What are the surviving palaces in Korea, please?

The capital city of Seoul is located in the middle of the Korean Peninsula, not far from the west coast, the Han River flows through the city center. Seoul's current population of about 12 million, accounting for about 1/4 of the country's population, is South Korea's political, economic and cultural center, lined with skyscrapers towering over the elegant and quiet after the old palaces. It is both a modern metropolis and an ancient city with a long history of culture. In and around the city, there are many historical sites, cultural attractions, modern buildings, theme parks and other sightseeing spots.

The main tourist attractions are:

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace

Located at 1 Sejong-ro, Jongno-gu, the first main palace built in 1395 by Lee Seong-gye, who founded the Joseon Dynasty, the palace covered an area of 126,000 pyeongs (one pyeong is about 3.3 square meters) and had more than 200 halls and pavilions, which gave it a magnificent atmosphere of wealth and honor, and it was destroyed by the Imjin Japanese invasion in 1952, but it still survived. The buildings that still exist today are the Hall of Chinzheng, which was used for the ceremony of the king's accession to the throne and the ceremonies of the civil and military officials, and the two-storey building of the Gyeonghaeul, which was used as a guest house.

2. Changdeokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace

Located at 1 Wollong-dong, Jongno-gu, Changdeokgung Palace was built as a palace of the Joseon Dynasty in 1405, but it was completely destroyed during the Imjin War, and was rebuilt in 1609, and has been the main palace of the dynasty for the past 300 years, and it is the most well-maintained building of Joseon's Imperial Palace, which has maintained the old style of the dynasty. Its main gate, Dunhwamun, is a wooden building that was lucky not to be burned down and stands proudly with a remarkable atmosphere. Next to Changgyeonggung Palace is the third oldest royal palace in Korea, with existing buildings such as Honghwamun and Myeongjeongjeongjeon, which served as the alibi of King Sejong the Great, the fourth group leader of the Joseon Dynasty.

3. Jongmyo

Located in Hoonjeong-dong 1, Jongno-gu, it is a World Heritage Site where the shrines of the kings and princesses of the Joseon Dynasty are enshrined. Built at the same time as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Jongmyo has a wide hinterland with the main hall and Yongnyeongjeon, as well as a memorial hall where the relics of the late kings are displayed. It is also a recreational area for Seoul residents to take a walk and cool off, and there is a footbridge leading to Changgyeonggung Palace. Every year on the first Sunday of May, the Jongmyo festival is held in a solemn atmosphere with elegant music.

4. Korea Life 63 Building

Located in Yeouido-dong, Yeungdeungpo-gu, the building has 60 floors above ground and 3 floors below ground. With 60 floors above ground and 3 floors below, it is 264 meters high and is called the tallest building in Korea and is the symbol of Seoul. The whole building all use double reflection glass, in the sunlight brilliant as a golden pagoda. Take the high-speed elevator up and down, and climb up to the Observation Deck, where you can see the 1988 Olympic Games venue and Gimpo Airport in the distance. On the first basement floor of the hotel, there is an aquarium with more than 20,000 fishes of 400 species, 63 underwater worlds, and an IMAX theater with a screen ten times larger than that of a regular movie theater. Dine in the top floor restaurant, enjoy the mesmerizing night view, you can also enjoy the incomparable romantic interest.

5. Chongli Gate (Namcheon Gate)

Located in Jung-gu, Namdaemun Road. 1398 construction, for the capital of Hanyang (Seoul) of the city's gate, is the most typical of the existing architecture of the Joseon Dynasty, the original city wall connecting the wall was dismantled in 1908, leaving only the stone Chongli Gate. The center of the gate is in the shape of an arch, on which a two-story wooden pavilion is erected. Between the tall buildings and wide-ranging buildings, majestic, proud of the crowd.

6. Seoul Sports Complex

Located at 10 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, it was the main venue for the 1988 Seoul Olympics and included five major competition venues including two gymnasiums, an indoor swimming pool, and a baseball stadium, especially the open-air stadium. The stadium is famous for its curvaceous design that emphasizes the beauty of curves. Visitors are allowed to enter the stadium. There is also an exhibition hall where gold, silver and bronze medals and Olympic uniforms are displayed.

