Jungnang Rose Festival!
Meggie
3 hours ago
My new favorite way to distract from the beat and sweat smells is the spring rose festival in Jungnag!
The country's longest rose tunnel -5.3 kilometers straight!- is here, right on the Seoul public transit lines. I was able to check it out on the first big Friday of the main weekend's festivities, and it was such a lovely time. It's hosted annually in May at the permanent rose garden, with temporary installations up for the event. It's also free and un-ticketed, so reservations or waiting in lines for this event.
It was sweltering and humid, at peak heat of the day, but everyone seemed unphased and enjoying the day. There were live music stages, playing music amd to crowds leaning a bit older (makes sense for midday on a Friday). The older folks gave thr younger ones a run for their money on the dance floors!
I started with a fresh fruit juice smoothie to bring down my body temperature a bit. This lady vendor was one of many who had wines, liqeuers and juices made across the country featured today.
I tried kiwi and watermelon blended on ice, highly recommend! While there were rows of delicious-looking Korean traditional fair foods to try, I was honestly too overheated to eat anything or sit down in a crowded tent. Next time!
Vendors were out, ready to sell SPF knitted hats and sun-blocking umbrellas in floral prints. All the adjummas had me jealous, I should have bought one and joined in.
The rose garden neighborhood is under and around busy highways, but the flora and fauna make the place feel like a respite from the city. The design of the area is open, clear and spacious with water to sit around. Many families and couples were lounging along the water with picnics they'd brought. This area has loads of permanent outdoor gym equipment areas around the garden, and all were actually busy! Always great to see a city utilize space to bring people more community and health.
Here waa my favorite touch for the walkway- Le Petite Prince had found his rose, in real life!
I can't overstate how nice it smelled for miles and kilometers, the fresh blooms were truly a joy. Many couples were there on dates, and it was adorable.
It would have been nice to have more washrooms or restrooms as well as trash or recycling bins around for the event, as there were almost no additional event structures for these needs in place when thousands of people descended. The event was so clean, somehow!
Try to catch some blooms before summer officially takes over the more delicate spring flowers, wherever you are reading this, and add this to your dreamy day escape for next time!
