Located in downtown Suwon, Wolhwawon Garden is one of the hidden gems for unique style architecture resembling Chinese elements. Read on to discover what lies beneath and what to expect if you were to pay a visit to this garden.
Getting There
Take a subway to Suwon Station (Line 1) and transfer to Suwon City Hall Station (Suin-Bundang line). You can walk out from exit 10 and take a 11-minute walk to Wolhwawon Garden. If you do not prefer walking, another option is to take a bus ride (92, 92-1, 9, 2-1, 9-1, 13-1) from Suwon Station and get off at Gyeonggi Culture Foundation (Maetan Jugong 4.5 Danji) stop.
Address: 397 Dongsuwon-ro, Ingye-dong, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
History behind Wolhwawon Garden
Wolhwawon Gardenโs history dates back from 2003 when a memorandum of agreement is signed by the provincial governments of Gyeonggi-do in South Korea and Guangdong in China. Both parties agreed to establish a traditional garden that represents the other within the city as a symbol of friendship. Following the agreement, the construction of Wolhwawon Garden began on 15th June 2005 and is opened to the public on 17th April 2006. The garden was established by approximately 80 Chinese laborers with the financial aid of 3.4 billion won provided by Guangdong Province.
You can find this sculpture before entering the main gate of Wolhwawon garden.
Insights of Wolhwawon Garden
The garden features elements and details that are inspired by the traditional gardens of Guangdong Province in China. It was constructed with the combination of traditional and modern architecture techniques. As soon as you enter the garden through its main gate, you will find yourself in China!
Look at this Chinese lantern which is found on the ceiling of the main gate! You can definitely tell that this lantern originates from China from its shape and pattern.
The garden is enclosed by walls and includes small ponds, lakes, rockworks, trees, flowers, bridges, halls and pavilions. On top of that, the garden offers breathtaking views of the man-made lake and fountain, visible through the buildingโs windows. Also, you can observe Chinese poems and words in multiple places in the garden.
The landscape of the garden is extremely spectacular because of the reflection of the green trees and plants on the lake. It makes the surroundings look more tranquil and serene!
Instagram Worthy Photo Zones
The garden has emerged as one of the best photo zones, attracting more visitors and tourists since the airing of a Korean TV drama series, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. It is also the shooting location for dramas like The King 2 Hearts (starring Lee Seung-gi) and Bridal Mask.
You can capture many Instagram worthy pictures in this garden. The best seasons to visit this garden are during summer and autumn. During summer, you can enjoy the green panorama of the Chinese garden. On the other hand, you can enjoy a mixture of yellow, orange and red foliage during autumn.
Endnotes
If you have some time to kill in Suwon, make sure to pay a visit to Wolhwawon Garden to experience and appreciate Chinese architecture, culture and art. A leisure stroll in the garden with your loved ones is a must as you can enjoy the quality, temperament, spirit, mood and personality of the garden itself.
