Have you ever imagined the night without any light? The starry sky may feel dreamlike, but it could also be a time of fear due to the darkened sky compared to the daytime. How’s the night with lights nowadays? The light bulb has allowed us to live bright even at night, which has led to many changes. Now, the city’s fancy buildings emit colorful lights, creating a new atmosphere that can only be seen at night. As a result, the night view that we see today has become a world that is dark but bright, which is totally different from daytime. In this article, I am going to introduce some nightscapes around Seoul where you can enjoy a dark, star-filled night or places with a fancy bright night.

Eungbongsan(Mountain of Stars)

The first place I want to share is Eungbongsan. Since this September Edition’s keyword is Moon, I wanted to introduce a place where we can easily see stars and the moon. In order to see the stars at night, the place must not have much artificial light. However, it is not easy to find a place with little light in the city. This makes Eungbongsan even more special. Since it’s a mountain and there isn’t much artificial light, it meets the right condition to observe the stars. This is the reason why I named Eungbongsan “Mountain of Stars”. Though it’s a mountain, the way to *Palgakjeong along the Eungbongsan hiking trail is not too steep, so it can be comfortable for everyone. Looking down from Palgakjeong, on one side we can see cars moving on the eastern highway and Seoul N Tower on the other side. I would like to recommend this night view attraction to someone who wants to enjoy an outpouring of stars in a quiet and dreamy atmosphere.

*’Palgakjeong’ means ‘Octagonal Pavilion’ in Korean. Jeong refers to pavilion in Korean. This is a place for people to take a rest.

Naksan Park (Spot of Dating)

Naksan Park is located in the center of the city (near Hyehwa Station, Dongdaemun, Dongmyo, etc.), so it is a good place to play around and take in the night view. The harmony of the modern and colorful city beyond the old walls make the atmosphere here so special. Due to this, many couples go on a date here. This is the reason why I named this place “Spot of Dating”

Seoul N Tower (Place for Promise)

The next place is Seoul N Tower. Seoul N Tower is on top of Namsan. We can get there by walking or riding a cable car. It takes an hour on foot and is not a hard walk up, but I recommend riding the cable car. It is not only comfortable but also suitable to see the nightlights of Seoul with a glance. As we rise and get farther from the ground, the smaller the buildings become, and the less effect the light emitted by all the buildings in Seoul has, at a glance a spectacular view. Because of this, I think Seoul N Tower is one of the best places to enjoy the city’s fancy night. When you arrive at the top of Namsan, you can see many locks were visible there. Many lovers visit here and lock up the lock and return the key to the key locker. This is a part of tradition called ‘Locks of Love’ and symbolizes eternal love and locking each other’s love tightly. So, I named it “Place for Promise”. Also, we can finally see Seoul N Tower too. Seoul N Tower is surrounded by colorful lights at night. At the top of the tower is an observatory, where you can enjoy viewing the Seoul nightlights from higher up than the cable car. Personally, I think the area where you can hang the lock is more open air, making it better suited for enjoying the night view. Due to COVID-19, the operation hours of the Seoul N Tower are limited from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Saturday until 12 p.m.).

Banpo Han River Park (Picnic + Nightscapes)

Last but not least is Banpo Han River Park. This is the only nightscape place I am introducing which is located near the Han River. Banpo Han River Park also has grass areas for picnics, making it a special place for picnic.

There is a bridge called the Jamsu Bridge, whose lights are located close to the water, creating a unique sight. Walking across the Jamsu Bridge, you can enjoy the splendid scenery of Sebit Island. In addition, Banpo Bridge’s Rainbow Fountain is a night scene recognized by various media around the world. It is also known that many celebrities visit this place to relieve stress because of its beautiful night view and quietness.

Where is your favorite nightscape? I think it depends on the various elements of what you consider a “beautiful night view” according to your taste. Personally, I like to see the stars and quiet places, so my favorite is Eungbongsan. I hope all the readers think about the elements of a beautiful nightscape and have their own favorite night scene.

Chung Yeongyu  ygchung00@naver.com

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