2015 Seoul: A Journey from Autumn to Winter, Shopping Paradise and Gathering of Beautiful People

Participated in Ctrip's semi-self-guided tour, tour link: http://vacations.ctrip.com/grouptravel/p1691677s12.html

A brief introduction to this trip:

1. Day 1: Korean jjimjilbang (sauna), Day 2: various duty-free shops, Days 3-4: free time, Day 5: return journey.

2. Accommodation: Seoul JBIS Hotel, Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, less than a 5-minute walk from Seolleung Station on Subway Line 2, very convenient and the hotel is nice.

3. The author knows Korean, basic communication is fine. Hehe~.

Pre-trip preparations:

1. Time difference: Korea is 1 hour ahead of Beijing time, i.e., Beijing time 11:00 = Korea time 12:00.

2. Mobile phone: Activate international roaming for Korea; the phone must support WCDMA. You can check in advance whether your phone model supports this standard (I have a China Mobile customized phone and it doesn't support it). Cost disclosure: Receiving calls in Korea: 0.99 RMB/min, calling China: 0.99 RMB/min, receiving SMS: free, sending SMS: 0.39 RMB/message. No monthly fee. For details, I suggest you call China Mobile customer service.

3. Internet: Rented an Egg (portable Wi-Fi). Others rented from HanYouWang for 30-40 RMB/day with a deposit. We rented on Taobao without a deposit, 25 RMB/day, no deposit, internet available at the airport, battery life 7-8 hours. Korea has excellent internet coverage everywhere, but it all requires a password (except duty-free shops), so renting an Egg is very convenient.

4. Currency exchange: The author exchanged money at Bank of China. You need to make a reservation one day in advance, and exchange the next day. There is a difference between buying and selling rates, so the amount you get feels smaller. On the day of exchange, the RMB:KRW rate was 1:180, but at the bank it was 1:173. However, since the amount exchanged is not large, the difference is minimal.

Near Ewha Womans University, the rate was 1:173; in Myeongdong, various rates, the highest seen was 1:179.

5. Power adapter: Definitely needed. Buy one on Taobao; I bought a Bull brand one. China uses 220V, Korea uses 110V.

If you forget to bring one, don't worry; you can rent one at the hotel front desk by paying a deposit.

6. Transportation card: T-Money card. Card cost: 2,500 KRW, minimum top-up: 500 KRW. When returning the card, the card fee is not refunded, and an additional 500 KRW handling fee is charged. So if there isn't much money left on the card, it's better not to return it and keep it as a souvenir.

You can top up and buy cards at convenience stores and subway stations, and also return cards. Very convenient.

Subway fare with card: 1,050 KRW; without card: 1,250 KRW. The fare of 1,050 KRW is deducted upon entering the station; if you travel many stops, an additional fare is deducted when you exit.

7. Luggage storage: There are luggage storage lockers in subway stations, self-service with Chinese interface, can be paid with a transportation card. Starting fee: 4,000 KRW for 4 hours. Just follow the instructions.

8. Restrooms: Korean restrooms all provide toilet paper. The author has never encountered a situation without paper. There are many restrooms.

9. Subway: Pay attention to the direction when entering the station and transferring. Transfers often require walking quite a distance. Look at the signs carefully.

10. Taking fruit out of the country: If you pack apples in your backpack and take them on the plane, there is no problem.

11. Overweight issue: International brand products bought at duty-free shops can be picked up at the airport and do not count toward luggage weight.

12. Tax refund:

(1) Obtain a tax refund receipt in the store (the staff will prepare it for you).

(2) When checking in at the airport, inform them that your suitcase contains items for tax refund.

(3) Get a stamp: After checking in your luggage, take your tax-refund items to the service counter inside and ask the airline staff to stamp the receipt (you must bring the items; though they may not check, if they randomly inspect and you don't have the items, you're in trouble).

(4) Near the stamp counter, there are self-service machines. Insert your passport and tax refund receipt.

(5) Then go back to the check-in counter to check in your luggage.

(6) Go through security. Liquids over 100ml are not allowed.

(7) Pick up items: After security, turn left to the airport pickup area. Pick up items bought at duty-free shops, including items bought online for airport pickup. This is the same place.

First take a number. Both Lotte and Shilla require numbers. Wait to be called and collect your items. These items do not count toward your luggage weight.

OK, let's get into the main content.

D1: Korean Jjimjilbang (Sauna)

Experienced Korean jjimjilbang. Very reliable!! I really liked it.

