Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace near Anguk Station is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose name means Palace of Prospering Virtue; it was built in 1405 on feng shui principles. Kings preferred it to Gyeongbokgung for 270 years, and the last royal family lived here until 1989. Its 600-year-old buildings include the throne hall and the site where Korea's independence ended in 1910, and the 78-acre Secret Garden (Huwon), with pavilions reflected in lotus ponds, is open only on guided tours. Visitors in hanbok get in free.