Fall foliage grows more colorful as the season passes. Tourists flock to the mountains on holidays and weekends to see the splendid fall colors. But the mountains are not the only place where people can enjoy colorful autumn leaves. There is one place near Seoul where Koreans often go to enjoy nature’s generous displays of beautiful spring flowers and brilliant fall colors. And they always describe the place endearingly.

- The air is clean and there is no need to climb the mountain. I can just take the lift to see the scenery. I see roses and chrysanthemums, and it’s so nice here.
- There are so many chrysanthemums here. I’m going to take a picture here. Why don’t you visit and have a good time too?
- This is the best place to see the animals and have a great family time. The fall leaves are so pretty and there are so many things to see.
- This is number one place in Korea. There are so many walkways in the forest that you can see all sorts of fall colors. The air is fresh, trees and flowers are abundant, and that’s why I like this place.

No need to huff and puff up the mountain, numerous paths through the colorful forest, a lift that takes you to an observation point, and a wide array of animals and plants – what could this place be? It’s none other than Seoul Grand Park Zoo.

Seoul Grand Park is located in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, at the foot of Mt. Cheonggye청계. It is a natural theme park housing Korea’s first and largest zoo and arboretum. Here’s Mr. Kang Hyeong-wook of Seoul Grand Park to explain more about its history.

Inside Seoul Grand Park there are the zoo, Seoul Land, a theme garden, and a camping ground. All these facilities comprise Seoul Grand Park. Coming November 1st marks the zoo’s 102nd anniversary. That’s when the zoo’s predecessor, Changgyeongwon Zoo, first opened. It opened on November 1st, 1909 and was relocated to the Seoul Grand Park site in 1984.

Overall Seoul Grand Park measures about nine million square meters, 2.5 million square meters of which are taken up by the zoo. There some 3,600 animals from 311 species live in harmony in 77 habitat structures. The arboretum also houses thousands of plant species, drawing millions of plant lovers every year. Seoul Grand Park Zoo can be reached from Seoul Grand Park Station of subway line four. Get on the tram operated from the information booth near the entrance and it will take you to the zoo through Seoul Land. You can take the tram all the way to the National Museum of Contemporary Art.

The first stop in the tram route is Seoul Grand Park Zoo. You purchase the ticket at the ticket booth for only 3,000 won, less than three dollars, per person. It’s a great bargain, considering that you can enjoy nature at its grandest for only three dollars. But is it possible to see the entire zoo in a day? Here’s Mr. Kang Hyeong-wook again.

There is one efficient and fun way to see the vast zoo. First, there are shuttle buses in the zoo, which take visitors to ten bus stops scattered around the zoo ground. The shuttle rides are free to anyone. A guide provides a tour of the animal habitats near each one of the ten stops. Visitors can pet the animals and even take pictures with them. There is also a dolphin show, a flamingo show, and many other programs for people to enjoy.

Before you go into the zoo, there is one place you must visit. It is Rose Garden located across from the zoo entrance. These days a chrysanthemum festival is underway in Rose Garden to celebrate the fall season.

As soon as you step into Rose Garden, you are overwhelmed by the fragrance of chrysanthemums. The flowers are arranged in animal shapes like a giraffe, a horse, a peacock, a deer, and such. There is also a space garden decorated with the mums as well as a flower-decorated seven-story Seokga Tower and a map of the Korea Peninsula.

- These yellow and pink mums are beautiful. Look at how many bees there are. They must be drawn by the flowers. The mums are perfect for the autumn.
- I came to see the chrysanthemum festival. The autumn sky is so blue and the flowers are beautiful. It’s so nice here.

Take that feeling of flowery enchantment all the way to the zoo. Near the entrance a flock of flamingos greet the visitors with a fabulous group performance.

Other animals follow the flamingos. Hippos, giraffes, elephants, and many other wonderful animals wait to see the visitors.

Frightened by the sheer size, children hold tightly on to their parent’s sleeves in front of the elephants. But their eyes grow as big as saucers in delight when they see the acrobatic monkeys.

The zoo arranges feeding time events every day. There visitors can see zookeepers feeding various animals, such as the giraffes, lions, tigers, bears, elephants, primates, and eagles, as well as hear them explain about the animals’ features and habits.

