It is always nice to take a break from city life and stroll through a beautiful garden. The Garden of Morning Calm in Gyeonggi-do is the ideal place to visit if you wish to witness nature’s splendour in all its splendour. The park is also situated in front of Chungryeongsan Mountain, which provides a magnificent backdrop.
Professor Han Sang-Kyung, who had long desired to own a greenhouse, established the garden in 1996. Several installations are held every season to keep visitors returning each quarter.
The garden has a total of 27 themed sections. The Sunken Garden symbolizes the desire for the reunification of the two Koreas and is a must-see for first-time visitors.
The garden contains over 5,000 plant species, 300 indigenous to Baekdusan Mountain. P picturesque pathways lined with pine trees connect the various sections of the park. Because the garden is so expansive, it is helpful to have the map downloaded to your phone, so you can easily navigate.
Numerous dramas, including Love in the Moonlight (2016), and The Alchemy of Souls, was filmed in the garden, contributing to its popularity with tourists.
The Spring Festival, held from mid-April to the end of May, showcases an exquisite array of magnolias, azaleas, forsythia, Japanese apricots, and cherry blossoms.
Exhibitions featuring summer flowers such as iris, hydrangea, and roses are held during the summer.
You may also immerse yourself with the warm tones of autumn foliage at the Maple Festival, held in October.
Winter’s Lighting Festival is, without question, the most anticipated event of the year. The Lighting Festival is the largest illumination event in Korea, boasting a massive display of 30,000 lights across 330,000sqm, which is the size of 46 football fields.
Typically, the colourful decorative lights span the principal gardens, including the Bonsai Garden, Hometown House Garden, Hakyung Garden, Sky Path, and Garden of Eden.
For safety reasons, the lights will be turned off during inclement weather.
Adult tickets to The Garden of Morning Calm cost KRW11,000 (USD7.81), while youth and child tickets cost KRW8,500 (USD6.03) and KRW7,500 (USD5.32), respectively.
Take the subway or bus to Cheongpyeong Station / Terminal to reach the location. The alternative is a 20-minute taxi ride that costs approximately KRW17,000 (USD12.07).
Additionally, you can take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus, which costs KRW8,000 (USD5.68) per person daily for an unlimited number of rides. In addition to the garden, the city tour bus will take you to Gapyeong’s significant attractions, including Gapyeong Rail Bike, Nami Island, and Petite France.
Visit their website for bus schedule information.
