Lovely White Angel: Korea trip to Changdeokgung, Seoul 2013 during Chunseok Festival

Before I start to write about this place. Let me write about this palace history first..

Changdeokgung (Hangul, 창덕궁, 昌德宮; literally, "Prospering Virtue Palace") — also known as Changdeokgung Palace or Changdeok Palace — is set within a large park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the "Five Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).As it is located east of Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeokgung — along with Changgyeonggung — is also referred to as the "East Palace" (동궐, 東闕, Donggwol) (Info from Wikipedia)

Changdeokgung was the most favored palace of many Joseon princes and retained many elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung. One such element is the fact that the buildings of Changdeokgung blend with the natural topography of the site instead of imposing themselves upon it. It, like the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, was heavily damaged during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945). Currently, only about 30% of the pre-Japanese structures survive.(Info from Wikipedia)

Where was this place situated?

Seoul... You can get out form Anguk Station (Subway line 3) and you need to pass by Hyundai Company and walk for 5 minutes

To get in there, you need to pay for the admission fees (3000 won). You can also choose to join the tour for Huwon (Secret Garden) (5000 won).. Its worth to join the tour... Both combined fees would be around RM 24...Really worth it.. I was amazed by this place. This place is nice in spring and autumn. We went in early autumn, so the trees haven't change the color yet.. A little upset about it, but it is a good experience..

Some how, I like this trees.. It looks like crippled tree when it was supported in that way.. hehehe

It is Chunseok festival during our visits. So we found a group of kids hanging around with their traditional dress.. They are so adorable... We kidnapped them and forced them to took few picture with us.. They really hate it.. Hehe

Huwon aka Secret Garden

Behind the palace lies the 78-acre (32 ha) Huwon (후원, 後苑, Rear garden) which was originally constructed for the use of the royal family and palace women. The garden incorporates a lotus pond, pavilions, and landscaped lawns, trees, and flowers. There are over 26,000 specimens of a hundred different species of trees in the garden and some of the trees behind the palace are over 300 years old. The garden for the private use of the king had been called 'Geumwon' (금원, 禁苑, Forbidden garden) because even high officials were not allowed to enter without the king's permission. It had also been called 'Naewon' (내원, 內苑, 'Inner garden'). Today Koreans often call it 'Biwon' (비원, 秘院, Secret garden) which derived from the office of same name in the late 19th century. Though the garden had many other names, the one most frequently used through Joseon dynasty period was 'Huwon'.

We were busy listened to the tour guide and had fun.. And I was too busy enjoying the nature and the palace.. Felt like heaven. The King and the Queen date spot...