GET SOME GREEN IN SUMMER :: Immerse in the nature of Seoul Botanic Garden
GET SOME GREEN IN SUMMER
Immerse in the nature of Seoul Botanic Garden
If you are interested in plants and nature, or if you are looking for a new place to explore, the brand-new Seoul Botanic Park should be your next destination. The park was created to advance the urban ecology, which is the combination of botanical garden with native Korean plants and 500 species of rare plants. The Seoul Botanic Park was officially opened on May 1st, 2019 and has been attracting 2.5 million visitors. The park is located at Magok station, which is 10 minutes away from Gimpo airport.
The special thing of this park is the indoor botanical garden, which encased by a glass structure in the shape of a flattened dome. The indoor Botanic garden represents plants from 12 major cities around the world. Starting from tropical plants to desert cactus, the diversity of plants creates a mini natural forest of all kinds in one building. There is also a simulation for organic fruit making process in a small farm house. You can also enjoy the whole garden from the above by walking on the skywalk through the garden’s upper canopy. The atmosphere helps refresh your mind and brings you to another the world. I was very impressed with the sizes of cactus since they are 10 times bigger than what I usually see and grow. The glass roof allows you to enjoy the sun and natural light while experience the shades of tropical plants above your head. You can also take lovely pictures here with rare species of plants as you are on a vacation to another land.
There are also a VR experience center and event rooms with 3D screens which provide you knowledge about different kinds of plants around the world. I was very interesting to watch the movement of animals and plants on the screen with natural birds and water sounds on the background.
After walking around the garden to refresh your mind, you can enjoy some food and coffee on the top floor of the building. The coffeeshop also matches with the natural concept with green decoration and plants all around and at your table. The coffee and cake prices are not very cheap but still reasonable, ranging from 4,000 ~ 7,000won. There is also a souvenir shop where you can get pretty handmade gifts such as bamboo leaf pen, bookmarks and floral note pads.
The botanical garden is open from 9:30 am. to 6:00 pm, with adult tickets running 5,000 won and youth and children 3,000 won and 2,000 won. The nearby small forests, lake, and wetland will be open 24 hours a day with no admission fee. This is a perfect place to spend time with family or your partner on a quiet weekend. It is also easily accessible by subway from Seoul and you can come and go within the day. It is the best way to learn about the ecology while inhaling some nature in your soul after a busy week in urban city, isn’t it?
Christie
