[BACKLOG, May'13] 2013 Lotus Lantern Festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream

Every year during the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, Seoul displays a remarkable line-up of lanterns at the Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul. During the festive period, hundreds of lanterns, each with a unique shape, design and story, will light up the Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Organized to celebrate Buddha's coming into the world, the 2-week long lantern exhibition offers visitors a chance to experience Buddhist culture that has been celebrated for more than a thousand years. The meticulously crafted lanterns are made of hanji, traditional handmade Korean paper made from mulberry bark. Each lantern tells its own story with its bright, but warm and cheerful colors.

Before night fall.

Crowd, slowly building up.

Buddha's Birth Day.  Happiness to our Mind, Hope to our World.

A week prior to the lantern exhibition, a lighting ceremony Jeomdeungsik 점등식 is held to mark the start of the lantern festival. According to Buddhist beliefs, lanterns symbolize wisdom in that they bring light to the world. Yeondeung 연등 which means 'lighting lantern', is an important ritual in Buddhism which gives respect to Buddha.

Beautiful displays

Every lantern conveys a Buddhist teaching, as elaborated below each lantern. The shapes and designs of each lantern also brings with it different meanings, such as hopes for good health, longevity, or a bountiful harvest.

The Lotus Lantern Festival is held between end of April to mid-May, so if you're there during these period, don't give this place a miss. On an ordinary day even, Cheonggyecheon Stream makes a nice place to visit.

How to get to Cheonggyecheon Stream?

[SUBWAY]
1. Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 5.
2. City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 4.
3. Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 5

August Special: Hangang River Cruise & Fireworks Display

Just last month, my girlfriends and I caught the LAST summer fireworks at Banpo Bridge on Han River. For the month of August only, a fireworks show was specially held every Saturdays at Banpo Bridge as part of Korea's Hangang Great Happiness Project 한강행복몽땅 프로젝트 whereby special activities (i.e. camping, water sports, street performances, outdoor movies, etc.) are held in Seoul metropolitan for everyone to enjoy during summer. This fireworks show is one of them.

To get a up-close view of the fireworks, we took the Hangang River Cruise which stops close to the fireworks display site compared to just viewing it on-ground, from the riverside park. The Cruise stops strategically in front of Banpo Bridge, which allowed a very near front-row view of the Rainbow Fountain and Fireworks Show.

After getting our tickets and an early dinner, we still had more than an hour to kill before embarkation, so the remaining time were spent on photo-taking.

Yeouido cruise dock that houses cafe, convenience store and restaurants, adding flavor to the cruise tour.

View of Hangangcheolgyo (Railroad Bridge) from Yeouido dock

Sunset glow

Since there were high demand for the special fireworks cruise, two two-floor cruise ships left the dock simultaneously at 7.30pm.

One minute empty

The next minute full

The cruise departs from Yeouido dock at 7.30pm sharp, and under a pretty orangey sunset glow, we got to enjoy light gentle wind and the beautiful scenery surrounding Han River.

63 City

Falling in love... with beauty of nature and the sunset sail.

After dark, lightings take over Han River.

The Banpo Rainbow Fountain Show begins. During the show, 200 lights illuminate the fountain as it sends up dancing, rainbow-colored jets of water in the air in synchronization with its music.

Immediately after the Rainbow Fountain, Fireworks Show follow.

I had the fireworks display captured in video too. The ending video has the best effect, in my opinion.

Hope you've enjoyed the show too! :)