Information
Landmark: Changdeokgung PalaceCity: Seoul
Country: South Korea
Continent: Asia
Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea, Asia
Overview
Changdeokgung Palace (창덕궁), one of Seoul’s Five Grand Palaces, holds UNESCO World Heritage status and stands as one of South Korea’s most treasured landmarks, with graceful tiled roofs that catch the afternoon light.With its graceful architecture, serene gardens, and deep historical roots, Changdeokgung lets you step back into the royal world of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).The palace is best known for its graceful design that seems to flow into the wooded hills around it, and for its Secret Garden, or Huwon, where quiet ponds mirror the sky in one of Seoul’s most peaceful spots.Changdeokgung sits in Seoul’s Jongno District, just a short walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace, the narrow lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village, and the bustling shops of Insadong.The palace went up in 1405, during King Taejong’s reign, and still ranks among Seoul’s oldest, its stone steps worn smooth by centuries of footsteps.In 1997, UNESCO named Changdeokgung a World Heritage Site, honoring its rich history and the quiet beauty of its shaded courtyards.Changdeokgung was built during the early Joseon Dynasty as a second royal palace, following Gyeongbokgung, with its tiled roofs first catching sunlight in the quiet morning air.It was first meant as a quiet hideaway for the royal family, a place where they could slip away from Gyeongbokgung’s stiff ceremonies and the constant weight of politics.Restoration: The palace, once reduced to charred beams during the 1592 Japanese invasion (Imjin War), was later rebuilt.The Japanese destroyed it again during their early 20th-century occupation, but today it stands rebuilt and carefully preserved, its stone walls cool to the touch.Over the years, Changdeokgung was home to several Joseon kings, its quiet courtyards and tiled roofs at the heart of Korea’s history and culture.The main grounds of Changdeokgung Palace hold several striking buildings, from the grand Injeongjeon Hall where kings once conducted ceremonies, to the quieter Seonjeongjeon Hall that served as the king’s working office.The Injeongjeon is best known for its striking design, from the carved wooden beams overhead to the wide stone courtyard where the royal court once gathered.Visitors can wander through lively courtyards, stroll past blooming gardens, and step into graceful pavilions where the royal family once paused to rest in the shade.At Changdeokgung, the star attraction is the Secret Garden, or Huwon, where quiet ponds mirror the sky.People often call this vast garden one of Asia’s most beautiful and best-preserved royal treasures, with lotus flowers drifting on still ponds.The garden blends seamlessly with the surrounding landscape, weaving in clear streams, still ponds, and smooth rock formations that feel like they’ve always been there.The royal family escaped here for privacy, finding a quiet spot to breathe in pine-scented air and linger by the water, a place they returned to often for rest and ease.Huwon brims with graceful pavilions, winding paths tucked between trees, and greenery so thick you can smell the damp leaves, making it a place you can’t miss when visiting Changdeokgung.From the main palace grounds, the Donhwamun Gate opens into the garden, where gravel crunches under each step.Donhwamun Gate stands as the main entrance to Changdeokgung Palace, its weathered wooden beams marking it as one of the oldest and most important gates in the complex.The grand wooden gate marks the palace entrance, its two layered roofs casting a sharp shadow across the stone path.The palace’s architecture blends traditional Korean design with the landscape, its curved roofs seeming to echo the gentle slope of the nearby hills.It follows Confucian principles, arranging spaces with strict order and perfect symmetry, yet weaving in natural touches-like a quiet pond or a line of bamboo-to foster peace and balance.Perched on a mountain slope, Changdeokgung follows feng shui principles, blending stone walls and curved roofs with the surrounding pines in perfect harmony.Changdeokgung served as the favored home of several Joseon kings, including Seongjong, Yeongjo, and Jeongjo, whose reigns brought the kingdom prosperity and rich cultural growth-like the flourishing of delicate celadon pottery and poetry in the palace gardens.For much of the Joseon Dynasty, the palace buzzed as the heart of politics and culture, where rulers debated in echoing halls and sealed decisions amid the scent of blooming garden jasmine.Changdeokgung saw fierce power struggles, whispered political schemes, and pivotal moments that shaped the Joseon era.Tucked inside the palace grounds, the Changdeokgung Museum showcases artifacts from the Joseon Dynasty, from delicate porcelain bowls to royal documents, along with the palace’s own history.Step inside the museum and you’ll glimpse the royal family’s daily life-the silk robes, the ornate tea sets-and learn how the palace shaped Korea’s history.Don’t miss Injeongjeon Hall, the grand throne room where kings once held court and hosted royal ceremonies beneath its high, painted ceiling.The building showcases classic wooden craftsmanship, with carved patterns and splashes of bright red and gold.Huwon, the palace’s hidden garden, invites you to wander quiet stone paths, pause by still ponds, and sit beneath old wooden pavilions that whisper of centuries past.The garden features a few standout pavilions, including Buyongjeong and Jondeokjeong, their wooden eaves casting shadows over still, glassy ponds-quiet places made for lingering in thought.Just a short walk from Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung Palace once served as the royal family’s secondary home, its quiet courtyards echoing with the soft tread of silk shoes.A winding stone path links it to Changdeokgung, and together they anchor a vital piece of Seoul’s history.Donhwamun Gate stands as the grand entryway to the palace, where your journey begins beneath its towering wooden beams and time-worn stone steps into one of Seoul’s most remarkable historic sites.Changdeokgung usually welcomes visitors from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., though the schedule can shift with the seasons-shorter days in winter, longer strolls in summer.They’re closed on Mondays, so plan your trip for another day-maybe when the coffee’s fresh and the door swings open.Admission costs usually run between 3,000 and 5,000 KRW for adults, and kids, students, and seniors get a discount-enough to cover a quick snack afterward.You’ll need to pay the Secret Garden fee separately, and it can run about 5,000 KRW-roughly the price of a hot cup of street-market tea.Guided tours are offered in English and several other languages, giving visitors a chance to hear the palace’s history and explore its ornate arches and stone carvings up close.These tours pull back the curtain on the palace-its meaning, winding halls, and the daily life of the royal family.The best time to go is in spring or autumn, when the gardens burst with color and the hills around them glow in the soft light.In spring, pale pink cherry blossoms brighten the paths, and in autumn, fiery leaves turn the hills into a patchwork of red and gold.Winter brings a bite to the air, but the streets stay nearly empty, making for a quieter, more peaceful escape.How to get there: Take the subway-it’s the easiest way, just two stops past the station with the big red clock.
