Today I want to focus on one of my favourite places in Seoul, and one of the most famous landmarks that Seoul has... The Han River, or Hangang. The Han River is a massive river that flows through the centre of Seoul and divides the city in half. There are tens of bridges crossing it (I am not sure of the exact amount!) and in the summer it becomes a very popular place for people to visit with their family, friends or partners. From the pictures I hope you can see why! The river is the primary water source for Seoul with over 12 million people receiving water from it... It is a truly massive river . It is voted as the second most scenic place in the city (after Mount Namsan).
I think that the Han River is great in all seasons, but summer and spring are definitely the best. Last winter I went to the river (when it was a freezing -10 degrees!! The pictures were worth it though!) and took this photo from a bank on the river. It's a long exposure shot showing all the ferries that pass on the river. I have never been on one of the ferries myself, but I would love to one day... I want to see what the whole river looks like! This image is a repost from an earlier post, but it is relevant to this post so I wanted to include it!
I actually don't remember which bridge this is sadly (I have been to too many! And this isn't one of the famous ones) the bridge and boats are stunning at nighttime and provide for some truly amazing photographic opportunities. I also included a second long exposure shot that was caught over 240 seconds (vs 160) and shows the light trails of two boats (which is what the blue trial is!)
However, in summer the river is a totally different place! Whereas in winter the paths on the banks of the river were nearly empty, in summer they are very populated and many people enjoy biking or walking along the river banks. The sun comes out and makes the river such a nice place to be. Further, there are many nice picnic spots that can be used if you want to stay for lunch or dinner (and just phone order your food!)
This next set of images was taken from the river near Hapjeong station and is looking back towards the centre of the city. You can see the blue house (the presidential building) on the right of one of the images! Also, you can see one of the islands that have popped up in the middle of the river to add beauty to the city. These islands are covered in trees and nature now, and make the city look much cleaner and more appealing. I think it was a great idea, and I hope the government decides to do more like this! I'm actually not certain if this one was manmade or not, but there are definitely some islands in the river that aren't natural.
In this image here you can see the blue house to the right!
My next image is another long exposure shot taken from Banpo Bridge. On the left the bridge runs to the other side of the river, and on the right is the darkness of the river at nighttime. In the distance you can see the opposite side of the river, and the buildings that line it.
And one final nighttime shot! This image shows another one of the bridges flanked by skyscapers. Never have I seen as many tall buildings as I see every day in Seoul.
One of the coolest parts about the river (in my opinion) is the option of being able to hire a scooter or segway! You can tour the river at around $10 an hour with your own vehicle. It's an awesome and fun way to explore the river. It can get quite crowded at times though, so you have to be careful. Last year my friend wanted to visit here for her birthday and we hired segways. This is a picture from that day.
I think that the Han River is one of the most amazing and beautiful places in Seoul. It provides so much in terms of both scenic views, and entertainment. It can be enjoyed all year around and is definitely some I would recommend you visit if you come to Seoul!
Thanks for viewing my post everyone. I hope you all have great days!