CULTURAL
Namsadang / 12 hours
Tour Highlights
- Hwaseong Fortress
- Brassware Museum
- Chiljangsa Temple
- Korean Traditional Court Dance
- Namsadang Performance
Tour operates on Saturday from April to October
Seoul - Suwon - Anseong - Seoul (L D) 200km
Your exploration today begins late morning by heading for Suwon to explore UNESCO World Heritage site of Hwaseong Fortress from the 18th century. Though the fortress is relatively small in scale, it is well acknowledged as the best structure of its kind ever built in Korea. A 5.74km-long fortress enclosing both flatland and hilly terrain is parapeted with crenels and merlons and highlighted by four main gates and well over 50 structures including temporary palace where the king sought refuge during war and found rest during times of peace. A walk through the whole fortress could take several hours but it is well worth making a short walking tour to enjoy the splendor of the fortress, including the Korea's largest Janganmun Gate.
Anseong Brassware Museum features the history of brassware, production process, variety of products categorized by different manufacturing methods, and brassware utensils used at different occasions. You will also have time to visit Chiljangsa temple which is less colorful, but houses several cultural assets and hold four interesting legends originated from a true history.
Before the main highlight of the day, enjoy a traditional Korean court dance along with a shaman dance, a drum dance, a crane and a phoenix dance, a fan dance and a mask drama. Early evening is a right time to enjoy Namsadang Performance staging for two hours from 18:30. It is a very causal performance of rhythmic drum beats, puppet show, acrobatics, tightrope walking and plate spinning. Baudeogi was a nickname for Kim Am-deok, an orphan girl who was left abandoned on a rock and found by the Namsadang Troupe in 1847. She was raised by a group of male acrobats who taught her to dance on a rope and perform acrobatics. She proved to be a brilliant student, surpassing most of them and becoming the first and only female leader of the legendary Troupe. Baudeogi mesmerized people with her amazing feats and performances until she died of pneumonia at the tender age of 23. Late night return to Seoul.
