The Insadong festival in April and October showcases the folk music or pungmulnori of Seoul. A delightful food court with a selection of countrywide cuisine is also set up as part of the celebrations. Traditional food contests are held. There are street exhibitions and pottery making demonstrations as well. Venue: Jongno-gu Website: http://asp.congnamul.com/seoul/english/map.jsp
The Insadong festival in April and October showcases the folk music or pungmulnori of Seoul. A delightful food court with a selection of countrywide cuisine is also set up as part of the celebrations. Traditional food contests are held. There are street exhibitions and pottery making demonstrations as well. Venue: Jongno-gu Website: http://asp.congnamul.com/seoul/english/map.jsp
Keep exploring Seoul.
seoulDaecheon Beach becomes a war zone and therapeutic massage parlor of mud every July. The Mud Festival is all about mud and its therapeutic qualities, and you can get mud massages as well as mud slides on the beach.
seoulLord Buddha's birthday falls on the eighth day of the fourth moon.The celebration of Buddha's birthday consists of thousands of lanterns paraded in the streets of Seoul in a spectacular display of lights. In this festival lanterns are made of various shapes. Small lotus shaped lanterns to lantern floats shaped like a dragon, elephant etc. are part of the parade. People also practice Zen meditation during this festival.
seoulThis festival aims at preserving the city's unique history and tradition as well as diversity through numerous cultural events and performances that take place all over the city. This festival takes place at different seasons around the year and there are different themes for each time of the year. There are concerts, street plays and art exhibitions according to the theme.
seoulOne of the three largest holiday celebrations in the country, the Dano Festival is a traditional food festival where prayers are offered for a good and bountiful harvest in the coming year. Food courts, cultural performances, exhibitions and children's events are part of the celebrations.
seoulThis festival combines two of Icheon's symbols, rice and agriculture. In celebration of the good harvest, Icheon is lit up and a magnificent feast is set up to celebrate. A variety of dishes are made of Icheon rice and visitors get to sample rice based culinary delights. The world's longest white rice cake is also made during this festival.
seoulLike the Japanese Taiko drums, the Koreans showcase their traditional drumming in this festival along with other art forms and percussion instruments from all over the world and promote experimental and crossover music.
seoulThis festival is when people enjoy traditional food and introduce new Korean food and culture. It is quite popular among tourists as a great opportunity to learn about Korean cuisine and culture.
Keep exploring Seoul.
seoulThe Great South Gate is one of the symbols of Seoul and is the most prized treasure of the country. It is a two -tiered pagoda style roofed gate made with stone and wood. This gate served many purposes; it greeted visitors to the city, kept away wild animals and prevented outsiders from entering the city. It looks stunning at night when it is floodlit. The nearby Namdaemun Market is a great place to check out as well. A lively market, the Namdaemun has wholesalers operating from midnight to 6am and retailers during the day.
seoulYongsan Park is reminiscent of the famous parks that are often shown in movies, with large grass fields and thick forests. An unlikely sight in a city, it is home to several species of birds and trees and was once used as a U.S. military base.
seoulThe citizens' forest is located on the Gangnam Street and has streams and over 106,000 trees. It is a very popular picnic spot for the younger generations as well as the young at heart. It has a clear view of the sky and hence is a great place to be on clear nights.
Located in Yulgukno, it is Seoul's most spectacular palace and was the pinnacle of power for centuries before it was devastated in 1592 by a Japanese invasion. It has been restored for the most part. Its grounds also hold the Joseon Palace Museum, and the Korean Folk Museum. Admission: 3000 won Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm except Tuesdays (The palace is used for shooting TV dramas)
seoulThe best place to be if you're a kid is at the palaces as there is just so much to see which is of interest to kids. Whether it's the turtles and gold fishes at the small ponds, or it's a visit to the museums, children will love it all. The Samsung Kids Museum is sure to get the kids excited about the visit to this superb city and the fireworks festivals are sure to light up their day. The Children's Grand Park is a great place for kids as well as they have a zoo, a botanical garden and an amusement park. It's in Gwangjin-gu. The N Seoul Tower is also great for kids as they will surely love the superb view. The best things for kids however are the parks and the space to run around. The toy shops littered around town are a treat for the little ones as well.
seoulAlso located in Yulgukno, it is another one of Seoul's most spectacular palaces and is second only to the Gyeongbok-gung. First built in 1405, it was the center of power in the dynasty between 1618 and 1896. All the buildings have been restored and repainted. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a must-see place!
seoulIt was built in 1104 for the kings of the Koryo Dynasty as a summer palace and became one of the main palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. The palace is connected to the Jongmyo Shrine which was used for sacrificial rites in the Joseon Dynasty. The palace faces east to west, instead of the usual north to south.
seoulThe Old Eastern Gate of the city, though not as impressive as Namdaemun, it is still a good site to check out just so you can tell your friends that you've visited so many places. The nearby Dongdaemun Market is much more attractive though!
seoulThe Olympic Park was built for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It has a lake, and a square of sculptures which is very popular among visitors. It also has a large field which is covered with grass and has a few courses that are ideal for jogging and walking. Its outdoor stage and six stadiums are often used for concerts.
seoulOnce the site of the Korean Air Force Academy, it symbolizes the Air Force. The word Boramae means Hawk. The park is spread out on 360,000 square meters and has sports facilities as well as a small zoo. It also has a huge pond that spreads out to 9000 square meters and has well planned walking paths. The pond is surrounded by willow trees and benches and is very popular, especially during summer and winter.
Keep exploring Seoul.
seoulCuisine: South Asian
seoulSituated in the plush Imperial Palace hotel, the Familia restaurant serves a whooping 120 dishes in its buffet. The sophisticated and classy environment of this place is sure to lure you into visiting it often. The squad of people dressed in ninja outfits are actually the cooks who prepare fresh food in the dining area.
Cuisine: South Asian
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