Yes, I’ve arrived back from Beijing and I have stories and photos to share, but before I begin those massive postings I thought I would share a recent trip to Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon.
To get there involves mass transit, like the Seoul Subway system, or the option we took The Bus!
First step on the road to the Fortress is to travel to Sadang Station on line 2 & 4. Then you have to use exit 4 and find the bus sign for the red 7770. This bus will pass the North Gate of the Fortress and all you have to do is jump off.
The bus runs about every 20 minutes so no worries if you miss one.
Hwaseong Fortress sits comfortably in the heart of Suwon. In fact it more or less has become a part of Suwon as the city itself has continued to grown around and inside the fortress intermixing old crumbling towers and turrets with Seven Elevens, shops, and small apartment houses.
The fortress is huge and covers a large amount of ground. The day turned out to be drab and overcast but that didn’t damper our spirits. We forged ahead and made it in time to watch some of the 24 Style martial arts performance.
The performers wielded an endless progression of weapons from daggers to spears and good old fashioned hand to hand fighting was not forgotten.
After the show we continued on touring the grounds and stumbled upon this statue.
The view of Suwon from the heights of the fortress provided some great moments on the trip.
This church in particular really jumped out since there is nothing else remotely like it in the surrounding area.
A small waterfall led up to a pigeon roost. People fed the birdsand it was like a scene from the birds except with less eye gouging.
Here sighseers could taste water from a natural spring. We passed on that opportunity.
Seojangdae, or part of it, at the top of a hill.
On the way down we passed the garden of wild flowers, but trust me there wasn’t much happening there.
Seoporu
My friends stage the Charlie’s Angels do Suwon scene.
Janganmun, the North Gate, finds us full circle. With rain on the way we demurred and left the rest of the Fortress for another day.
Here is some of the martial arts footage. Enjoy!
This place is one of the better meaning more interesting places to see. It sure beats all those palaces that look alike.
It was a highlight to me as well. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Glad you stopped by and glad you found the post helpful! Havce fun at the fortress!
Nice post. I’m going to be going there soon. Now I know a bit more about the bus than I did before, and won’t have to wing it from Sadang. Thanks.