posted by Traveller on Oct 17
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea for more than 600 years. Seoul has a mixture of chic shopping districts, traditional markets, historic palaces, towering office building, crowed streets and pulsating nightlife. Below are some of the suggested places you can visit when you are in central Seoul.
Myeongdong. Visit modern Myeongdone which is an area of narrow alleys. It is lined on both sides with shops that sell chic clothes and accessories such as shoes and handbags, tailor-made suits and custom-made shirts, latest fashion dresses, handcrafted modern jewelry, and cosmetics. In the evening, the alleyways will come alive when it is crowed with after-work strollers doing window shopping. You can do some shopping here. After which, pay a visit to Myeongdong Cathedral.
Deoksugung Palace. Deoksugung Palace, the Palace of Virtuous Longevity, is not the oldest surviving palaces and it was built as a villa towards the end of the 15th century. On the palace ground, you will see a status of Sejong, the great 15th-century king whom officially promulgated the distinctive Korean writing system differing from the traditional Chinese characters in 1446. Visit the Royal Museum where you can see exhibits that were once used by the royal court. If you visit the palace in Autumn, the gingko tress are aflame in gold. You will also have the opportunity witness the Changing of the Palace Gate Guards to the beat of the huge drums and elongated bugles. Do you know, Deoksu Palace is very popular venue for weeding photo sessions!
Changdeokgung Palace. Changdeokgung Palace, the Palace of Illustrious Virtue, was built in 1405, burned down in 1592 and rebuilt in 1609. It was used as the official residence of the various Joseon kings. This palace is considered as one of Seoul’s best preserved palaces. It has a throne room hall, long drafty corridors, and rooms furnished with heavy upholstered European chairs and sofas. Whereas in the private living quarters, you will see traditional Korean furnishing such as low, slatted beds, lacquered chests and tables.