Changdeokgung Palace

창덕궁

The only World Heritage Site among Seoul's Five Grand Palaces, and the best preserved, built into the hillside. The Secret Garden's lotus pond and red maples are the finest of Joseon-era garden design.

Changdeokgung was built in 1405 as a secondary palace of the Joseon Dynasty. After the Imjin War, it served as the main palace for about 270 years. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, because its layout follows the terrain of Bugaksan and its buildings and gardens are well preserved. It is the only World Heritage Site among Seoul's Five Grand Palaces. The front palace includes Donhwamun Gate, Injeongjeon Hall (the main hall, with blue tiles and painted decoration), Seonjeongjeon Hall, Daejojeon Hall, and Nakseonjae, where the last royal family of Korea lived. The biggest highlight is the Huwon, also called the Secret Garden, which covers two-thirds of the palace grounds. It has Buyeongji Pond with Juhamnu Pavilion, Aeryeonji Pond, Yeongyeongdang Hall, and other pavilions and ponds half-hidden among ancient trees. In autumn the red foliage is stunning. The Secret Garden can only be visited on a timed guided tour of about 90 minutes. Chinese-language tours are offered, each limited to 100 people. Reservations open on the official website 6 days in advance, and a small number of same-day tickets are also sold on site. Admission to the front palace costs ₩3,000, and the Secret Garden costs an additional ₩5,000. Visitors wearing hanbok enter the front palace for free. Visiting tip: spend an hour in the front palace in the morning, then join the Secret Garden tour. Afterward, leave through the nearby Changgyeonggung Palace, or walk to Bukchon or Insa-dong. Getting there: Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 3, then a 5-minute walk. Notes: closed on Mondays. The Secret Garden involves a lot of walking on slopes, which can be slippery in the rain. Reservations are very hard to get during red-leaf season, so try to book right when they open.

Changdeokgung Palace

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