Dongdaemun After Dark
A lit stream, the great east gate and a glowing silver hull
≈1.4 km · ≈20 min walking · Easy · Jung-gu · Jongno-gu · Start: Jongno 5-ga station · End: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park station
An evening walk along the restored Cheonggyecheon, to the floodlit east gate of the old city wall, ending at Zaha Hadid's DDP when its skin lights up.
Stops
- Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천)
A stream that was covered by a road and an elevated highway, opened up again as an 11 km linear park in 2005. Steps lead down to the water. - Heunginjimun Gate (흥인지문)
The great east gate of Seoul's 14th-century city wall, with a rare half-moon outer wall. It is floodlit at night. - Dongdaemun Design Plaza (동대문디자인플라자 (DDP))
A building with almost no straight lines. Its silver skin wraps exhibition halls, a design museum and walkable roof gardens, on the site of the old Dongdaemun Stadium (1925–2007).
Best time: After sunset. The markets around DDP stay open late into the night.
Tips
- Follow the restored city wall south from the gate through Dongdaemun History & Culture Park to reach DDP.
Access
DDP is built around ramps. Getting down to Cheonggyecheon stream is by stairs at most points; a few entrances have ramps or lifts.