By Jennifer Herriger and Cheyenne Reed
While taking a bus to or from the widely-known Suwon station, you just might drive through the famous Hwaseong Fortress, the only remaining completely walled city in Korea.
Known for its ancient royal palace and other tourist attractions, many people come in and out of the town every day, passing by a well-hidden treasure.
Just past the South Gate entrance (Paldalmun), conveniently located by the main bus stop, there is an outstanding traditional Korean street market, which stretches several blocks in every direction. Some might compare it to the more popular Namdaemun market, in which this market has many similarities to, however there are quite a few significant differences.
In size comparison, Namdaemun expands over a much larger area, but what Hwaseong market lacks in size it makes up for in variety and bargain pricing. Also, after spending time at both places, it seems as though Hwaseong is a much more traditional market, opposite the strong “touristy” feel that can be given off at Namdaemun. If it is the truly traditional Korean market that you are looking for, Hwaseong is a great place to spend a day as it is lesser known amongst the foreign crowd.
One of the greatest aspects of the market in Hwaseong is its diversity. Here, you can find anything from kitchenware to hiking equipment to groceries, and everything in between.
We were most excited about the significantly lower prices of clothing, including business, casual and outdoor apparel.
Some unusual and interesting finds here were pet chipmunks, whole pig heads, and traditional Korean furniture, which we fell in love with. Tucked away in one corner, you can even find a little shop that sells popular western foods and condiments such as BBQ sauce, Oreos, and the like. No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find it here!
Continuing on the path of the fortress perimeter, you will cross the Suwoncheon and enter the food market, with a variety of wonderful tastes and smells. Again, no matter what you are craving, your appetite is likely to be fulfilled. Each trip here is a new adventure, because you will find something different every time you walk the streets of this market.
If you find yourself in this area for the market, there are many other things to see and do here as well.
The first, and most obvious is the Hwaseong Fortress. The palace, called Hwaseong Haenggung, is only a few blocks past the South Gate, towards the center of the city. This serves as a good starting place if you plan to visit the fortress. You can purchase tickets here to enter the palace, although additional tickets need to be purchased when walking up through the fortress and at the Bell of Hyowon.
After visiting the palace, a short walk down a path will lead to you a Buddhist sanctuary, with an enormous golden Buddha statue. This is easy to find, since you simply walk towards the Buddha, which can be easily spotted from the palace. For an additional fee, there is a trolley that can take you around the outside walls of the fortress. The walls are veined through the town, and can be seen from the Seojangdae lookout point. This spot offers breathtaking views of the city and surrounding mountains.
An additional area of interest in Hwaseong would be The Holy Land of Suwon Catholicism, which is located almost exactly in the center of the fortress. If you are looking for a giant, dark brown cathedral (yes, it even has a massive parking garage), it is very easy to spot from the higher points along the fortress walls.
If you prefer to walk the outer walls of the fortress, you can expect to spend roughly two to three hours, since there are many lookouts and stations to observe throughout the walk. If you are anything like us and stop often for photos and shopping, you can expect to spend an entire day. We would recommend visiting this area, as there is so much packed into such a small area.
Also, the market is one of our favorite places to escape to. The sights in the Hwaseong area are stunning, so don’t forget your camera!!