7. Lotte World

Located at 40-1 Jamsil-dong in Songseong-gu, Lotte World is the world's largest indoor amusement center, featuring a folk museum, a grand hotel, a movie theater, an indoor swimming pool, an indoor skating rink, a bowling alley, a members-only sports club, a department store, a supermarket, and a shopping mall, combining entertainment and culture. It is a mega casino that combines entertainment and culture.

(2) Suburbs of Seoul and neighboring areas

1. Suwon

Suwon Station is a 50-minute bus ride from Seoul Railway Station on National Railway Line No. 1, or from Donghansung Terminal. Suwon is the seat of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office (provincial government) with a population of 760,000, and many cultural relics have been preserved. The total length of the stone castle wall built around the city is 5.5 kilometers, and the beauty of the architecture is complemented by the beauty of the scenery, including four magnificent building gates, Hwahongmun with seven arched water gates, the elegant Flower and Willow Pavilion, and Seokjangdae, which overlooks the downtown area.

2. Incheon

Take the National Railroad Line 1 from Seoul Train Station to Dong-Incheon Station, and take the Su-in Line from Suwon to Songdo Station. Incheon is Korea's second-largest port city and is home to tourist spots such as Wolmi Island Culture Street, where many sculptures have been erected. If you take a cruise ship, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over the sea and the scattered islands.

3. Panmunjom

Panmunjom is the site where the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. Only nationals are allowed to visit Imjingak and foreigners are not allowed to enter the place privately, but must be organized by a travel agency. A 2-kilometer wide unarmed separation zone has been set up with the Armistice Line as the center, and a military armistice conference room has been built in the middle of the area, which also makes people realize the preciousness of peace and unification y.

4. Ganghwa Island

It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Sinchon Station. This is the birthplace of the myth of the founding of the nation by Wangjian, the founder of the Korean nation, Tangun. There are many historical sites such as a wall built to resist the invasion of the Mongol army and a fortress built at the end of the Joseon Dynasty to counter the threat of the Great Powers.

The Chondangsa Temple on the south side of the city is a good example of the architectural style of the Goryeo Dynasty.

5. Yongin Aebo Land

It is located in Maebdae-ri, Pugok-mae, Yongin-gun, Gyeonggi-do. In Yongin Nature Farm, there is Everland, a newly built comprehensive theme park, while there are more than 40 kinds of rides in the amusement world, in addition to a nature safari park and other facilities. One in particular is the Caribbean Bay Paradise, where visitors can enjoy surfing in artificial waves.

6. Seoul Grand Park

Located at 159-1 Mountain, Mokgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, the park is home to three safari parks, a greenhouse botanical garden with a collection of more than 1,166 species of some 19,667 plants, a modern amusement park, Seoul East Park, and the National Museum of Modern Art, among others.

7. Korean Folk Village

Located at 107 Buro-ri, Wiheung-eup, Yongin-gun, Gyeonggi-do, it has a total area of about 230,000 pyeong. It displays the appearance of farmhouses, houses, temples, markets, houses of two classes (nobles), and government offices of each province. Demonstrations of bamboo crafts, wood crafts, and herbal medicine treatments are performed at 15 art workshops and herbal medicine houses, and traditional wedding ceremonies, agricultural music, and rope walks are also performed daily. You can experience the cultural atmosphere of the daily life of Koreans in the past.

8. Seoul Racecourse

It is located in Jungam-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do. The Seoul Racecourse, one of the best in the world, is located between Cheonggye Mountain and Gwanak Mountain. With a beautiful natural landscape, the modern racecourse from the 1st to the 6th basement floors can accommodate more than 40,000 horse fans. Large-scale races are held on Saturdays and Sundays for general and special events. Tickets are the same as those in Japan, and are divided into consecutive, single, and multiple winners. night races are held from the end of July to the beginning of September, adding to the frenzy of horse racing fans.

(C) Busan

Busan, the country's No. 1 port, is located in the southeastern corner of South Korea, and is the country's second-largest city, with a population of about 4 million. It takes 4 hours and 10 minutes to get to Busan from Seoul on the Sinsung train; about 5 hours and 20 minutes on the highway from Seoul; and about 1 hour to get to Busan by plane from Seoul.

