Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province will host the "Night-lit Fortress City, 2025 Suwon National Heritage Night Tour" from June 13 to 15 at Yongyeon, Suwoncheon, Haenggung-dong, and Yeonmu-dong.
The Suwon National Heritage Night Tour is a festival enjoyed at night, where participants stroll around Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and nearby cultural facilities. The event is hosted by Suwon City, organized by the Suwon Cultural Foundation, and supported by the National Heritage Administration.
This year’s Night Tour, themed around "8 Nights," will begin with a lighting ceremony at the Yongyeon event site on the evening of June 13. It will feature a variety of programs utilizing cultural heritage, including nighttime exhibitions, performances, and hands-on experiences.
The "8 Nights" include: ▲ Nightscape (Yagyeong: viewing cultural heritage illuminated at night), ▲ Night Walk (Yaro: walking the streets at night), ▲ Night History (Yasa: listening to historical stories at night), ▲ Night Art (Yahwa: viewing artworks at night), ▲ Night Performance (Yaseol: enjoying performances at night), ▲ Night Market (Yasi: local market events), ▲ Night Food (Yasik: sampling nighttime cuisine), and ▲ Night Stay (Yasuk: spending a night in Suwon).
Nightscape involves opening cultural heritage sites and facilities at night, with extended hours at Hwaseong Haenggung, Suwon Museum of Art, Suwon Hwaseong Museum, Suwon Intangible Heritage Center, and Hwaseong Sarangchae.
Night Walk features the "Suwon Hwaseong Night Stroll" program, including "Sseudam Sseudam Suwon Hwaseong," an eco-friendly plogging (walking while picking up litter) activity, and "Sappun Sappun Suwon Hwaseong," where visitors can enjoy the night view of Suwon Hwaseong while listening to guides’ stories.
Night History includes performances by Haenggung-dong residents who present the village’s history in theatrical form, as well as night-time cultural heritage tours led by guides around the Yongyeon area.
Night Art offers a variety of exhibitions and hands-on programs, such as "Night-lit Suwoncheon," "Chalkak Chalkak Photographer," "Calling the Past of Suwon," "Yongyeon Illuminated with Lights," and "Connecting Lanterns at Suwon Hwaseong."
Night Performance features traditional intangible heritage performances such as Seungmu and Salpuri dance, a music concert ("Night-lit Yongyeon, When the Sound of Flowers Blooms") held at Yongyeon Jungdo against the backdrop of Banghwasuryujeong, nighttime busking performances by university clubs and local artists at Bukdong Poru ("Songs Sung by Night Lights"), and performances by the Suwon City Arts Troupe ("Enjoy the Night-lit Tour, Spring").
Night Market includes the "Satongpaldal Night-lit Market" at Yongyeon, the "Art Jangdolbaengi" specialized experience market for local artists, and the "Night-lit Market Night-lit Workshop," a hands-on and sales program in collaboration with local merchants’ associations.
Night Food offers special culinary experiences in collaboration with local businesses and private organizations. Programs include "Night-lit Royal Court Tea," where visitors can sample royal cuisine and desserts at the Suwon Traditional Culture Center, "Seongha Night Food," where participants learn about the king’s table, brew liquor, and prepare side dishes, and "Daldaldal," a Joseon Dynasty dessert experience.
Night Stay is a program where participants experience tea ceremonies, meditation, and Barugongyang (monastic meal) at Suwonsa Temple, along with a "Temple Stay in the City" that includes strolling through national heritage sites.
Detailed program information is available on the Suwon National Heritage Night Tour website (blog.naver.com/culturenight_suwon).
A Suwon City official stated, "This year, we have changed the location of the lighting ceremony from Hwaseong Haenggung Square to the Yongyeon area, planning the event to take advantage of Yongyeon’s natural scenery. We hope many people will visit the Suwon National Heritage Night Tour and experience a variety of cultural heritage programs set against the nighttime backdrop of Suwon Hwaseong."
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