Living in Seoul, Korea: The Hwaseong Fortress at Suwon

Suwon is a city of about one million people located about 25 minutes from Seoul. This is one of my favorite places to spend a Saturday. It reminds me of an Asian Chicago with wide sidewalks, great shopping, cultural art centers and interesting architecture. The fortress is like a mini Great Wall. It's a nice walk or one can ride the dragon train.

The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was designed to protect both a temporary palace for the king and a village from foreign invaders, by means of a 5 mile long, 16ft. high fortress wall. But while Suwon Hwaseong Fortress features the stone walls, sentry towers and turrets of a military stronghold, it’s also enhanced by the delicate and colorful architecture typical of Joseon-era palaces. The result is an unusually harmonious integration of styles.

It’s been said that the fortress was part of King Jeongjo’s plan to move the capital away from Seoul. Why the move, you ask? Well, Seoul bore bad memories for the king, whose father, Prince Sado, was murdered by his grandfather, King Yeongjo. Upon hearing that Sado was mentally ill and indiscriminately killing people, Yeongjo locked the prince in a rice chest for eight days until he died. As a result, Jeongjo spent much of his reign trying to repair his father’s legacy. If he moved the capital to Suwon, the new king could escape the fractious strife of Seoul palace life, he would be closer to his father’s grave, and he could realize his reformist agenda.

Game of Thrones? A Silk Road guard tower? You really feel like you're back in time looking through the peep holes and climbing down into the secret tunnels. How about playing here as a kid! Let your imagination grow.

In January I went with Andea and Lorna. We arrived in the late afternoon on a very chilly winter's day.

Climbing up the steep hill we meet a group of foreign students challenging each other to run to the top of the stairs and back.

All bundled up we are at the top overlooking the expansive city.

One of the richest experiences is seeing the old with the new. This fortress was completed in 1796 and it overlooks skyscrapers built in the last thirty years.

Sunset photo taken from the inside of a temple.

On a return trip in the spring there just happened to be a big arts festival,. These are some of the oversized props for a play.

There were also traditional dances.

We took a break for lunch and found interesting shops along the streets just below the fortress. There was a jazz band performing as well.

The name of the restaurant is Mother Think, so we had to try it!

Pork cutlet, smoked duck, fishcake soup, bibimbap and mushroom soup were the choices.

This is a typical Korean mom, no pop, eatery. Pops are usually working in the places with fish. Clean, fast, tasty and reasonable. Ma's do the ramen food.

The pickled daikon radish is a staple and all restaurants. You can refill soup and radish to your stomach's content.

An over easy egg is served atop the warm bibimbap.

One of the entrance gates. I think the fee was a dollar.

A World Heritage UNESCO site.

I missed some important words in my shot, so here they are:
Ring the Bell of Filial Piety:
1st Toll: Show gratitude and respect to your parents.
2nd Toll: Wish for your families health and harmony.
3rd Toll: Wish for the realization of your dreams