The main tourist attractions in and around Busan are:

1. Beomeosa Temple

Built in 678 A.D. as the main center of the Zen Sect, there were 36 large-scale temples, but unfortunately, all of them were destroyed in the period of the Imjin War. The Daewoongjeon, which was rebuilt in 1717, is a fine and gorgeous structure, which is a fine example of the architecture of the Joseon Dynasty. Other remaining buildings include 7 halls, 2 attics, 3 huge gates, 11 joshuans and 3-story stone pagodas.

2. Yongduksan Park

Climbing up Yongduksan, you can overlook the streets of Busan's busy district and the neighboring seashore, and on a clear day, you can see Tsushima Island in the distance. Inside the park is a bronze statue of General Yi Sun-sin, a hero who saved the nation during the Imjin Japanese invasion, while the 120-meter-high Busan Tower serves as the quasi-star of the entire downtown area

3. Idlewild Maritime National Park

It takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes to get to Ilewsae from the Busan Coastal Ferry Terminal (Pudong Subway Station).

From Ilsan Island at the western end of Busan to Yeosu in Jeonnam, a jagged coast with beautiful landscapes stretches out, with many small islands and cliffs forming a natural screen, which is best viewed by boat. Tourists take the Angel wing boat, from Busan to Yeosu shuttle between the islands, faster than land by car, passing through the preservation of rich historical sites of Chungmu, ?quot; crane island known as Samcheonpo, and if the South Sea Geumsan off the boat can also be.

To visit Haegeumgang, the best sight of Geoje Island, you just need to take a boat from Busan to Jangseungpo (about 1 hour) and then take a yacht from Jangseungpo.

4. Tongdosi Temple

The famous temple enshrining the relics of Buddha has elegant designs and murals inside. It was founded in 646 A.D. by Master Jaizang, who brought back the relics of the Buddha from the Tang Dynasty in China, and is one of the three most famous temples in Korea. It was burned down during the Imjin War and rebuilt in 1601 and 1641, but there is no statue of Buddha because only the relics of Buddha are enshrined, but there are various kinds of drums, yunpangs, mokugyo, and bells in the Beomjonggak. In addition, there are 35 buildings and works of art, such as the elaborately decorated Daewoongjeon, Bujimen, and the stone reliefs of the Daegwangmyeon, which has been preserved for 1,300 years.

5. Tongyeong

It takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes by boat from Busan and 2 hours from Busan West Bus Terminal. During the Imjin War, General Yi Sun-sin, the hero of national salvation, used Tongyeong as a stronghold to fight against the Japanese general Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The large-scale Soldier Cleansing Hall and the Shrine of Loyalty, where the General's tablet is enshrined, were built in 1603 to commemorate the General's great deeds. A bronze statue of General Lee was built at Namwang Park at the end of the harbor, which is also a good place to see the harbor and the sea view of the island.

(4) Gyeongju

Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Dynasty and the cradle of Korea's ancient civilization, has a population of 280,000 people, making it a quiet city. All mountains and valleys, there are tombs of kings, stone towers, Buddha statues, temple ruins; do not go to the museum to explore the ancient, only visit the ancient capital of Gyeongju, is also equivalent to exploring the remains of the ancient splendid culture, so Gyeongju ?quot; no walls of the museum of the name.

From Seoul to Gyeongju, it takes about 4 hours by train on the Gyeongbu Line, Chuo Line or by highway.

Major tourist attractions in Gyeongju:

1. Ancient Burial Mound Park

The park is located about a 5-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station. The park has an area of more than 38,000 pyeongs outside of the Cheonma Mound (where more than 12,000 burial objects were unearthed), with the huge 7 tombs of the Silla kings as the centerpiece, and 23 ancient burial mounds dotted around the area, surrounded by stone walls.

2. Jangseongdae

It is a 5-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station and Ancient Burial Mounds Park. It was built in the early 7th century by stacking 366 stones. It is believed that the astronomical weather was observed with the help of the water mirror at the bottom and the light reflected from the windows, and the stars were used to judge the affairs of the state and harvests.

