Let's go back in Time

SEOUL | DAY 06

-CHANG-GYEONG GOONG-

Again, I got up early (at least for me) in the morning to go to Chang-gyeong Palace (창경궁) around 10 am. There were only some old grandpas who were there for a morning walk (They were probably seniors so they could go inside for free).

The different halls in this palace served as quarters for the queen and concubines in the Joseon era (15th Century). I was actually surprised by how small each quarter was.

The snow-covered palace offered some odd peaceful feeling. I walked past the pond to the Grand Greenhouse (대온실). The cats running across the frozen pond and chilling on the tree branch kept me accompanied.

I love snow, if I haven’t said that enough already, but it also made me feel even lonelier when I’m alone. I like taking my time to take pictures, but it would be great to have a friend to talk to and reflect on what we see together.

I got inside the Grand Greenhouse where there were various kinds of plants and blooming flowers which was a pretty sight to see in the middle of the snowy winter like this.

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Change-gyeong Palace (창경궁)

Address: 서울특별시 종로구 창경궁로 185 창경궁 (Naver Map)

Hours:

• Ticket time: 9:00~16:30

• Visit time: 09:00~17:30

• Monday: closed

Fee: 1,000₩

Official website: click

-CHANGE-DEOK GOONG-

I walked back to the palace area to another ticket office which is located in the back of the palace and bought a ticket for Chang-deok Palace (창덕궁) -- another palace next door.

There were more people at Chang-deok Palace; either because it was almost noon by the time I got there or this palace is more popular than Chang-gyeong Palace.

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You can see Namsan Tower from here too. There are more halls and pavilions than the other palace. I didn’t get to walk around as much because more people started to come in, and I had more places to go for the day. I actually not into palaces as much as food and art museums which were my next destinations.

Walking there bored me out much faster than the other palace, so I just took some pictures and left. I'm sure that I might like it better if I got more time to walk around and explore every corner of the palace. Maybe, I will give this place another try.

Chang-deok Palace (창덕궁)

Address: 창덕궁 서울특별시 종로구 와룡동 2-71 (Naver Map)

Hours:

• 9:00~17.30 (Ticket Sales ends at 16:30 in Nov-Jan period)

• Secret garden closed at 16:30

• Monday: closed

Fee:

• 3,000₩— The Palace Building Area Only

• 8,000₩ — The Palace Building Area + The Secret Garden