Namsan (South Mountain) and Seoul Tower
In a city as huge as Seoul, finding your bearings can be a challenge. But on this week’s show we’ll take a look at a Seoul icon that helps city residents secure their sense of place. When King Taejo (태조왕) moved Korea’s capital to present-day Seoul in 1394, he protected it with 18 kilometers of fortress walls that connected four mountaintops. Namsan (남산), which means “South Mountain,” formed the city’s southern border.
Of course, long ago Seoul spilled beyond those original walls. So what was the city’s southern limit is now its heart. And from various points throughout the city, N Seoul Tower can be seen rising atop Nam Mountain.
In 1984, Namsan Park (남산공원) was established. At nearly three million square meters, the park is one of Seoul City’s largest green spaces. And despite being smack dab in the center of one of the world’s biggest cities, the park is home to over 600 plant and animal species.
Each year, 8.4 million people visit the park, which translates to some 30,000 a day in the high season. In addition to enjoying well-maintained jogging paths, the park includes a library, a botanical garden and a swimming pool. At the park’s northeast side there’s the Namsangol Hanok Village (남산골한옥마을). Built to resemble a Korean folk village, free traditional wedding ceremonies and cultural performances can be enjoyed there in the summer and fall.
No doubt, the park’s most popular attraction is N Seoul Tower. Built in 1969 and opened to the public 11 years later, the communication tower is about 237 meters tall, and tops out at a half-kilometer above sea level. To reach the tower, South Korea’s first cable car whisks people from the outskirts of the Myeongdong retail district to the mountaintop.
Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the “Northern Palace” because it is the furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeongheegung (Western Palace). Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and remains the grandest of all five palaces.
The premises were destroyed by fire at the time of Japanese occupation from 1592-1598. However, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong (1852~1919) .
Remarkably, the most representative edifices of the Joseon Dynasty, Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion and Hyangwonjeong Pond are still relatively in tact. Woldae and the sculptures of Geunjeongjeon (The Royal Audience Chamber) represent past sculpture of contemporary art.
The National Palace Museum of Korea is located south of Heungnyemun Gate, and the National Folk Museum is located east within Hyangwonjeong.
Lotte World
This huge complex includes an amusement park, an ice-skating rink, a cinema multiplex, department store, folk museum, shopping mall, hotel, restaurants and more. Kids and adults alike love Lotte World, and couples can arrange to meet at Lotte’s own Trevi Fountain. Visit at the weekend to see a free traditional show at nearby Seoul Norimadang at 3pm.
Lotte World Adventure & Magic Island is a mainly indoor Korean version of Disneyland, complete with ‘flying’ balloons, 3D films, laser and music shows, screen rides, fantasy parades and thrill rides that go down very fast or round and round and up and down very fast. The scarier the ride, the longer the queue on busy days. The outdoor Magic Island is in the middle of Seokchon Lake, and that part may close in bad weather.
The carousel has been popular with dating couples since it starred in the TV drama series Stairway to Heaven. Theindoor ice-skating rink is in a fairyland setting, but watch out for tiny speedsters training to become future Winter Olympic champions. Nearby is a bowling alley next to a pool hall. Or why not don a flak jacket and steel helmet and fire off some rounds in the shooting range ? The Folk Museum uses imaginative techniques like dioramas, scale models and moving waxworks to bring scenes from Korean history to life.
The price is included in the day-pass ticket for Lotte World Adventure & Magic Island. Outside is the Charlotte Theatre, which presents big musical shows such as Cats. There are the usual shops, fast-food outlets and restaurants including Pizza Hut, Marché and Sizzlers. The Lotte Department Store has upmarket fashions but reasonably priced food in its basement food court, most of it freshly made on the spot. Choose from nine real fruit juices, and then decide between the lobster, a-meal-in-a-pumpkin or asking an Indian chef to toss a savoury, paper-thin roti onto the hotplate.
.jpg)
Everland amusement theme park is located in Yongin, a suburb of Seoul, at 310 Jeondae-ri, Pogok-myeon, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do and is the biggest theme park in South Korea. Everland, which is operated by Samsung Everland, includes a lot of different rides and facilities and three distinct themes: Festival World, Caribbean Bay and Speedway.
Caribbean Bay – this is a big water park, the first of its kind in South Korea, with water rides and a swimming pool with artificial waves. Everland Speed Way - a big racing track.
In addition to these themes, Everland in Yongin, Seoul, also has a safari zoo, where visitors go around inside a caged bus to observe animals in their natural habitat, and a snow sled (to entertain families in winter) with two hills, one for adults and one for children. In winter, Everland also holds a Snow Festival.
Caribbean Bay is a popular part of Everland and many people's favourite place to unwind in the resort.
Festival World - this theme is divided into five areas:
- Global fair that hosts facilities such as restaurants and souvenir shops.
- European adventure, which includes a flower garden and buildings in Dutch and Roman styles encircled by a train track.
- American adventure with themes and rides from American history, such as the Old West.
- Equatorial Adventure.
- Magic Land with rides, restaurants and arcades.
No comments:
Post a Comment