3. Gyeongju Folk Craft Village

This is a 10-minute ride from Boguksa Temple and a 15-minute ride from Bumun Lake. Located on the way from Bulguksa Temple to Bumun Lake,*** there are 18 craftsmen's workshops making lacquer ware, Silla earthenware, Buddhist paintings, embroidery, metal crafts, paper crafts, bamboo weaving, etc. Visitors can not only see the process of making crafts, but also buy their favorite pieces on the spot as a gift.

4. Geomuk Pond

It is a 15-minute walk from Gyeongju Train Station. It was built by King Munmu of Silla in 674 A.D. to commemorate the unification of the three kingdoms, and only a quarter of the size of the Imhae-jeon Hall and the garden around the lotus pond remain.

5. Wulleung

A 20-minute taxi ride from Gyeongju Station. The tombs of the legendary founder of the Silla Dynasty, Park Hyuk-gyu-se, and his consort, as well as the tombs of the second, third, and fifth kings*** are located here. It is a silent place with hidden pine forests, and the number and shape of the tombs seem to change when viewed from different angles.

6. Bulguksa Temple

It is a 30-minute walk from Gyeongju Railway Station. Boguksa, a World Heritage Site, was built in 535 A.D. In its heyday, the temple expanded to about 10 times its original size, but unfortunately, it was burned down during the Imjin War, and then restored to its current state, with only the stone portions remaining in their original state, which is an indication of the prosperity of the Silla culture.

7. Gialeong

This is a 10-minute ride from Bulguksa Temple. It is the only complete tomb among the royal tombs of the Unified Silla Period. From the shape of the tomb, it can be assumed that it was the tomb of King Wonsung at the end of the 8th century. Between the pine forest, there are stone statues of warriors who look like Persians, stone statues of literati and two pairs of stone lion statues arranged, and there are 12 stone statues of half-animal and half-human on the earthen platform of the ancient tomb behind it.

8. Seokguram Grotto

This is a 20-minute bus ride from the Bulguksa Temple bus stop. It was declared a World Heritage Site together with Bulguksa Temple. It was built in 751 A.D. as an annex to Seokbulsa Temple by Kim Dae-seong, the prime minister at the time, to memorialize his parents. At present, there is no temple, but only a man-made grotto discovered in 1909 at the back of the mountain and a seated statue of Sakya Nyorai, which is a masterpiece in the history of Buddhist art, are preserved.

9. Namsan Mountain

Located at the southern tip of Gyeongju, Namsan Mountain is a 468-meter-high mountain that used to have more than 100 temples in the Silla era, which shows the prosperity of Buddhist culture at that time, but nowadays, only 55 temple ruins, 59 stone Buddhas and 38 stone pagodas remain. If you don't have enough time to visit Namsan, why don't you take a ride to the foot of Namsan and visit the 3 stone Buddhas in Baeri to experience the culture of the Silla era?

Andong, about 3 hours by train from Gyeongju, offers a relaxing place where the old capital and modern civilization coexist, and a masquerade dance show.

(V) Jeju Island

Known as the Island of Fantasy, Jeju is the largest island in South Korea, with an area of 1,825 square kilometers, about 100 kilometers from the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, and in the middle of the island is Haneul, the highest peak in South Korea, which stands at 1,950 meters above sea level. Because of the influence of the warm current flowing through the offshore, Jeju Island has a warm climate and, characterized by subtropical climate, this is an important tourist resort in South Korea.

Jeju Island was built in ancient times as an independent country called Tamnae-guk, so the island has its own unique customs, dialects, and cultural features, as well as a landscape that is different from the rest of Korea. Because there are no thieves or beggars, there is not a single door to be seen on the island's houses, and people live a quiet and peaceful life.

Jeju City, the largest city on the island, is located in the northern part of the island and is the seat of the provincial government; Seogwipo City, the second largest city, is located in the southern part of the island, and there are several transportation routes between the two cities. Regular sightseeing bus tours can be categorized into the Seogwipo and Dongwipo routes, and the journey on each route is two days. Sightseeing tours of the island are mostly on foot, and visitors are advised to wear casual clothes and shoes.

Jeju Island is about 1 hour by plane from Gimpo Airport in Seoul and 45 minutes from Busan; by boat, it takes about 5 1/2 hours from Mokpo and 12 1/2 hours from Busan.

