Posts Tagged “National”
The National Museum of Korea contains one of the oldest collections of ancient and cultural artifacts in Asia and is the sixth largest art museum in the world. Its permanent collection consists of over 220,000 historical artifacts with over 13,000 items on display at any given time. The collection here encompasses the culture and history of what is known today as modern day Korea and contains artifacts that date as far back as the Paleolithic era, 2.5 million years ago.
The National Museum of Korea was established in 1908 as Korea’s first museum. Its collection was started from the Imperial museum collection at the Changgyeong Palace in Seoul, which was one of the Five Grand Palaces of Joseon Dynasty (14th century). The museum’s collection has grown enormously over the centuries primarily through donations from private collectors and with the assignment of many of the National Treasures of South Korea, a numbered series of treasures, objects, and buildings recognized as having exceptional cultural value, to the museum.
Highlights of its collection include a 5th century royal crown made of solid gold, a massive bronze bell weighing 19 tons, a 6th century bronze statue of an early Buddha, a remarkable stone pagoda that stands over 30 feet in height, and a famous painting of a heavenly horse on the mud guard of a saddle.
- Admission: Free.
- Hours: Daily: 9-6; Wed & Sat: Closes 9; Sun: Closes 7; Closed Mon.
- The National Museum of Korea receives 2.7M visitors annually and has long lines on weekends. Recommend: Visiting on weekdays and also Wed and Sat evenings when the Museum closes late (9p).
- Give yourself at least 4 hours to view the Museum. The National Museum of Korea has more than 13,000 works of art on display.
- 1-hr guided tours in English are given at 1030 and 230 near the Museum entrance. Cost: Free.
- Both Digital Guides(PDA) and Audio Guides(MP3) are available for rent at the Information Desks. Cost: 3,000 Won & 1,000 Won.
- The Seoul City Tour Bus is a great way to visit popular tourist attractions. The ticket covers not just sightseeing, but also entrance fees to museums, exhibitions, & performances, for the day. Ticket holders can disembark at bus stop for a look around and continue their trips on another bus. Provided at each bus stop is a multiple-language (English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean) guide service.
Related Palaces In Seoul Articles
Bukhansan National Park – Beauty Unmatched!
The capital of South Korea, Seoul is arguably one of the most preferred tourist destinations in the country. Although it was once a war-ravaged metropolis with seemingly no chance of revival, Seoul has risen above all challenges and forced its way back on to its feet. Also known as the Miracle of Han, this vibrant city is home to various attractions which have managed to attract thousands of visitors on a regular basis. While the 63 Building, Children’s Grand Park, Kukkiwon, COEX Aquarium, Lotte World, Seol Grand Park, Seoul Land Amusement Park and Seoul Racecourse are some of the city’s main attractions, several nature-related attractions can also be found within Seoul itself, such as the Ttukseom Seoul Forest, Ttukseom Riverside Park and Bukhansan National Park.
Covering a massive expanse of land that spans almost 80 square kilometres, Bukhansan National Park was founded in 1983. The name of the park means ‘mountains along the north of Han River’, which most would agree to be a fitting name for the park, as several mountain peaks are located within the limits of Bukhansan National Park. This mountainous region is covered with greenery and offers an ideal location for the nature-lover to discover the beauty of the surroundings and explore all corners of this picturesque park amongst the hills. Those thinking of planning a trip to Bukhansan National Park should definitely choose autumn as the perfect time to pay a visit, as the trees are coloured in magnificent hues of deep red and yellow during this time of year.
Although the variety of animal life is somewhat limited in the park, plenty of squirrels and a handful of common bird species can be seen. The most attractive feature of the park is without a doubt the various plants that call Bukhansan National home. Visitors have the option of selecting from a choice of several hiking routes, each of which offers a unique experience for those who enjoying trekking through mountainous forest land.
Somerset Palace offers comfortable accommodation for the traveller in need of a Seoul serviced apartment with state-of-the-art facilities. Book a Seoul apartment complete with modern amenities and luxurious furniture for a pleasurable stay.
Find More Seoul Travel Articles
