1.
Gyeongbokgung
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Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395, it is located in northern Seoul, South Korea, the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings households, as well as the government of Joseon. Gyeongbokgung continued to serve as the palace of the Joseon dynasty until the premises were destroyed by fire during the Imjin War. However, in the 19th century, all of the palaces 7,700 rooms were restored under the leadership of Prince Regent Heungseon during the reign of King Gojong. Some 500 buildings were restored on a site of over 40 hectares, the architectural principles of ancient Korea were incorporated into the tradition and appearance of the Joseon royal court. In the early 20th century, much of the palace was destroyed by Imperial Japan. Since then, the palace complex is gradually being reconstructed to its original form. Today, the palace is arguably regarded as being the most beautiful and it also houses the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum within the premises of the complex. Gyeongbokgung was built three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded and it served as its main palace. With Mount Bugak as a backdrop and the Street of Six Ministries outside Gwanghwamun Gate and it was steadily expanded before being reduced to ashes during the Japanese invasion of 1592. For the next 273 years the grounds were left derelict until being rebuilt in 1867 under the leadership of Regent Heungseon Daewongun. The restoration was completed on a scale, with 330 buildings crowded together in a labyrinthine configuration. Within the palace walls were the Outer Court, offices for the king and state officials, and the Inner Court, within its extensive precincts were other palaces, large and small, including Junggung and Donggung. Owing to its status as the symbol of sovereignty, Gyeongbokgung was demolished during the Japanese occupation of the early 20th century. In 1911, ownership of land at the palace was transferred to the Japanese Governor-General, in 1915, on the pretext of holding an exhibition, more than 90% of the buildings were torn down. Following the exhibition the Japanese leveled whatever still remained and built their colonial headquarters, restoration efforts have been ongoing since 1990. The Government-General Building was removed in 1996 and Heungnyemun Gate and Gwanghwamun Gate were reconstructed in their original locations, reconstructions of the Inner Court and Crown Prince’s residence have also been complex. Afterwards, the palace was expanded during the reign of King Taejong and King Sejong the Great
2.
Island platform
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An island platform is a station layout arrangement where a single platform is positioned between two tracks within a railway station, tram stop or transitway interchange. Island platforms are popular on twin-track routes due to pragmatic and cost-effective reasons, an alternative arrangement is to position side platforms on either side of the tracks. The historical use of island platforms depends greatly upon the location, the island platform layout is a popular, cost-effective and practical solution in modern railway systems. Island platforms allow facilities such as escalators, elevators, shops, toilets and this is essential for wheelchair accessible stations. An island platform makes it easier for users and the infirm to change services between tracks. Additionally, an island platform layout eliminates the need to construct a crossover or subway between two platforms, however, island platforms may become overcrowded, especially at busy stations, and this can lead to safety issues such as Clapham Common and Angel on the London Underground. However, for the tracks to diverge around the platform, extra width is required along the right-of-way on each approach to the station. Track centers vary for rail systems throughout the world but are normally 3 to 5 meters, if the island platform is 6 meters wide, the tracks have to slew out by the same distance. While this is not a problem on a new line that is being constructed, in addition, a single island platform makes it quite difficult to have through tracks, which are usually between the local tracks. A common configuration in busy locations on high speed lines is a pair of island platforms, high-speed trains can therefore pass straight through the station, while slow trains pass around the platforms. This arrangement also allows the station to serve as a point where trains can be passed by faster trains. The purpose of this design was to reduce unnecessary passenger congestion at a station with a high volume of passengers. Many of the stations on the Great Central Railway were constructed in this form and this was because the line was planned to connect to a Channel Tunnel. Island platforms are a normal sight on Indian railway stations. Almost all railway stations in India consist of island platforms, in Toronto,29 subway stations use island platforms. A slight disadvantage is that crossovers have to be rather long, in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, PATCO uses island platforms in all of its 13 stations, to facilitate one-person train operation. Most elevated stations in Singapores Mass Rapid Transit system use island platforms, the exception is Dover MRT Station, which uses side platforms as it is built on an existing rail line. The planned Canberra MRT Station will also use side platforms, as it also be built on an existing rail line
3.
