Finally getting around to writing up posts on the trip I made to Seoul last November with my buddy Lorie, and I’m starting things out slow and relaxed, and nothing could be more relaxing than a stream, right? I certainly had a bit of that vibe when we took a quick peek at Cheonggyecheon right before we headed towards Gyeongbukgong Palace.
The first time I visited Seoul, it was… a whirlwind. We were just barely able to squeeze in a walk around Gwanghamun before heading off to Gyeongbukgong, so Cheonggyecheon Stream was off my radar. This time, I was intent on seeing a glimpse of it, seeing as it’s just a block away from Gwanghamun.
From where we were staying at Myeongdong, we took the subway and headed to Gwanghamun. We followed the exit pointing to Cheonggyecheon, and when we surfaced at road level, we got a glimpse of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, King Sejong, Gyeongbukgong Palace, and Mt. Bugak in the far distance.
We were headed there, but first, Cheonggyecheon. So we had to turn the other way and cross the street.
It was clearly a thriving business district – one of many in Seoul. There were several high-rises, like the Seoul Finance Center and the main building of Kyobo Book Store (on the left, below pic), which is the largest bookstore chain in South Korea. On the other side of the intersection are more buildings, and I spotted high-end brands.
We weren’t sure which direction to take to find the stream, so we just crossed another street and saw this:
Located in front of the Seoul Finance Center, this is the “Spring Tower”, one of the landmarks on Cheonggye Plaza.
This marked the start of Cheonggye Plaza, which is a popular venue for cultural events.
What I liked about it, though, was how it looked like an oasis of sorts. When you’re there, you’d forget that you just got off a really busy boulevard and bustling intersection.
Already, it struck me that this is a popular place for introspection and dating. We spotted lone walkers, couples strolling, and groups of friends walking around.
This is the “Candlelight Fountain” which, many sources say, looks spectacular at night, when it is all lit up.
Here’s what the Candlelight Fountain looks like from the other side.
Now imagine it illuminated, with the water spewing out and flowing into the stream. It screams “date night”, haha! I was fascinated with the details, though.
Now we move on to the actual stream itself.
Presenting Cheonggyecheon. Where it begins.
I’m guessing this is a wishing well, or something like it. There was a warning sign next to it that says not to take the coins, if I remember correctly.
Cheonggyecheon used to be a stream or waterway that was used even before the Joseon era (that’s from 1400s until around 1910). So, yes, it is old. But an urban renewal project was initiated, and the stream was part of it. It is 11 kilometers long, and it runs from the west part of Seoul, through its center, to the east to flow to the Han River, or Hangang.
There was a sign that detailed the Cheonggyecheon Restoration. A bit of a summary:
During the Joseon period (1392 to 1910), it was a normal stream where housewives did their laundry. In 1760, it underwent renovations.
When the Joseon ended, it became a shanty town, particularly during the Korean War (1950-53).
Beginning 1958, restoration work took place, with the goal of returning it to its former glory as a clean stream. All the restoration work were deemed completed on October 1, 2005.
It looks beautiful. And long, from where we were standing.
Apparently, there are 22 bridges along the length of the stream. We walked through three only. 🙂 If we had more time, we probably would have walked the entire length, until we reached the Hangang, but we didn’t. Sadly. Maybe next time?
From the distance, you can see a bridge (photo below). That’s the Gwangtonggyo, which used to be the largest of all the bridges of the stream during the Joseon period.
Here’s Lorie on one of the bridges. 🙂 And yes, you can see some people with umbrellas. Because the weather chose to go emo at that moment (it was only 2pm-ish!) and it started drizzling~
We went down to the stream level to get a closer “feel”. I just found out that there’s also a Cheonggye Museum nearby. And a Tunnel Fountain. And several murals across the length of the walls. I’ll make sure to check them out next time. *crosses fingers*
There was this footpath that lets you cross the stream, made from slabs of stone, and it was a favorite among those who wanted to take photos. 🙂 We joined the fray. Look at her go~!
It is apparent how they are taking care of this place of heritage. When we got there, a group of workers (in their older years) were cleaning the stream, presumably removing the algae and moss that accumulated.
This was one of the many times I wished we did this back home. *le sigh*
How to get to Cheonggyecheon:
The subway is definitely the fastest way to do it, unless you know your way around, then you can probably go at it walking. But we wanted to save time instead of wandering around, so subway it is. Oh, and you should definitely download the SUBWAY app. It was a lifesaver and a timesaver for the entire duration of our stay in Seoul.
I suggest making Gwanghamun Station as your stop. You will find signs pointing the direction towards Cheonggyecheon, so you just follow it. That’s what we did.
I just found out there are guided tours available, even in English. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, because Korea is so very friendly to tourists. 🙂 There are 2 routes, and both last around 3 hours. Just check out their official website for more info, especially on how you can reserve a spot.
You can pack all three – Cheonggyecheon, Gwanghamun and Gyeongbukgong – in one afternoon. Probably longer if you want to linger for a bit at the King Sejong museum….. but that’s for another post. 🙂
See you then!
