Written by : Essential Expat Experiences
Korea is home to many beautiful gardens, and arguably the best time to visit them is in autumn! The cool breeze rustles the bright red, orange, and green leaves that fall to the ground like snowflakes, and the sky seems bluer than ever before. The Garden of the Morning Calm in Gapyeong is breathtaking in any season, but currently guests are rushing to experience the last days of the autumn foliage before all the leaves fall and winter sets in.
Unlike the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung, the Garden of the Morning Calm is rather new. Opened in 1996, the 0.33 squared-kilometer garden got its name from Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, who described Korea as 'the land of Morning Calm' (source). Guests are invited to explore the grounds and enjoy the flower arrangements, botanical art, cafes, ponds, and greenhouse.
My friends and I spent a couple of hours walking around the garden, taking as many photos as we could and enjoying the fresh air. The garden also features a suspension bridge, which you can cross just after entering the grounds or on your way out.
The easiest way to visit the garden is to join one of the many groups tours that leave multiple days a week from Seoul. If you would like to visit alone, you can take a train to Cheongpyeong Station, then walk to Cheongpyeong Terminal. From there you can take a public bus to the garden. There is also a Gapyeong City Tour Bus that will take you directly from the station to the garden, or you can take a taxi there in about 20 minutes. For more information, please click here.
The entrance fee for adults is 9,500 won, and the garden is open from 8:30 to 19:00 seven days a week. If autumn leaves aren't for you, I recommend visiting during the Lighting Festival, from December 4th 2020 to March 14th 2021! If you would like to drive to the garden, please use this address: 아침고요수목원 대한민국 경기도 가평군 상면 수목원로 432 Garden of Morning Calm Republic of Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Gapyeong-gun, Sangmyeon Sumokwon-ro 432
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