China
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China, officially the Peoples Republic of China, is a unitary sovereign state in East Asia and the worlds most populous country, with a population of over 1.381 billion. The state is governed by the Communist Party of China and its capital is Beijing, the countrys major urban areas include Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Hong Kong. China is a power and a major regional power within Asia. Chinas landscape is vast and diverse, ranging from forest steppes, the Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges separate China from much of South and Central Asia. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third and sixth longest in the world, respectively, Chinas coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometers long and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East China and South China seas. China emerged as one of the worlds earliest civilizations in the basin of the Yellow River in the North China Plain. For millennia, Chinas political system was based on hereditary monarchies known as dynasties, in 1912, the Republic of China replaced the last dynasty and ruled the Chinese mainland until 1949, when it was defeated by the communist Peoples Liberation Army in the Chinese Civil War. The Communist Party established the Peoples Republic of China in Beijing on 1 October 1949, both the ROC and PRC continue to claim to be the legitimate government of all China, though the latter has more recognition in the world and controls more territory. China had the largest economy in the world for much of the last two years, during which it has seen cycles of prosperity and decline. Since the introduction of reforms in 1978, China has become one of the worlds fastest-growing major economies. As of 2016, it is the worlds second-largest economy by nominal GDP, China is also the worlds largest exporter and second-largest importer of goods. China is a nuclear weapons state and has the worlds largest standing army. The PRC is a member of the United Nations, as it replaced the ROC as a permanent member of the U. N. Security Council in 1971. China is also a member of numerous formal and informal multilateral organizations, including the WTO, APEC, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the BCIM, the English name China is first attested in Richard Edens 1555 translation of the 1516 journal of the Portuguese explorer Duarte Barbosa. The demonym, that is, the name for the people, Portuguese China is thought to derive from Persian Chīn, and perhaps ultimately from Sanskrit Cīna. Cīna was first used in early Hindu scripture, including the Mahābhārata, there are, however, other suggestions for the derivation of China. The official name of the state is the Peoples Republic of China. The shorter form is China Zhōngguó, from zhōng and guó and it was then applied to the area around Luoyi during the Eastern Zhou and then to Chinas Central Plain before being used as an occasional synonym for the state under the Qing
4.
Blue House
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The Blue House is the executive office and official residence of the South Korean head of state, the President of the Republic of Korea, and is located in the capital city of Seoul. The Blue House is in fact a complex of buildings, built largely in the traditional Korean architectural style with modern elements. The entire complex covers approximately 250,000 square metres or 62 acres, the location of Cheong Wa Dae was the site of a royal villa in what was then Hanyang, the southern capital of the Goryeo dynasty. It was built by King Sukjong in 1104, goryeos principal capital was at Kaesŏng, and it also maintained a western capital at Pyongyang and an eastern capital at Gyeongju. It was used as the site for civil service examinations and military training, following the Empire of Japans annexation of the Korean Empire in 1910, the Governor-General of Korea used the Gyeongbokgung grounds for the government-general building. In 1939, Japan built an official residence/office for the governor-general on the site of Cheong Wa Dae and it was later dismantled during Kim Young-sams presidency in 1993. With the establishments of the Republic of Korea in 1948, President Syngman Rhee called the building Gyeongmudae and he used it as his office and residence. President Yun Bo-seon changed the name to Cheong Wa Dae after he was inaugurated in 1960, in 1968, North Korean infiltrators nearly reached the building in a bid to assassinate President Park Chung-hee during the Blue House Raid. In the ensuing melee,28 North Koreans,26 South Koreans, presidents Park Chung-hee, Choi Kyu-ha and Chun Doo-hwan used it both as their office and official residence. While President Roh Tae-woo was in office, a new building, official residence. The main office building was opened in April 1991, geomancers have long considered the area in which Cheong Wa Dae is located as an auspicious location. To the north of hugiwawa is the mountain Bukhansan, flanked by two mountains, Naksan, symbolizing the Azure Dragon, on the left and Inwangsan, symbolizing the White Tiger, to the south is Namsan, the protective mountain of the capital. In front flow the Cheonggyecheon stream and Han River, Korean architecture History of South Korea History of Korea List of Korea-related topics National Assembly Building Office of the President Blue House entry in Visit Korea
5.
