Travel: Cheonggyecheon (청계천) - Seoul, Korea

Remember the first thing I said I wanted to see, when I headed up to Seoul last month?

Cheonggyecheon (청계천) ~ 清溪川

Due to the extremely cold weather back then, we only managed to see 500 meters of it. Saw it again this trip up to Seoul for my English exam and medical checkup. With more time during the day on my hands, I did some recreational walking down its banks.

It is definitely a place to visit at night, as I experienced a slight disappointment visiting it only during the day this time. None of the fountains were functioning, and definitely none of the lights were on (Duh!). But still... it was a nice way to spend the day up in Seoul.

During the nights: It has some of the most awesome spectra of lighting illuminating the rapid stream.

Non-conforming blend of unorthodox forms, mixture of old and new elements, with a few splashes of color from the city's neon lights along both banks... Every detail melds into what I can only sum up as "art". Magnificent piece of work I must say.

Here is ALSO why Cheonggyecheon is so special:

• Project is a stream (Cheonggye) restoration project commissioned in July 2003 and officially unveiled in its current form to the public in October 2005.
• A highway was completely built over the river by 1978, BUT was torn down for the restoration project.
• Restored stretch is 5.84km: a.k.a. THAT MUCH highway was torn down. This is what's left...
  
  
• Total cost ~ whopping USD$ 1.5Billion from the start of the project up till September 2005.
  *Costs published on the official website is a bit (erm) funny... watch this blog!

For more pictures from the trip, and the day's walk down the stream.

Click 'HERE'.

Excuse the advertisement, but... Another reason to visit Cheonggyecheon NOW (see below).

It's falling apart!
(was only unveiled 3 months ago)

Catch it while it's still there! *wink wink