Suncheonman National Garden, South Korea's first nationally designated garden, is emerging as the ultimate spring travel destination.
Across the garden grounds, 1.5 million tulips have burst into bloom simultaneously, creating a spectacular display. The colorful waves of tulips in red, yellow, pink and other vivid hues are expected to remain at their peak through mid-April. Those who miss this window will have to wait until next spring.
Now is the golden time to experience spring at its finest.
The tulips at Suncheonman National Garden differ from those at other popular spots. While most tulip destinations are places to "walk, look and leave," the tulips here offer a "spring to stay in." Visitors can spread a mat on the vast lawns, lie back and take in the sky, breeze and fragrance of flowers beyond the tulips. Rather than hurrying to snap photos in front of the blooms and moving on, this is a place where people can sit in the heart of spring and truly rest — a space of healing and leisure.
This is why the garden is regarded as one of Korea's finest healing spaces.
The Suncheon city government's Garden Operations Division, which takes a field-centered administrative approach, recommended Noeul Garden for those wanting to fully immerse themselves in the sea of tulips. It is where the largest number of tulips are on display, and visitors can naturally take photos with the flowers without having to bend down, officials explained.
For those who prefer neatly landscaped tulip arrangements, Space Hub is also a must-visit. From the observation deck, tulips showcasing their own distinct colors in various patterns come into full view. The long stretches of lawn are an ideal spot to lay out a mat and enjoy a leisurely break.
The crown jewel of the garden's tulip display is the Netherlands Garden. A beloved attraction since the garden first opened, it offers visitors the chance to capture memorable photos with windmills as a backdrop.
This weekend, the Netherlands Garden will host the "Tulip Wanna Bom" event, a play on words combining tulips and the Korean word for spring. In addition to various tulip-themed hands-on programs, the windmill — previously closed to entry — will be temporarily opened to offer visitors a special experience.
"We hope visitors will feel the full embrace of spring while resting in the garden," said Kim Seon-sun, director of the Suncheon Garden City Center. "We also hope that visitors to the garden will spread out to various parts of the region and bring renewed energy to local small business owners."