When traveling to new places, it’s always
tempting to look for higher ground and the chance to get a bird’s-eye
view; a spot that will enable you to truly capture the essence of the
place you are visiting. Seoul Fortress Wall is one of those places, as
it not only gives an impressive presentation of the city, but also a
long-lasting memory of Seoul’s extraordinary history and cultural
changes over time.
Stunning views can be found walking along the fortress trail, which takes about two hours to complete, through residential areas consisting of older houses and newer apartments stacked side by side. This is one unique aspect only found in Seoul, where visitors can feel the ancient and modern come together through these two very different features – the fortress, which was presumably built more than twenty decades ago, and the modern buildings seen at the midway point, which were built within the past twenty years. It is only natural to be in awe of the scenery on this path, so make sure to bring your camera!
Stunning views can be found walking along the fortress trail, which takes about two hours to complete, through residential areas consisting of older houses and newer apartments stacked side by side. This is one unique aspect only found in Seoul, where visitors can feel the ancient and modern come together through these two very different features – the fortress, which was presumably built more than twenty decades ago, and the modern buildings seen at the midway point, which were built within the past twenty years. It is only natural to be in awe of the scenery on this path, so make sure to bring your camera!
Photo: Tranquil views along the fortress wall trail
As already mentioned, the city of Seoul stands out for its
distinctive juxtaposition
of traditional and contemporary elements, as well as its
citizens'
slow yet fast-paced lives. With this in mind, it’s needless to
say that these are also the first and last impressions that many foreign
visitors carry home from Seoul.
The Seoul Fortress Wall, with its traditional elements and slower pace, takes on the role of a heritage site where visitors can take time off from their busy lives to breathe, meditate, relax, and get some light exercise. It may be great to share the experience with companions, but we assure you it won’t be any less enjoyable to tour this path on your own. The city view can be best seen during the daytime; however, the evening also offers an unbeatable soft-hued ambience created by thousands of lights shining all over the city. When faced with this beautiful sight, you will begin to feel like a photographer, taking photo after photo to remember it all.
There are many points at which to start walking the trail, but we recommend beginning from near Exit 4 of Hansung Univ. Station (Seoul Subway Line 4). This gentle walking course starts near Hyehwamun Gate and stretches 2.2 kilometers to arrive at Heunginjimun Gate.
The Seoul Fortress Wall, with its traditional elements and slower pace, takes on the role of a heritage site where visitors can take time off from their busy lives to breathe, meditate, relax, and get some light exercise. It may be great to share the experience with companions, but we assure you it won’t be any less enjoyable to tour this path on your own. The city view can be best seen during the daytime; however, the evening also offers an unbeatable soft-hued ambience created by thousands of lights shining all over the city. When faced with this beautiful sight, you will begin to feel like a photographer, taking photo after photo to remember it all.
There are many points at which to start walking the trail, but we recommend beginning from near Exit 4 of Hansung Univ. Station (Seoul Subway Line 4). This gentle walking course starts near Hyehwamun Gate and stretches 2.2 kilometers to arrive at Heunginjimun Gate.
Photo: Guiding lights for night treks along the fortress wall
The fortress wall, partially hidden by the encroaching natural
environment, is nothing like other popular tourist areas thanks to its
ideal location out of sight from main roads. Therefore, it is fittingly
the site most favored by Seoulites to enjoy a leisurely walk, unloading
their daily worries and stress at this quiet oasis in the middle of the
city. In addition, the wall also holds historical value in retaining its
original state, offering all the more reason to visit and learn about
Seoul’s history. Every single rock holds special meaning and should be
treated as a critical piece of history, showing the city’s chronological
transition.
This walking tour is like traveling back in time, leading you off the beaten path to secluded locations such as Jangsu Village and Naksan Park, which have stood the test of time. Naksan Park has been given the nickname "the Montmartre Hill of Korea" for its similarity in offering a fully panoramic view of Seoul. It will allow you to get a look at Seongbuk-gu in detail, as well as N Seoul Tower farther off in the distance.
Descending from the park, the route will take you through Ihwa Mural Village. Here is another must-see place for a photo op. Expect to be greeted by some beautiful murals, which were created by about 60 different local artists to promote the village and make the alley a pleasant tourist attraction. After a short walk through the mural village, you’ll arrive at National Treasure No.1, Dongdaemun Gate (Heunginjimun Gate).
This walking tour is like traveling back in time, leading you off the beaten path to secluded locations such as Jangsu Village and Naksan Park, which have stood the test of time. Naksan Park has been given the nickname "the Montmartre Hill of Korea" for its similarity in offering a fully panoramic view of Seoul. It will allow you to get a look at Seongbuk-gu in detail, as well as N Seoul Tower farther off in the distance.
Descending from the park, the route will take you through Ihwa Mural Village. Here is another must-see place for a photo op. Expect to be greeted by some beautiful murals, which were created by about 60 different local artists to promote the village and make the alley a pleasant tourist attraction. After a short walk through the mural village, you’ll arrive at National Treasure No.1, Dongdaemun Gate (Heunginjimun Gate).
Photo: Ihwa Mural Village (top) / Dongdaemun Gate (Heunginjimun Gate) (bottom)
In addition to the fortress path mentioned above, there are a
number of
free programs and stamp tours available for exploring the
fortress wall, which
are led by historians and expert guides, and cover the route
from Hyehwamun Gate to Heunginjimun Gate. These unique tours,
operated under the name "Hanyang Doseong Tour," are organized by
Jongno-gu Office and offer
special benefits to those who make reservations.
For more information, visit the websites listed below and make sure to plan which date and trails you would like to visit ahead of time, since civilian access to the fortress wall may be restricted for special occasions.
For more information, visit the websites listed below and make sure to plan which date and trails you would like to visit ahead of time, since civilian access to the fortress wall may be restricted for special occasions.
More info
☞ Transportation:
1. Get off at Hansung Univ. Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 4. Go straight following Samseongyo Street for 165m to arrive at Hyehwamun Gate.
2. Get off at Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 4), Exit 6 or 7 to arrive at Heunginjimun Gate.
3. Get off at Hyehwa Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 2. Go straight for about 20 minutes along Daehangno-gil Street to arrive at Naksan Park.
☞ Websites:
Jongno-gu Office www.jongno.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Seoul City Wall seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr (Korean, English)
☞ Transportation:
1. Get off at Hansung Univ. Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 4. Go straight following Samseongyo Street for 165m to arrive at Hyehwamun Gate.
2. Get off at Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 4), Exit 6 or 7 to arrive at Heunginjimun Gate.
3. Get off at Hyehwa Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 2. Go straight for about 20 minutes along Daehangno-gil Street to arrive at Naksan Park.
☞ Websites:
Jongno-gu Office www.jongno.go.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Seoul City Wall seoulcitywall.seoul.go.kr (Korean, English)
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