Suwon Things to Do

Paldalmun is the South Gate of Hwaseong Fortress. This imposing stone structure with it's arched gateway is surmounted by a two story wooden pavilion capped with a hipped roof. ( Designated Treasure No 402 )

Hwaseomun is the West Gate of Hwaseong Fortress. it's stone walls with arched entrance support a single story wooden pavilion. ( Designated and preserved as Treasure No 403 ),and Seobukgongsimdon is the Northwest Observation Tower of Fortress. served for both sentry duty and defence. Seobukgongsimdon is a squarish brick observation tower.

Seojangdae is the West and East command post of Fortress. A panoramic view of the city and surrounding countryside may be enjoyed from this command post at the top of Mt, Paldal. and Seonodae is unroofed octagonal platform supporting the West multiple arrow launcher platform.

Bongdon is the Beacon Tower of Fortress. built of gray brick, sentries ware stationed here to signal the statues of the Fortress. The beacon was in communication, with Yukbong peak in Yongin, and on the West coast to signal

Baldal-mun Gate is one of the most representative architectures in Suwon Hwasung. When you get there from Suwon Station, it will be the first architecture which you see there. It is in the center of a big road, so you cannot go and touch it directly. This location is associated with Namdaemun Gate in Seoul. You can start to go around this castle wall from the left side of this Gate. First, you have to go up a steep hill, but then you will walk along a smooth road. It will take around 2 – 3 hours to go around.

Jangan-mun Gate, the main gate of Suwon Hwasung, is on opposite side of Baldal-mun Gate. It’s less famous for tourists than Baldal-mun Gate but I think it’s more attractive place and worth seeing because you can see it from closer point than Baldal-mun Gate and can walk in and around it. It has almost same structure as Namdaemun Gate in Seoul but it’s a little bigger than Namdaemun Gate. If you don’t have time to see all around Suwon Hwasung, I do recommend that you visit Jangan-mun Gate at least. You can see Baldal-mun Gate, the most well-known gate in Suwon Hwasung, from the window of a taxi on your way to Jangan-mun Gate anyway.

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The ancient Suwon City Wall, called Hwaseong, surround the Suwon downtown area. The wall forms an almost continuous 5km loop, and it stands 10-15 meters tall. There are many impressive gates and towers along its circumference. No entrance fee.

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Hwaseong Fortress is a World Heritage site. The wall stretches for 5.7 kilometres and a walk around it takes about two hours. There are interesting command posts, entrance gates and observation towers to encounter along the way. The walk starts at Paldalmun in Suwon. Follow the signs from here and walk up Paldalsan. It's quite a strenuous start to the walk because it is 143 metres high. There is a tourist information booth situated at the foot of Paldalsan. Personally I didn't have time for the whole walk because I started late in the afternoon and also it started raining. I made it as far as the Bell of Hyowon before turning back.