It runs through northern Seoul, this pretty little stream called Cheonggyecheon...
The Cheonggyecheon is an 8.4 kilometre long stream flowing west to east through downtown Seoul, and then connecting to the Han River.
It was a lovely walk along the Cheonggyecheon, with families enjoying their Sunday outdoors along the stream...
Cheonggyecheon was initially called Gaecheon or the open stream during the Joseon Dynasty. At that time it served as a drain. Gaecheon was renamed as Cheonggyecheon during the Japanese colonial period. Financial difficulties prevented the Japanese from covering up the stream despite several attempts to do so.
After the Korean War in the 1950s, more people migrated into Seoul and settled down along the stream, in shabby makeshift houses. Trash and waste and deteriorated conditions on the stream making it an eyesore.
The stream was covered up with concrete in 1958, and a 5.6 km-long, elevated highway was constructed in 1976, which came to be regarded as a symbol of modern South Korea.
But then in 2003, with a view to recreate a natural setting, the stream underwent revival. The highway was decommissioned and demolished and restoration works began to be completed in 2 years.
The restoration also served to restore the history and culture of the region, which had been lost for 30 years. The walls along the stream show scenes from Korean history...
...And you see clean water flowing here!
Who can imagine that this was once a drain!
And its a great place for kids to enjoy themselves...
A scene from Korean history...
Creating art with used plastic bottles...
A riot of colour...
Parts of the stream look pristine!
Marilyn smiles at us...
Urban renewal does create lots of opportunities for recreation!
And after our walk through the Cheonggyecheon, we were back in the modern realities of Seoul, wide roads and high-rises!
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