The main tourist attractions on Jeju Island are:

1. Yongbuam

It is about a 15-minute walk from Jungang-ro in Jeju City. It is a rock in the shape of a dragon's head that was formed by lava spewing out of the Haneul caldera and condensing in the sea, and it is said that the dragon was transformed into a rock when it angered the gods.

2. Manjanggul Cave

It is about 50 minutes by car from Jeju City. This lava cave is the world's longest at 13.4 kilometers, formed by lava spewed out of Hanna, but only 1 kilometer is open for tourists to view. It takes about an hour to go back and forth to see the strange rocks formed by the lava shore, and the darkness of the cave is mysterious.

3. Sangunburi

This is a 40-minute bus ride from Jeju City on the 1st Transcontinental Route. It is a typical caldera of Hanna with a circumference of about 2 kilometers, and more than 420 kinds of temperate plants are clustered around the caldera, which are valuable for academic research on temperate plants and alpine plants.

4. Jungbang Waterfall

Located in Seogwipo City, this waterfall is a 10-minute walk from the center of the city. The two waterfalls that cascade down to the sea are 23 meters high and form a majestic landscape with the cliffs along the coast. The view can be seen from above the waterfalls or from the shore below, and you can also enjoy the view from the sea by taking a boat ride.

5. Seongsan Ilchulbong

It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes by bus from Seogwipo City or Jeju City. It is one of the 360 subvolcanoes of Mount Hannasan and is said to be the world's largest caldera protruding from the coast. At the top of the mountain is an open pasture, which can be reached in about 30 minutes by climbing, and the sunrise from there is breathtaking. There are tour boats and motorboats around the periphery of Shiroyama Sunrise Peak, and there are conch and abalone farms on the west coast, where you can watch the sea maidens diving and collecting.

6. Hallasan National Park

At a height of 1,950 meters, it is the highest peak in Korea. The main reason why visitors can't feel its height is that it extends from the bottom of the sea, and the slope is gentle. Jeju Island was also formed during the eruption of Mt. Hanna. The mountain is home to more than 1,800 species of subtropical and frigid plants and wild insects, and the four seasons of Mount Hallasan are characterized by azaleas in the spring, alpine plants in the summer, red leaves in the fall, and snowy landscapes in the winter.

If visitors want to climb the mountain, it is best to prepare accordingly. The 1st and 2nd Transcontinental Highways lead to the entrance of the trail, and the best time to climb the mountain is in May or October when the climate is stable.

7. Chinese Fun Zone

The zone is about an hour's ride on the Western Industrial Road from Jeju City and 20 minutes from Seogwipo City. It is a vacation resort developed by the Korea Tourism Organization and is located in the area where the Hanna Mountain and Coastal Conference was held, which attracts many tourists every year.

The amusement area is well-equipped with hotel facilities and various sightseeing spots with recreational facilities, such as Jeju Tourist Botanical Garden - Rumiji, Cheondiyeon Waterfall, Chinese Golf Course, Chinese Sea Bathing Beach, Royal Marine Park, and Tourist Fishing Village.

(I) Central Region

The central region of Korea is mostly a plain, with railroads and various roads densely spread like a spider's web, but well organized, and the major cities here are Daejeon, Chungju and Cheongju. Daejeon, which hosted the 1993 World Expo, is only a two-hour drive from Seoul, and it is a must-go place to Jirongsan and Cheolisan National Parks, the central region's tourist center city, and the key point of Kyungpusan and Hwanghwan Reds.

Gongju and Buyeo, the capitals of the Baekje Dynasty, have preserved a rich cultural heritage inherited from ancient times. In addition to the ancient city, there are hot springs such as Yuseong and Onyang as well as national parks such as Naesang Mountain, Deokyu Mountain, and Cheolisan Mountain in the area around Daejeon.

(2) Tohoku Region

The Tohoku Region is home to many ski resorts and historical sites, as well as waterfalls, caves, hot springs, sea bathing beaches, national parks, and fishing villages along the coast, with Seoraksan National Park leading the way. Granite peaks, lush valleys, dense forests, mysterious temples, cascading waterfalls, and crystal-clear streams ...... make up the region's beautiful landscape