Sunday, November 7, 2021

Breathtaking Fall Foliage at Changgyeonggung Palace

The past few weekends, I've enjoyed spending some quality time with my Korean family. They are spoiling me, feeding me wonderful food and showing me around. Last year, I missed the fall foliage since I was stuck in quarantine. This year, I got to enjoy the autumn scenery with loved ones at Changgyeonggung Palace (창경궁) in Seoul. The views took my breath away and were so easily accessible: it was a leisurely walk around the palace and the entrance fee was only 1,000 Korean won per person (about $1).

The palace has an interesting history. King Seongjong had it built in 1483 to include accommodations for Joseon Dynasty kings' wives and concubines but most of it was destroyed during the Japanese invasion of the late 16th century. Since 1987, the palace buildings have been reconstructed as closely as possible to what records describe as the original layout and style. You can see and read more about its historic and cultural points of interest on the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration website (just click on the names of the points of interest on the right hand side to learn more).

I could see right away why Changgyeonggung is so popular in this season. Between the surrounding forest, beautiful pond, and extensive but easy walking paths, we easily passed many hours there admiring nature and capturing photos together. This has always been my favorite time of the year, as the weather cools down and excitement builds for a new school year and holiday season. I hope wherever you are reading this that you get a chance to celebrate the season, too.

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