Hwaseong Fortress

Back in July, some friends and I decided to take a day trip to Suwon, just south of Ansan, to see the impressive Hwaseong Fortress. Built in the late 1700's, Hwaseong Fortress encloses most of Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-Do. The extensive fortress was designed by King Jeongjo to honor and house the remains of his father Prince Sado, who was murdered by his own father after disobeying orders to commit suicide. The monstrous wall lent the familiar Korean surroundings a unique atmosphere and created its own lush, green world within its confines.

A chance to reenact the target practice of Kings...

... for an uncomfortable number of people at one time.

After finishing up at the fortress, we stumbled upon a Korean palace and Buddhist temple. The giant shiny Buddha was hard to miss from its perch atop a large hill and led us directly to the site. As usual, the surrounding grounds were beautiful, tranquil, and appropriately zenful.

Inside the shrine

The palace entrance

A 600 year-old "Divine Tree," which was around long before the Hwaseong Fortress was ever built.

Palace games...

are fun for...

...everyone!