The third part of my story about the large palace complex in central Seoul is dedicated to the Secret Garden, located within Changdeokgung Palace. In the previous two articles, I wrote about the shrine and the residences found here; today we’ll take a walk through the former royal retreat.
The Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace (“Palace of Prospering Virtue”) was built in 1405. It was regarded as the city’s second residence after Gyeongbokgung. Over time, the complex expanded, with various pavilions, educational buildings, streams, and ponds added.
The Secret Garden (also called Huwon) began to take shape a year after the palace was built. Over the years, its territory expanded several times. Most of the garden structures were destroyed during the 1592 invasion, but by 1610 the area had been restored.
The garden was used by kings and their families for leisure and walks. Poetry was composed here; people fished, rode boats, launched fireworks, practiced agriculture, and raised silkworms. One information panel mentioned an interesting fact: unlike other similar sites, Seoul’s Secret Garden also served as a venue for military drills.
The territory of the Secret Garden is divided into four sections with ponds and pavilions. Near the start of the route I came across a modern facility referred to as a “cooling center.” It’s air-conditioned, so visitors can sit and cool down during hot weather. There’s a drinks vending machine inside, and a restroom nearby.
How to Visit the Secret Garden
Visitors have a choice: enter the Secret Garden with a guide (tours are offered in English, Korean, and Chinese) or walk through the garden independently. In both cases, entry to the garden is only at the exact time stated on your ticket. The ticket office is located near the entrance and accepts cash and bank cards.
I came here on Culture Day: admission to the palace complexes was free then, but I still had to pay for the Secret Garden ticket — 5,000 won. On regular days, admission to the palace itself is also paid (3,000 won). Combined tickets for several palaces are sold at the ticket offices, but they do not include entry to the Secret Garden either.
In my next article about Seoul, I’ll tell you about the Studio Ghibli Collection store — a definite must-see for fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s work.
Happy walks!
