Hwaseong Fortress
Suwon Hwaseong was established in September 1796. The Emperor Chongjo moved his seat of government to Mount Paldal in Suwon, and he encircled it with strong defensive works laid out according to the precepts of an influential military architect of the period, who brought together the latest developments in the field from both east and west.
The site consists of 48 monuments in total: the massive walls, four gates, bastions, artillery towers, and more. It partly was burnt down during the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War, but renovation works in the 1970s restored it to its former glory.
Visit September 2001
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The fortress is still quite intact: a lot of different towers, four gates and the city wall can be seen today. The best thing to do is walk the city walls - then you pass all sights. This tour is about 5.5 kilometers long, but will take you an hour or two because of the steep climbs involved.
Because of the burning heat at the day I visited the site, I did only half of the tour. Still worthwhile though: as most of the monuments I visited in Korea it is renovated very well.
Reviews
Frederik Dawson (Netherlands):
 Just approximately one hour by metro system from Seoul is Suwon, at first sight this is another typical modern Korean city with big railway station, lots of high rise apartments and wide avenues; it seem to be no reason to visit this place, but until you reach the city center to discover the amazing city wall and fortress of Hwaseong.
Hwaseong was built in 18th century to protect the new city and royal mausoleums with special technique and design influenced by China and Europe making it one of the first civil engineering in Asia to be constructed under the concept of east meet west. Hwaseong was once a circular city wall, but sadly after wars and public neglect, the southern part of city wall was completely demolished, except the city gate of Paldalmun, and is now look liked a big horseshoe protecting the city center.
From my observation, most of tourists start their visit from Paldalmun, the southern gate, and hike up to the peak of Mount Paldalsan for city view resulting exhausting experience and have to unexpectedly end their wall walk, I highly recommended skipping the Mount Paldalsan part and start your trip from the photogenic western gate of Hwaseomun and walk along the wall passing Janggamun, the northern gate, and the beautiful and unique Hwahongmun which has small stream pass under until you reach the pretty Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion and its beautiful park.
The city of Suwon was also nice with many good tourist attractions and restaurants; Suwon is also famous for its galbi or Korean barbeque. All in all I really enjoyed my trip to Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress and hope everyone who visit South Korea should visit this city and its small Great Wall of Korea. |
| Date posted: May 2008 |
C H Ho (Hong Kong, China):
Actually, it is a circular wall with 4 large towers at 4 directions. This is a little Great Wall in Hwasong. I have walked half of the city walls. I enjoyed the view to the city so much at the top of the hill in the west parts of the walls. |
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