Why bother climbing up the mountains to see the autumn leaves when you can see the same magnificence on the grounds of a palace complex? The Cultural Heritage Administration early last week announced the best time to see autumn leaves at palaces around Seoul. The peak viewing time will be from late October to early November.

This year's maple leaves promise to be far more spectacular than previous years, thanks to the abundance of sunlight this year from September to October and the big temperature differences between day and night.

Most trees and forests within palace grounds and royal tombs are well taken care of. But we must make sure not to miss the two ginkgo tree forests at Changdeokgung Palace and Seokjojeon Hall at Deoksugung Palace. The zelkova tree and maple trees at Changgyeongung Palace are another sight to admire, along with a willow tree and zelkova tree forest at Changgyeongung Palace. Jongmyo, the royal shrine, has an oak tree forest to boast of.

The places where old kings lie buried also exude their own seasonal beauty. A pine tree forest and reeds can be found at the site of Donggureung, where tombs of nine kings of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) stand; a scenic forest path can be found around Changneung, the tomb of King Yejong; an oak tree forest at Yeongneung and Geonneung, the tombs of Prince Sado and King Jeongjo respectively; and a hornbeam tree forest at Yeongneung that belonged to King Sejong. The Ginkgo tree forest that adorns the open road of Hyeonchungsa Buddhist Temple is also famous.

In the evening visitors can enter the grounds of Deoksugung Palace or the royal tomb of Seolleung, as they are open to the public throughout the night.

*Adapted from Weekly Gonggam Magazine

By Kim Hee-sung
Korea.net Staff Writer