Songpa-gu Introduces 4 Colorful Autumn Foliage Paths in the City
Recommended for Enjoying Deep Autumn Walks: ▲Wirye Seonggil ▲Seokchon Lake ▲Seongnaecheon ▲Seokchon-dong Ancient Tombs
Due to abnormal weather, autumn is gradually becoming shorter. There is limited time to enjoy the fall foliage.
Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) introduces four great spots in Songpa for enjoying autumn leaves within the city without having to travel far.
■ Shortened Autumn, Golden Scenery Allowed for Only One Month: ‘Wirye Seong-gil’
When you arrive at Wirye Seong-gil, an exclamation of “Wow” naturally bursts out. This is because a long row of ginkgo tree-lined streets stretches along both sides of the approximately 2.7 km sidewalk from the Peace Gate of Olympic Park to South Gate 2. Every November, the golden tunnel created by the towering ginkgo trees offers an unforgettable breathtaking view.
With Olympic Park nearby, it is perfect for walking your dog and enjoying exercise amidst the autumn foliage. This year, it was also selected as one of Seoul’s ‘103 Autumn Foliage Paths’.
■ Perfect for Fully Enjoying Autumn Leaves in the City: ‘Seokchon Lake’
Autumn at Seokchon Lake is a spectacular sight. Colorful autumn leaves settle on the lake, and the city’s tall buildings connecting with the sky create an unreal beauty. It takes about an hour to leisurely walk a full circle from the East Lake near Lotte World Mall to the West Lake. At the West Lake, there is also a 320-meter-long mud trail where you can experience barefoot walking.
Another advantage is the availability of cultural and artistic spaces by the lakeside. The West Lake houses the ‘Cultural Experiment Space Lake’ and ‘Seokchon Lake Atelier.’ Performances and exhibitions featuring Songpa’s unique content and stories, centered on local artists, are held here. Additionally, at the East Lake, you can visit ‘The Gallery Lake,’ which newly opens in mid-November.
■ Enjoy Autumn Leaves and Sunset Together... The Peak Autumn Walk: ‘Seongnaecheon’
At ‘Seongnaecheon,’ you can witness the splendid late autumn scenery. The high sky, autumn leaves, and the sunset blending with the river create a truly magnificent view. The Seongnaecheon autumn foliage path stretches about 1 km from behind Jamhyeon Elementary School to in front of Seoul Olympic Parktel. Although short, the tunnel of autumn leaves created by cherry trees, along with silver grass and reeds, makes it ideal for enjoying late autumn.
Walking along the stream past this section leads to Songpa-gu’s Han River sunset spot. The Olympic Bridge, the setting sun and evening glow above it, and the river together create a dazzling spectacle. Listen to the flowing water, birdsong, and the rustling of autumn leaves, and fully immerse yourself in the autumn atmosphere while enjoying the sunset.
■ Enjoy Sky Meditation, Stone Meditation, and Autumn Leaf Meditation at ‘Seokchon-dong Ancient Tombs’
‘Seokchon-dong Ancient Tombs’ are royal and noble tombs from the Hanseong Baekje period, holding high historical value. Around the massive stone mound tombs resembling pyramids, there is a walking trail extending over 1 km. The entire area is flat and easy for anyone to walk, and above all, it is quiet and peaceful, making it perfect for leisurely walking and enjoying sky meditation, stone meditation, and autumn leaf meditation.
The site offers a wide-open, scenic view with colorful autumn landscapes spreading broadly over the tombs. Especially, the Lotte Tower, the tallest building in Korea, is visible at a glance, creating a unique landscape blending with the Baekje-era stone tombs. With richly colored autumn leaves as well as history and culture, it is highly recommended for families to visit together.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “In Songpa-gu, you can experience beautiful scenery rarely seen in the city, including tunnels of autumn leaves created by ginkgo, zelkova, and king cherry trees, as well as lakes dyed in vivid colors. With autumn becoming shorter, I recommend enjoying the late autumn atmosphere on Songpa’s diverse autumn foliage paths without having to travel far.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
