Water garden is a specific type of garden formed by water from ponds, streams, waterways, etc.

If you wonder what a garden made of water looks like, you should go to Jinjung-ri, Joan-myeon, Namyangju.

Namyangju Water Garden is a waterside ecological park over a vast 484,188㎡-land built as a part of the Saving Hangang River Project carried out by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in 2012. Cheonggyesan Mountain reflected on Bukhangang River and the gorgeous scene of sun coming up and mist rising from the water have been slowly advertised via word-of-mouth and still require no fees for parking and admission.

The stroll path that winds along Bukhangang is great for walking and biking alike. For local residents, Water Garden is a "neighborhood park" where they can enjoy jogging and bike riding along the walking and biking paths but, for those from further away, it is a nice date course worth travelling a long distance for. As Yangpyeong and Namyangju are two of the most preferred areas by cyclists because of well-established bike paths, there are many who have come to Water Garden to ride bicycles.

Water Garden is constituted of Mulmaeum Path, Bukhangang bike road, riverside stroll path, Mulbit-gil and Mulhyanggi-gil. It it recommended to take pictures in the frame-shaped photo spot near the entrance. An unforgettable painting with myself as the main character will be created with the beautiful Water Garden in the background.

There are also benches in the shape of gorgeous lotus flowers that go well with the wetland filled with purple lotus flowers and with the name of “Baetnadeuri Bench” inspired by the name of the area that means “the place where boats used to come and go” in the past. You may take some time to rest on one of these benches during your stroll.

Instead of quickly finishing a lap around the Water Garden, it is better to walk slowly and take a few rests here and there to breathe with the nature, which we had neglected until now, just like a continuously flowing water of the river.

As you start from Mulmaeum-gil and pass the bridge along the Bukhangang biking path, tranquil breeze from the river lightly strikes your face. You may enjoy the view of Bukhangang River on the riverside stroll path or stay a bit longer on Mulhyanggi-gil (Heart Zone) if you are a couple on a date. Going from Mulbit-gil through Mulhyanggi-gil to the lotus flower-filled wetland, you have basically travelled the entire place and reached the entrance again.

At the Water Garden, the beautiful changes of Bukhangang River from one season to another can be viewed in the closest distance. Coupled with an orchestra of seasonal flowers including crape-myrtles, poppies and cosmos as well as the landscape of the blue sky, flower and river, the place makes you think that healing is not far away from us.

It was a special weekend visit to a place not far from me. This may be why that there are people who have never visited the Water Garden but no one has visited just once.

Written and photos by Kim Sun-joo

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