Impressive palaces punctuate the city, forming an outdoor museum decked out in full regalia amidst the high-rises and skyscrapers. The five palatial wonders of the Joseon dynasty are (brace yourself) -- the Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Gyeonghuigung (Gesundheit!).
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| Built during the third Joseon king, Taejong, Changdeokgung was the secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung, but better preserved (and a UNESCO world heritage site) |
The palace has hundreds of buildings made of fabulous hand-painted lacquered wood with intricate flowery decorations on green and topped with dark ceramic tiles. |
The Heungnyemun gate. |
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| Throne room of the main palace building, Injeongjeon, inside Changdeokgung palace. |
Destroyed during the Japanese invasion of 1592, the palace was restored in 1610 and was the main palace till 1868 when Gyeongbokgung was reconstructed. |
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