Semiwon Garden
Address: 428-8, Yongdam-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
How to get there:
By subway: From Seoul, you can take the Gyeongui-Jungang line all the way to Yangsu Station. There are several stations throughout Seoul where you can catch a train on this line, including but not limited to: Daegok, Digital Media City, Hongik University (Hongdae), Yongsan, Wangsimni, Cheongnyangni. I usually take this line from Wangsimni Station and ride for 14 stops, which takes just over 1 hour, but obviously the time it takes can vary depending on your starting point. Bear in mind that there is a long interval time of around 30 minutes and trains that arrive earlier than that interval often terminate before your destination, so remember to check before travelling! Overall, it's a long journey but it's really simple and convenient as there are no transfers once you're on this line.
By train: Alternatively, you can take a KTX train to Yangpyeong Station, which will take around 28 minutes, and then take the Gyeongui-Jungang line back to Yangsu Station, which will take about 34 minutes. Whilst this is a possibility, it's more expensive and you don't save any time on your journey, so I recommend taking the Gyeongui Jungang line from Seoul.
From Yangsu Station exit 1, it takes about 13 minutes to walk to Semiwon Garden. The walk is easy as it's downhill and flat, and you'll clearly see the sign and the entrance to the garden from the crosswalk. There are a couple of different entrances, one being through the car park and the other is completely pedestrianised. Both are fine and you'll easily find the entrance and ticket office. If in doubt, just follow everyone else!
By bus: Whilst taking the train is by far the best option, it is also possible to travel by bus. The best route, with less walking, is from Cheongnyangni. Take the #1330-4 (most frequent) and ride 14 stops, which takes about 26 minutes. Get off at Hanyang University Guri Hospital bus stop and transfer to the #2000-1 bus. This bus does have a long interval time of 360 minutes so plan well in advance. Once on this bus, you'll ride for another 52 stops, which takes around an hour, and get off at Yangseo Cultural Sports Park bus stop. This bus stop is practically right outside of the garden's entrance, so you only have to walk for a minute or two.
Admission:
As mentioned, you'll come to the ticket office right at the entrance to the garden. An individual adult ticket costs 5,000 won and senior and child tickets are a little cheaper. Once you've paid for your ticket and shown it to a member of staff, you can enter the garden.
Café and Bakery
I'm going to mention these first as they are right by the entrance. After entering, to your left, you'll see a small bakery called Yeonkkot Bakery. In Korean, '연꽃' means 'lotus flower'. Here they sell different kinds of lotus manjoo or 연꽃빵 (yeonkkot bbang). Manjoo is a kind of cake/bread that has a flavoured paste in the centre. Traditionally, manjoo contains a chestnut paste or, if you see the stalls in the subway stations, they're also served hot and have a custard filling. Those are my favourite kind of manjoo and are a must-try when you're in Korea. Anyway, back to the bakery. The manjoo sold at this bakery offer a choice of three different lotus fillings: lotus leaf (연잎빵 - yeonip bbang), lotus petal (연자빵 - yeonja bbang), lotus root (연근빵 - yeonggeun bbang). I tried the yeonja bbang and the bread was light and the paste was a light shade of pink and tasted sweet. Each individual bread is 1,500 won, so I recommend buying one of each to try. If you like them a lot, you can buy a set.
During the summer, the café also has a special menu which includes a lotus flower ice cream (연꽃아이스크림 yeonkkot ice cream).
Directly in front of the entrance, you'll see a tall building surrounded by a small stream. This is the lotus flower museum, but on the ground floor there is a café. Here you can buy drinks and snacks, but there is also a special summer menu which includes lotus flower shaved ice. In Korean, it's called 연잎 눈꽃 빙수 (yeonip nunkkot bingsu) which translates as 'lotus leaf shaved ice'. Shaved ice (빙수 - bingsu) is a traditional Korean dessert that is popular particularly in the summer months. These days the dessert has been modernised with the addition of a variety of toppings, ranging from fresh seasonal fruits, to chocolate and green tea. This bingsu is more traditional, with the addition of red bean and small pieces of 떡 (tteok) meaning 'rice cake'. What makes this extra special is the green powder which is in fact the lotus leaf. If you've tried matcha tea or any matcha flavoured foods or drinks then the flavour is very similar, and therefore a little bitter. But, if eaten with the sweet red bean and shaved ice, it becomes really delicious. So if you're in need of refreshment on a hot summer's day, why not give these delicious lotus-themed desserts a try?
The Garden
Semiwon Garden is a botanical garden that specialises in waterlilies and lotus flowers. That being said, it is still beautiful all year round and you can enjoy the unique scenery that each season brings. However...I think the best season is summer when you can see the lotus 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. When you first enter the garden, you'll have the option of walking along a dirt trail or taking the stepping stones along the stream. Hopping across the stones might bring back some fun childhood memories, and it's also a peaceful spot beneath the cool shade of the trees.
At the end of the stepping stones, you'll see a large tree planted in the centre of a circular stone wall. Beneath the tree are several brown traditional Korean storage pots. If you wait for a little while, you'll get to see this fountain come to life. Water spurts from the top of each of the pots in a variety of patterns and sequences. It's definitely an amazing sight to see!
There are 6 ponds brimming with over 50 types of lotus but, to the untrained eye, there only seem to be two types: white and pink. The white lotus pond is by far the largest and most impressive, but don't forget to take a wander and look at the smaller ponds that are dotted with vibrant purple, blue and yellow waterlilies. As you do, you'll notice that there are other charming features of the gardens, such as a variety of sculptures and fountains, as well as small statues from Korean folklore.
Most of the ponds are located in the formal garden area, but there is more to see beyond the underpass located in the southern part of the garden. Passing under here, you might feel like you're leaving the garden by mistake, but on the other side there are more ponds and a beautiful traditional building. When I visited in early July, the underpass was filled with market stalls and there was a live musical performance too! The views from the southern part of the garden are particularly beautiful. Not just because of the lotus flowers, but you can also appreciate the backdrop of the hills and mountains across the river.
In the most southern part of the garden, you'll see a pontoon bridge known as 배다리 (baedari) which translates as 'boat bridge'. Despite its appearance, it is a fairly new addition to the garden, but is built in a traditional style. At 250 metres long and 4 metres wide, the bridge crosses Namhan River (남한강 - Namhangang) enabling visitors (during garden opening hours) to walk between Semiwon and Dumulmeori. You can find out more about Dumulmeori here. The bridge is a reproduction of a famous style of bridge first noted in China, but also later recorded in Korea. It is recorded that a bridge like this was built for King Jeongjo in 1789 when he crossed Han River in Seoul to visit his father's tomb. The base of the bridge is formed by 62 wooden ships tied together and wooden planks placed on top of them. A bridge like this You feel a little movement when walking over it, but it's only minor so it's nothing too scary!
So if you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul and you want to see some beautiful flowers and scenic views, I recommend a day trip to Yangpyeong's Semiwon Garden. And while you're there, why not take a stroll around Dumulmeori? Considered one of the most romantic places thanks to the numerous K-dramas, movies, and TV shows filmed here, it's a must-visit location when you're in Yangpyeong. You can find out more about it here.
