Seoul Lantern Festival Lights Up Tonight

The Seoul Lantern Festival ( not be confused with the Lotus Lantern Festival) starts this evening with a lighting ceremony at Cheonggye Plaza at Cheonggyecheon. The lantern display stretches all the way to Gwansugyo (Bridge) and they will be lit up from 5 pm to 11 pm each evening until the 20th of November.

The theme for this annual festival is  "Stories of Seoul's Past through Lanterns" so expect to see lots of traditional motifs.

Checklist of lanterns to snap  to post on Flickr:

Cheongsachorong,  the red-blue lantern, used for wedding ceremonies,

was also used as the logo for  the G20 summit last year.

1. an 18-meter lantern tunnel made up of over 3,000 cheongsachorong (traditional Korean lanterns with a red-and-blue silk shade)

2. a  model lantern of Namdaemun Gate

3.  Haechi, Seoul's mascot


Lanterns from twenty other countries as well as those by participants in a local competition will also be showcased. If all that viewing whets your appetite, try making your own lanterns at Gwanggyo Gallery. Handicraft activities start on November 5th.

Charges apply, of course. To make your own Wish Lantern, you'd have to cough up 5,000 won and for the privilege of floating your own lantern on the Cheonggyecheon, you'd need to pay 2,000 won. Don't see how the latter can be enforced given the length of the stream and the expected crowds. I suppose any unauthorised lantern will be fished out unceremoniously.

For more info, click here.

sources:
http://www.visitseoul.net/en/article/article.do?_method=view&art_id=48789&lang=en&m=0003001006003&p=06&gclid=CObQovi5nKwCFYka6wodMnSD2A
http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_photo.htm?No=17410#
http://www.exploringkorea.com/seoul-lantern-festival-2011/
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2011/11/04/2011110400936.html
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/07/09/2010070900974.html
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/FU/FU_EN_15.jsp?nCategoryID=1&SearchType=&keyword=&gotoPage=1&cid=1424125&cCode=&nCategoryID=&searchType=&searchKeyword=

Night Photography Enthusiasts, Hurry Down To Gyeongbokgung!

Those in Seoul who enjoy night photography, you have a narrow window of opportunity to snap National Treasure No 224, that is: Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in Gyeongbokgung in all its moonlit splendour. Actually according to the JoongAng Daily, it's the "first time in its 615-year history" that it will be lit up and it's also a rare opportunity to enjoy a late evening stroll on palace grounds.

The Cultural Heritage of Administration of Korea is extending opening hours for  the palace for a short period to allow the participants and visitors for the G20 Summit to appreciate the elegance of traditional Korean architecture.

In fact, much of Seoul has been lit up as never before to showcase the landmarks of the city. So if you're into taking photos of the urban landscape at night. this is the best time to do so.

Another piece of good news is that the Seoul Lantern Festival down at Cheonggyecheon has also been extended. Check out the traditional lanterns which come from 24 countries. Light up happens daily from 5 pm to 11 pm until November the 21st.


source:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2928273