Namhansanseong Fortress - Historical landmark with rich fall scenery

The Korean Culture and Information Service under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is holding the program "K-UNESCO Adventures," in which foreign nationals tour UNESCO World Heritage sites in Korea. Korea.net on Oct. 30 went on the tour of Namhansanseong Fortress in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province. The program featured activities such as wearing Confucian academy uniforms, reenacting the civil service exam, playing traditional folk games and hiking around the fortress.

Namhansanseong Fortress is a gorgeous landmark located southeast of the nation's capital. It roughly takes around 30 minutes to get there by bus from Jamsil Station in Seoul's Songpa-gu District. 

Namhansanseong gently extends from north to south along the ridges of Namhansan Mountain (479 m) and has a circumference of 12 km. It was built on the ruins of a castle built during the reign of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom in A.D. 672 and saw extensive expansion in the fourth year of King Injo's reign during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Namhansanseong is also where Injo took refuge at for 40 days in 1636 during the Manchu-led Qing invasion of Joseon.

The heart of Seoul's cityscape can be seen at a glance under the fortress's western sky. It almost exudes the ambiance of a futuristic city coupled with the views of bridges that stretch across the Hangang River and the nation's tallest building Lotte World Tower (123 floors). 

Looking at the city from the ancient fortress feels like going back in time. South of the complex lies Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, and Hanam, also in Gyeonggi-do, is to the north.