Secret Garden of Changdeokgung Palace in August
I've been to Changdeokgung Palace many times, but this was my first visit to the Secret Garden (Huwon).
The entrance fee is ₩5,000.
They limit entries to 100 people per time slot.
(50 online reservations + 50 on-site tickets)
I got to see it with an on-site ticket.
It seems some time slots sell out quickly due to popularity.
The general admission fee for Changdeokgung Palace is ₩3,000, so it's ₩8,000 if you also visit the Secret Garden.
However, since I came from Changgyeonggung Palace, I had to pay ₩1,000 for Changgyeonggung's entrance fee, so it cost me ₩9,000 in total...
I can't help but wonder, shouldn't Changgyeonggung and Changdeokgung be integrated?!
The tour starts with everyone gathering and being led by a guide.
You can explore on your own if you prefer, but I recommend listening to the guide at least once.
They share detailed history and interesting stories related to the Secret Garden.
It was amazing to discover such a beautiful garden deep inside the palace.
It makes sense, though, because in the past, only royalty and high-ranking officials were allowed to enter.
Even now, you need to make a reservation due to the limited number of people, so it's quite a special experience.
Here's a view of Buyongji Pond and Gyujanggak Pavilion.
I heard the pond is usually full of lotus flowers, but they cleaned it all the way to the bottom for maintenance.
Currently, they've planted lotus seeds and are waiting for them to grow.
This is Yeonghwadang, like a guesthouse in the Secret Garden.
It's a place where guests could relax, watch events in the front yard, and enjoy the view of the pond.
The sky seen from the Secret Garden.
Although it was a hot summer day, the sky was clear and vivid.
This is Aeryeonjeong Pavilion, which means "loving the lotus flower."
Changdeokgung Secret Garden was created to preserve the surrounding nature as much as possible.
The deeper you go, the quieter and more peaceful it becomes, as if you're becoming one with nature.
The entrance to Yeongyeongdang, where banquets and performances were held.
The signboard says Jangnakmun, meaning "enjoy happiness forever."
Doesn't the signboard seem to radiate dopamine? Haha.
Heungseon Daewongun wrote the signboard.
These are dragon paintings symbolizing the king's authority.
You might miss them if you didn't know, but the guide explained it in a fun way, so I was able to listen carefully.
"Imagine walking through the garden like royalty."
Every view is beautiful.
Why did I only visit the Secret Garden now?
I want to change the faucet in my house.
A particularly special experience during this Secret Garden visit was seeing a single lotus flower blooming in Buyongji Pond.
It was an Ara lotus flower, dating back to the Silla Dynasty!
The seeds were buried in the mud for a long time.
After being excavated, it was planted in Buyongji Pond in Changdeokgung Secret Garden and bloomed.
The feeling of seeing a thousand-year-old lotus flower in 2025...
I couldn't take my eyes off it for a while.
This is Juhamnu Pavilion and Seohyanggak Pavilion on the left.
Seohyanggak, whose name means "fragrance from books,"
was where various precious books were stored.
After touring Changdeokgung Secret Garden for about two hours with a historical explanation,
I wanted to see the scenery that changes with each season again.
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