[Seoul District News] Jongno-gu Operates 6 Observation Decks at Inwangsan and Bugaksan Mountains
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] As the Blue House opens to the public and more people seek outdoor activities, Jongno-gu is making efforts to maintain and manage the local observatories, where visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Seoul city, in a pleasant environment.
In particular, six observatories located around Bukaksan and Inwangsan Mountains are receiving much love from hikers and citizens on outings.
The three Bukaksan observatories, gaining attention due to the full opening after 54 years, share the great advantage of offering views of the forest along with the cityscape including Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Blue House. The three Inwangsan observatories have no separate entry time restrictions, allowing anyone to freely enjoy the night view, making them consistently popular throughout the year, including during the year-end and New Year holidays.
Among them, the recently established ‘Cheongwadae Observatory’ was created by Jongno-gu following the maintenance of the hiking trail behind the Blue House. It can be reached by walking through Manse-dongbang and Daetongmun from Cheongundae Observatory.
Passing Baegakmaru and Cheongundae on the Hanyangdoseong Trail, you will encounter the ‘Gokjang Observatory.’ Gokjang refers to a part of the fortress wall that is rounded and protrudes as a crucial defensive point. From this observatory, you can see not only Pyeongchang-dong but also the southern view of Bukhansan Mountain in the distance.
Climbing the ‘Cheongundae Observatory’ on the southern Bukaksan trail, opened in April this year, offers a view of Bukaksan adorned with lush pine trees, showcasing even greener beauty.
Additionally, the Mumudae (photo) located on Inwangsan, representing Jongno, should not be missed. Situated midway along the Inwangsan footpath, it is a popular spot crowded with people watching the sunrise every January 1st.
If you plan to hike to the summit of Inwangsan, it is also good to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery from the observatory located on the trail section starting from the Inwangcheon mineral spring towards the summit. Established last year as part of Jongno-gu’s trail maintenance project, on days without fine dust, you can even see Lotte Tower in Jamsil.
The small Buam-dong Observatory, the last observatory on Inwangsan found by following the trail near Jaham Art Museum, also draws attention. It allows you to feel the charm of both Cheongun-dong and Bukaksan simultaneously.
Moreover, Jongno-gu has received favorable reviews for creating a wonderful resting space for citizens by utilizing the military and police posts scheduled for demolition within Inwangsan. The ‘Inwangsan Post Bookstore,’ opened in November 2020, and the ‘Inwangsan Forest Rest Area,’ opened in November 2021, have become hot spots in the city for healing both physical and mental health.
Furthermore, this month, the remodeling of the underground parking lot at Bukak Pavilion has been completed and operations have resumed. This reflects the intention to support citizens’ use of the area in a pleasant environment by replacing the old and worn entrance asphalt, among other improvements.
A district official stated, “We plan to continuously implement the creation of observatories, expansion of resting spaces, and improvement of convenience facilities so that citizens and hikers can enjoy hiking more safely and comfortably,” and added, “We recommend taking the opportunity this weekend to climb the Bukaksan or Inwangsan observatories and enjoy Jongno’s beautiful natural environment and major attractions.”
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