Autumn in Seoul
I WAN CHIEN
21 days ago
This time I made a quick trip to Seoul in November, mainly for shopping and relaxation, mostly shopping in Myeongdong, with a few sights mixed in to feel the romantic autumn atmosphere of Seoul.
The stone-walled road beside Deoksugung Palace
Deoksugung Palace is right next to City Hall subway station, making it very convenient to get to. Visiting Deoksugung Palace in November, the layered mix of ginkgo, maple, and other red, yellow, and green colors, along with ginkgo leaves drifting down in the breeze and sunshine filtering through, is quite beautiful. It's a popular filming location for many Korean dramas — when taking photos here, you can imagine yourself as the lead actors in a K-drama.
The stone-walled road isn't very long, but the scenery is lovely, and there are benches along the way. It's truly a relaxing spot for friends, couples, and families to come for a walk and chat. But it's said to be a 'breakup path' — couples who visit here are more likely to break up, so couples should consider that before coming.
There’s a waffle shop at the Shiqiang Road intersection that, judging from people’s posts, often has crowds lining up; it’s a popular snack spot. I happened to arrive right at opening time this visit to try it out. The beautiful chocolate waffles complemented the scenery of Shiqiang Road, instantly putting me in a sweet, happy mood.
Fortunately, there was a free admission event for Deoksugung Palace this time. Walking around Deoksugung Palace, the scenery was still quite beautiful, and paired with the palace architecture, it added to the antique and charming atmosphere.
In autumn, Seoul is not only scenically pleasant but also has very comfortable weather; the streets are lined with maple and ginkgo trees, and at a glance it is truly very beautiful.
It’s worth mentioning that the maple leaves outside Deoksugung are huge — truly larger than a face. The fallen leaves you pick up everywhere are big and beautiful, great for holding in photos; they feel especially evocative and are quite fun.
Deoksugung also has a gate guard changing ceremony at 11:00 AM. It was a pity that this trip’s schedule didn’t make it in time to watch, but it left a good reason to visit Deoksugung again!
Rakuten Supermarket
If you come to Seoul you must visit the snack shopping spot Lotte Supermarket, which is located at Seoul Station and is very convenient to reach. Inside the supermarket you can find all kinds of popular snacks, fresh foods, famous Korean side dishes available for tasting, beverages, and beauty products to choose from. It’s an ideal place to pick out souvenirs. If you’re worried about buying too much, you can even select a suitcase right in the store, so there’s no need to worry. Also, when you pay at Lotte Supermarket with LINE Pay, the points rewards are really generous, so be sure to check that out before you shop!
Feng'en Temple
At Seonjeongneung Station of the subway, besides visiting the Korean temple and experiencing the worship ritual, another activity is shopping for the famous wish bracelets. There are many styles and colors — in addition to zodiac signs and birth months, there are various meanings to choose from. If purchased as a gift between friends, it is also very meaningful.
Seongsu-dong
Metro Seongsu Station is an area that brings together fashion and food. With various pop-up events and flagship stores, it can be called a hub where brands of all sizes settle in. Besides being great for browsing, it’s also excellent for dining—unique cafés and restaurants are everywhere, and spending a whole day exploring here is definitely no problem.
Cubi story Café
At Seongsu Station on the subway, on the first-floor café of CUBE company, it was during idle WeiJuan’s second mini album release. The café featured a small photo wall of WeiJuan. The main stage continuously played MVs by the group idle or its members. Buying a cup of coffee and a slice of cake here and listening to the music of your favorite group makes for a very enjoyable afternoon tea. There was also a photobooth for taking photos with idle; the design was very nice, so fans definitely should not miss it!
