Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, Day 4

When we pulled up to the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in what is by all means a city environment, I was rendered momentarily breathless. Unlike the statuesque glass buildings erect all over Gangnam, this was something else. Stretching some 5.7 kilometres, the wall plays a role as both physical defence and a burial ground for the father of King Jeongjo who was the 22nd king of the Joseon Dynasty (July 1392 to October 1897).

The fortress was designed by Silhak scholars Yu, Hyeong-won and Jeong Yak-yong and carries european architectural nuances due to the inspiration gained by the Crown Prince on his travels to China. Built over 2 years and nine months from January 1794, it is considered a unique structure in Korea’s history of architecture due to its use of stone and bricks in tandem in a modern fortress structure to deflect arrows, spears, swords, guns and cannons; and scientific and practical mechanic apparatuses such as the Geojunggi (a pulley system).

Its green archery fields and immaculate structure from the Bongdon (Beacon tower) to Porus (Sentry posts), due to restoration and diligent maintainence, found home in my heart as a truly beautiful sight. And under the light of an azure blue sky, the fortress’s juxtaposition against a panoramic city skyline was stunning.

It’s not difficult to see why this interesting fixture in the Seoul was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1997. Our hosts, Zoer and Kelly, took a little spin around the grounds. Check it out!

With lots of love,
Gumihos and the Saram (Kelly Choo, Zhu Yuan Laura, Ryan Lok, Kimberly Teo, Zoer Ng & Felicia Tan)

Article by Zhu Yuan Laura
Video edited by Ryan Lok
Video shot by Kimberly Teo & Kelly Choo
Photos by Ryan Lok
Hosted by Zoer Ng & Kelly Choo