Seoul, the capital of South Korea, boasts one of the country’s most important and splendid historic landmarks, the majestic Changdok-Kung Palace that was once the private domain of the Korean royal family which, along with the older Gyeongbokgung Palace, was the centre of power of the legendary Joseon Dynasty.

The palace area consists of three sections, administrative, residential and parkland and although most of what can be seen today is not the original, the character of the palace has been faithfully restored.

Beyond the entrance to Huwon, the ‘Secret Garden’, is an enchanting, idyllic world that contains several small pagodas and pavilions. Indeed, the peaceful remoteness of the Huwon makes it easy to forget that it is situated within the huge and bustling metropolis of Seoul.

The strong sense of tradition of the South Korean people and their rich, historic legacy is most certainly reflected by the magnificent buildings of the Changdok-Kung.