The most popular animal by far is the Siberian tiger. The visitors are at once intimated and fascinated by the ferocious animal.

The Siberian tigers are accustomed to the harshness of winter. But will many of the animals retreat into their indoor habitats when the winter arrives? Will there be anything to see at the zoo in the winter?

Even the animals from tropical areas remain outdoors in winter. The floors are heated and there are heating lamps all over the ceiling. So visitors can see animals in outdoor pens all year around.

In marking the centennial of the zoo’s opening in 2009, the zoo authorities carried out extensive upgrades in animal habitats to provide the animals with optimal living environments. Their living quarters were renovated to resemble their natural habitats as closely as possible. Here’s Mr. Kang Hyeong-wook of Seoul Grand Park to explain more.

Seoul Grand Park Zoo is most proud of its new Primate Habitat. The new facility houses lowland gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, and other primates. Animals there live outdoors all year round regardless of the weather. The natural environment has helped the animals breed a lot, so we have baby orangutans and baby chimpanzees living with their parents there. Also, we had the cement floors at the Water Fowl Habitat removed and in its place created a wetland and planted trees. After that the zoo’s first baby crane was born. So we set up a crane village for the birds. Visitors can see all these animals even when they come during winter.

The habitat for large waterfowls is a vast netted area measuring 90 meters in diameter and 30 meters in height. The Large Waterfowl Aviary houses an island and a six-meter-tall waterfall.

Our Large Waterfowl Aviary is the largest in Asia. It is home to cranes, herons, pelicans, and many other rare birds. In the past visitors could not enter the area and had to see the birds only from outside. But now there is a walkway inside the aviary and even an observatory on the second floor. You can enjoy the majestic flight of big water fowls from the observatory.

Four performances are held daily at the Marine Pavilion where seals, walruses, dolphins, and other marine mammals reside.

Dolphins swim out to the pool at the sound of the spectators calling out their names. The graceful marine mammals splash the water playfully and jump powerfully out of the water. Even their squeaks are cute.

Now let’s go over to the Botanical Garden and the forest area. The Botanical Garden of Seoul Grand Park Zoo is comprised of a tropical plant garden, a medicinal plant garden, a bonsai and sculpture park, and the Forest Exhibition Hall. Visitors delight in seeing rare and unusual plants here. If you enjoy the fall colors and the chilly yet refreshing breeze of the autumn, the zoo authorities eagerly recommend the forest stroll path.

The forest stroll path, also called the forest bathing area, is a walkway that goes around the zoo and along the side of Mt. Cheonggye. There are four courses in the area and it takes about is about 50 to 60 minutes to complete each course. So a walk around the entire path would take about four hours. There are spots where you can sit down and read, or walk barefoot. There is also a stone mark with a poem engraved on it. On the midway up the mountain there is a reservoir, a perfect place to take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch.

The forest is home to pine trees, ginger trees, Mongolian oak, and 470 other species of plants and trees, as well as a wide variety of animals, like squirrels, mountain hares, weasels, raccoons, and blue woodpeckers. There is also a 450-meter barefoot path near the Thinking Forest. Walking on the russet-colored path on barefoot makes you feel like you have become one with nature.

- This is great. I feel so light, as if I can float up to the sky. I feel like a cloud in the fall sky. My head clears up and my heart seems to get purified when I walk in the forest. It completely releases my stress.
- There is no need to go someplace far. This forest is near Seoul, so there is no traffic congestion. The weather is great in the fall and the fall foliage is great. I can just let go of my anxieties and enjoy the refreshing surroundings.

Riding the Sky Lift is a great way to wrap up the zoo visit. You can look back on the zoo outing as you sail across the sky over the forest, the zoo, the botanical garden, the theme park, and the lake.

- It feels like I’m on a helicopter looking down. It was scary at first, but now it’s fun. I can see the botanical garden and the lion den, too.
- It feels great on the lift. The wind is refreshing and the autumn sky is beautiful, and the trees are ablaze in yellow and red leaves.

Seoul Grand Park Zoo does not sweep away the fall leaves even if the pathways are covered with them. It is a thoughtful gesture of the zoo, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the feelings of fall.