Changdeokgung is a palace in South Korea constructed on the orders of King Taejong in the 15th century. It was intended as a secondary palace to the main palace- Gyeongbokgung.
While Gyeongbokgung had a more contemporary style, Changdeokgung had elements dating back to the time of the Three Kingdoms of Korea (Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla). Changdeokgung integrates gracefully with its natural setting.
The buildings are made of wood but have stone platforms. Lawns, flowering trees, flowers, a lotus pool and pavilions set against wooded backgrounds adorn the terraced gardens. Altogether, the garden has 56,000 types of trees and plants including walnut, white oak, zelkova, plum, maple, chest-nut, hornbeam, yew, gingko and pine.
Changdeokgung suffered severe damage during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The same fate was shared by the other Five Grand Palaces in Seoul. It was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Picture Credit : Google