Gwanghwamun
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Gwanghwamun is the main and largest gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, in Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is located at an intersection at the northern end of Sejongno. As a landmark and symbol of Seouls long history as the city during the Joseon Dynasty. Restoration work on the gate was finished and it was opened to the public on August 15,2010, Gwanghwamun was first constructed in 1395 as the main gate to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main and most important royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty. During the 1592 Japanese invasion, it was destroyed by fire, Gwanghwamun was reconstructed in 1867 along with the rest of Gyeongbokgung Palace by the order of regent Daewongun during the reign of Emperor Gojong. The Korean War completely destroyed the structure of Gwanghwamun, and its stone base lay in complete disrepair. In 1968, during Park Chung-hees administration, the base was again relocated in front of the Japanese Governor General Building. The destroyed wooden structure was rebuilt in concrete, while the sign on Gwanghwamun was written in hangul by Park himself, Gwanghwamun remained as a concrete gate until late 2006. Gwanghwamun underwent a restoration project since December 2006 and was finished in August 2010. The gate was disassembled and moved back to its original location 14.5 meters to the south and it was rotated in order to accurately place the gate to its original location, which perfectly aligns it with the main north-south axis of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The aim of the latest renovation was to restore Gwanghwamun to its wooden construction while paying meticulous attention to historical accuracy. Pine wood used in the construction was selected in Korea as the use of foreign imported wood for recreating Koreas historic buildings was strictly forbidden. Gwanghwamun was opened to the public on August 15,2010, to commemorate Gwangbokjeol, the project cost ₩28 billion. A new name plate on the restored Gwanghwamun was unveiled on the same day, the lettering was done by master Oh Ok-jin, using the gakjajang method of calligraphic engraving, a technique designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property no 106. However, cracks in the plate were showing by early November. After many debates, a repair to the cracks was made,13 wooden boards for the new signboard were cut in September 2011 and have since undergone a natural drying process in Gangwon Province. A majority of experts consulted thought the sign should be carved as the original had been, the area in front of Gwanghwamun, known as the Gwanghwamun Plaza, was opened as a public open space on 1 August 2009. It is part of the Seoul Metropolitan Governments plans for environmentally friendly renovation projects such as the Cheonggye Stream, the royal changing of the guard ceremony is held in front of the main gate every hour from 10,00 to 15,00
6.
Insa-dong
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Insa-dong is a dong, or neighborhood of the Jongno-gu district of the South Korean city of Seoul. The main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a multitude of alleys that lead deeper into the district, with modern galleries, at one time it was the largest market for antiques and artworks in Korea. In area,12.7 hectares, the district is bordered by Gwanhun-dong to the north, Nagwon-dong to the east, and Jongno 2-ga and Jeokseon-dong to the south, Insadong was originally two towns whose names ended in the syllables In and Sa. They were divided by a stream which ran along Insadongs current main street, Insadong began 500 years ago as an area of residence for government officials. During the early period of the Joseon Dynasty, the place belonged to Gwanin-bang and Gyeonpyeong-bang - bang was the name of a unit during the time - of Hanseong. During the Japanese occupation, the wealthy Korean residents were forced to move and sell their belongings, after the end of the Korean War, the area became a focus of South Koreas artistic and cafe life. It was a popular destination among visitors to South Korea during the 1960s. It gained in popularity with tourists during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. In 2000 the area was renovated, and, after protest, in recent years the backstreets of Insadong have continued to be gentrified with cafes, garden restaurants, and traditional pension-style accommodations. Insadong-gil is well known as a street to both locals and foreigners and represents the culture of the past and the present. It contains a mixture of historical and modern atmosphere and is an area of Seoul that truly represents the cultural history of the nation. The majority of the traditional buildings originally belonged to merchants and bureaucrats, some larger residences, built for retired government officials during the Joseon period, can also be seen. Most of these buildings are now used as restaurants or shops. The area is known for sightseeing, with approximately 100,000 visitors on Sundays reported in 2000. Insadong is also a spot for foreign dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth II and the princes of Spain. It contains 40 percent of the antique shops and art galleries as well as 90 percent of the traditional stationery shops. Particularly noteworthy is Tongmungwan, the oldest bookstore in Seoul, and Kyung-in Art Gallery, there are daily calligraphy demonstrations and pansori dancing performances. Ssamzigil, a mall that concentrates in specialty stores of handcrafts, is also a prominent destination in Insadong
