Gwanggyo Lake Park

Gwanggyo Lake Park lies at the heart of Gwanggyo New Town in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, and joins two reservoirs, Woncheon Lake and Sindae Lake, into one urban lake park. The loop path connecting the two lakes is 6.5 km long, with boardwalks over the water, woods, flower islands and an observation tower along the way. It is open around the clock and free, so if you are staying in Suwon it makes a good morning walk or evening stroll.

From farm reservoirs to a lake park

Both lakes were built as agricultural reservoirs collecting water from Gwanggyosan Mountain to irrigate rice fields. When the new town was developed, the park was designed to keep as much of the mountain and reservoir landscape as possible; it now covers around 2.02 million m². It has received an award from the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) and the 2014 Korea Landscape Award. Before the park was created the area was known as Woncheon Resort, a long-standing outing spot for people from Suwon; today it works like the living room of the new town.

Woncheon Lake: where city meets water

The southern Woncheon Lake borders high-rise apartments. The Urban Levee, a waterside promenade, is where city life meets the lake, and along it you find six themed "dumbeong", small traditional ponds. There are nine fountains, including floor fountains where children splash around in summer, as well as an outdoor stage, a sport climbing wall and a family campsite.

Sindae Lake: woods and islands

Sindae Lake to the north is quieter. The path leads through named areas such as the "Quiet Forest", with five round decks on the water and an arched bridge, the "Happy Flower Island" and the "Far Island Forest" of wetland and willows. From the boardwalks you get close to the waterside plants and water birds that change with the seasons. There is also a separate dog playground inside the park for visitors with dogs.

Freiburg Observatory

Between the lakes stands the Freiburg Observatory, modelled on the lookout tower of Suwon's German sister city Freiburg, known as an environmental city. From the top you can see both lakes at once. Inside there is a café and a small exhibition space, handy for a break. With the apartment towers of the new town, both lakes and the ridge of Gwanggyosan in one view, it is the best spot to understand how the park was designed.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: the park is open 24 hours and free. The Freiburg Observatory is free too, open 06:00–22:00 (June–September 06:00–23:00, winter 07:00–22:00).
• Getting there: Gwanggyo Jungang Station on the Shinbundang Line is about 1.4 km from Woncheon Lake in a straight line. Parking: the first 60 minutes are free, then KRW 100 per 10 minutes; the car park by the observatory charges KRW 1,000 for up to 3 hours, with a daily maximum of KRW 5,000.
• Time needed: about 1 hour for one lake, 2 hours or more for the full loop around both.
• Best time: around sunset, when the apartment lights start reflecting on Woncheon Lake. On spring and autumn weekends the car parks fill up, so public transport is easier.
• Combine with: the hiking trails of Gwanggyosan, the mountain that feeds the lakes, for a full day out.