Namsan (lit. "South Mountain") is a 262-meter peak, the northeast side of which is in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. The southwest side is in Yongsan-gu. The Seoul Tower is located on top of Namsan. It offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline.
The mountain and surrounding area is a public park maintained by the city government. It is a popular spot from which to get a panoramic view of Seoul. It is also the location of a smoke signal station, which was part of an emergency communication system in early times.
[edit] Getting to the top
There are two ways to get to the top of the mountain and Seoul Tower -- hiking up the stairs, or taking the cable car. The cable car takes just a few minutes to go up to the top and runs every 10 minutes. Tickets for adults cost 5,500 one-way or 7,000 roundtrip. Once you step off the cable car, head up the stairs and you'll come to the base of the tower after passing by the smoke signal station.
[edit] Barbecuing
On a day with good weather the park can be a great place for a barbecue. There aren't any designated grilling spots, but you can bring your own gas-fired portable grill and whatever you want to grill up. If you take the cable car up, walk down the stairs and you'll pass by two excellent spots -- one a pavilion with a clean wood floor, the other a small patch of ground near some park benches which almost seems to have been made with just such a purpose in mind.
For a more organized barbecue, Seoul Tower holds one every night at 6 pm.
[edit] Getting married
The park maintains a free wedding hall, open from January 1 through November 15. To make a reservation call 53-5576 / 2563.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Korean
- English
- Japanese
- Chinese
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