding of many facets of Korean culture. There are many different performances that are put on that reflect the Korean farmer dance, acrobatics, or even a recreation of the traditional wedding rites that are held in Korea. You may also participate in a wide variety of programmes geared on introducing people to the traditional arts and crafts of Korea here.
