So recently, one of my colleagues dubbed me the 'Flower Fairy' because I literally spend most of my free time in a park or garden somewhere in Korea looking at flowers. Like a storm chaser, I'm chasing blossoming flowers around the country, and each month celebrates a new flower.
This month my focus has been on lotus flowers, and I've set my sights on a few locations where you can see them at their best. I have already visited some of these places, but the others are on my bucket list. Seeing as it's already summer and the flowers are in bloom now, I'll share with you all of the places I plan to go so that you too can appreciate the beauty of these flowers.
Lotus flowers typically begin blooming in Korea from late June, reach their peak in July, and fade away by mid-August. The combination of high temperatures, intense sun, and humidity creates perfect conditions for these stunning plants. But this isn't the only time you'll see lotus flowers in Korea. In Korean Buddhism, the lotus flower symbolises faithfulness, spiritual awakening, and purity. For this reason, it won't be hard to find images of these flowers in paintings and statues, particularly if you're visiting one of Korea's many temples.
So where are some of the best places to see real lotus flowers this season? Let's take a look.
Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul
Address: 73, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Let's begin our lotus flower journey in Seoul as this is where I live and is probably where most of you are spending your time in Korea.
Of course I always recommend that, if you can, you should try to visit places outside of Seoul during your stay in Korea. Each city and province has its own unique charm and beauty and it would be shame not to experience it. However, sometimes we're really limited on time and have to prioritise which places we see. Therefore, if you're only spending time in Seoul you still have a chance to see the lotus flowers, and while you're at it why not take a look around a temple too?
Bongeunsa Temple is located in Seoul's Gangnam district. One of the many things I love about Seoul is how you can always find a little piece of history tucked away amongst the ultra-modern buildings. Against the backdrop of the skyscrapers you'll find this hidden temple which offers sanctuary to those seeking peace in a bustling city.
Built in 794 CE, the temple was originally named Gyeongseonsa but in 1498 Queen Jeonghyeon refurbished it and renamed it Bongeunsa. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was the largest temple in Seoul and it became the centre of Buddhism's revival in Korea.
I haven't had the opportunity to visit Bongeunsa Temple so far, but if I have the chance I will share my photos with you here!
Semiwon Garden, Yangpyeong
Address: 428-8, Yongdam-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
So this is where I headed last weekend. Semiwon Garden is a botanical garden that specialises in lotus flowers and waterlilies, and with it being just an hour from Seoul (depending where you're travelling from in Seoul), it's perfect for a day trip.
For just 5,000 won you can explore the 6 ponds ponds which are teaming with over 50 different species of lotus. To the untrained eye the lotuses can be distinguished simply by colour, with some ponds containing white lotuses and others containing red (pink) ones. The white lotus pond is by far the largest and most impressive, but there are some smaller ponds in the western part of the garden that have purple, blue and yellow waterlilies which are equally as beautiful.
For more information about Semiwon Garden, check out its own dedicated page on the website.
Dumulmeori, Yangpyeong
Address: 145, Dumulmeori-gil, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
Dumulmeori is a popular tourist spot thanks to the many K-dramas and movies filmed here, but that's not the only reason you should visit. Against the backdrop of the towering mountains and peaceful river, fields of lotus flowers bloom.
Dumulmeori is located to the east of Semiwon Garden and is connected by a bridge, so you can easily visit both of these places in one day! You can follow the path alongside traditional wall and the river, or stroll between the two large ponds of white and red lotuses. Whichever route you choose, you'll get a stunning view.
For more information about Dumulmeori, check out its own dedicated page on the website.
Gyeongpo Lake/ Gyeongpo Gasiyeon Wetlands, Gangneung
Address: 643, Unjeong-dong, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do
So I talked about my trip to Gangneung a few weeks ago and as I write this on a cloudy day in Korea's monsoon season, just looking at this photo makes me miss the sun already! Anyway, as I was taking a stroll around Gangneung's beautiful Gyeongpo Lake, I came across this place. I believe it might be part of the adjacent Gyeongpo Gasiyeon Wetland park (the park's address is the one you can see above), but you can easily find this place if you're at the lake because it's just off of the trail.
As you can see, I was too early to see all of the lotus flowers in bloom - there is one flower there if you look closely though - but the sea of vibrant green leaves in itself was a great sight to see. They're certainly in full bloom now though, so why not head to Gangneung and take a look?
As pictured above, there is a narrow wooden walkway that winds its way through the lotus field. It's a great place to get a closer view of the leaves and flowers, and also a good place to take some photos. Despite there being so many lotuses, this part of the park is actually quite small, so this is a good place to visit alongside whatever else might be on your itinerary.
Gungnamji Pond, Buyeo
Address: Dongnam-ri, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do
This weekend I took my first trip to Buyeo, and despite the fact that the weather was unbearably hot, I loved it! The main reason I chose to brave the heat and visit Buyeo was because of the lotus flower festival at Gungnamji Pond. So...I unintentionally missed the festival by a whole week, but I wasn't too disappointed because it just meant that the area was less crowded.
Buyeo was historically the capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekjae, so alike Gyeongju it is a city with many historical buildings and features. Gungnamji Pond is located in Seodong Park, and it is Korea's first artificial pond that was created by Baekjae's King Mu. The pond, pavilion and connecting bridge are pretty features, but for me the lotus fields were the most stunning.
Due to the heat, I decided to visit in the evening when it's a bit cooler, just before sunset, and I'm glad I did because the views were even more beautiful. At this time of the day, most of the flowers are closing up as the sun is setting, but the soft light enhances their beauty, so I really didn't mind. I was really surprised by the amount of lotuses at this park - it's by far the largest amount of lotuses I've seen in one place during my travels in Korea. Every time I thought I had seen them all, there was another pond brimming with leaves.
Just based on the places I've visited, this was the best place to see lotus flowers in Korea. So if you have a chance to visit Buyeo this summer, I strongly recommend visiting Gungnamji Pond. There are also many other reasons to visit Buyeo, and if you'd like to find out more about this place, check out the dedicated page on my website.
Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
Address: 506-1, Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
I visited Gyeongju at the beginning of May this year, hence the sunshine, and one place that will be perfect for viewing lotus flowers is Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond. If you're interested in Korea's Silla Kingdom, this is one of the many historical sites that you must visit when you're in Gyeongju. Once part of the palace complex in ancient Silla, banquets were held at this site to entertain important guests. After the unification of the three ancient kingdoms, the pond was dug in 674 CE and three islands were created. It sounds like it was a paradise as beautiful trees and flowers were planted, and rare birds and other animals were raised here.
Whilst this site today is not exactly as the records show from all those years ago, we can still enjoy its beauty particularly when the lotuses bloom on the pond. So why not head to Gyeongju this summer and see the lotuses for yourself?
If you would like more information about Gyeongju and Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond, check out the dedicated pages on the website.
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