Co-ed jjimjilbang.

Steps: Get clothes and a numbered locker key at the front desk — Take off shoes and put them in the shoe locker area — Go to the women's changing room and change into the provided clothes (the key is the same as the shoe locker) — Eat — Return to the women's changing room and undress — Take a shower in the bath area (must shower before using the sauna) — Various pools (coffee pool, salt bath, etc.) — Put on clothes and enter the co-ed area, which has various sauna rooms (mugwort, stone, etc.) — Return to the women's changing room, change back, and leave the clothes in the designated pile — Pay at the front desk.

Jjimjilbang tips:

1. When getting clothes at the front desk, group tour visitors are not provided with towels. If you want to wrap your head like in Korean dramas, bring your own towel.

2. In the women's bath area, it's recommended to start with lower temperature pools and gradually go to higher ones. Each pool has the temperature marked.

3. In the co-ed common area, you can order drinks and snacks. Drinks are usually iced. There is a Chinese menu. After ordering, swipe the locker key card, and pay at the front desk when you leave. Return empty plates to the counter.

(The author ordered raspberry drink 2,500 KRW and 2 eggs 2,000 KRW.)

OK, take a break, pictures below.

Evening group meal: seaweed soup.

Below are side dishes; you can ask for more if needed.

D2: Group tour day.

Breakfast at the hotel: Chinese congee, egg fried rice; Western bread, milk; Korean kimchi. Also fruit. Korean fruit is really tasty, thumbs up! (I heard breakfast costs the same as a regular meal, so good value). Remember to take your own dishes to the designated area after eating. Take only what you can eat, don't waste. Koreans do this very well.

1. Cheongwadae (Blue House): exterior view. On weekend mornings, the traffic lights near Cheongwadae are off; follow police instructions to cross the street.

2. Samcheong-dong: a popular area for Japanese tourists. Mainly cafés. We went in the morning, most places were closed, so we walked around briefly and got back on the bus.

PS: Saw a navy soldier, handsome!

3. DIY Kimchi experience and traditional Hanbok experience.

They taught how to make kimchi, and we took many photos wearing hanbok.

4. Beauty Center Experience Hall.

Actually a cosmetics store selling local Korean brands. The guide said that truly good Korean products are not exported but sold domestically. They sold snail cream there. I originally wanted to buy It's Skin, but decided to buy one bottle to try. The scent is very nice.

Lunchtime: Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup). Very light, and there was indeed a small ginseng root. Two travel companions didn't like it.

5. Shilla Duty Free.

This was the most cost-effective duty-free shop we visited, and it's quite large. Every counter has Chinese-speaking sales staff, no communication barriers.

Local cosmetics can be taken on the spot; foreign cosmetics are picked up at the airport. Keep the receipt given by the staff. You need your passport to buy things. Use UnionPay for smooth payment.

Floors 2 and B1 have many cosmetics.

6. Lotte Duty Free (Myeongdong branch).

We only visited the cosmetics section on the 11th floor (I don't remember exactly). It was very crowded, and prices were not as good as at Shilla (at least for Clinique; I didn't repurchase other items).

7. Walkerhill.

Also a duty-free shop. The adjacent hotel is the filming location for the drama "Hotelier."

Prices are quite low, but the shop is very small.

8. Lotte Duty Free (Jamsil branch).

A newly opened duty-free shop, claimed to be the tallest building in the area. The building is beautiful, and it's the most upscale duty-free shop we visited.

9. Lotte World (Jamsil).

Very close to the duty-free shop, just a few minutes' walk. We went in the evening, so many outdoor thrill rides were closed. But there were performances, and we saw the merry-go-round from "Stairway to Heaven" and an ice rink, though not the exact same ones. If you go, you can easily spend at least half a day. But amusement parks are all similar.

In the evening, we ordered fried chicken at the hotel. One serving for one person: 18,000 KRW. Generous portion, very very delicious, a bit spicy.

D3: Free day (Ewha Womans University – Gwangjang Market).

Subway Line 2, Seolleung Station. Bought a transportation card at the station's convenience store (Korean convenience stores are really convenient; you can buy, top up, and return cards). Before entering the station, be sure to check the direction of the subway.

Took the subway to Ewha Womans University Station, about 40 minutes, quite long. I really like the Korean subway; it's very quiet and not crowded.

Exit via Gate 3, walk straight along the road for 5 minutes to reach the campus.

Ewha Womans University campus is truly beautiful, with European-style architecture. Actually, the campus isn't very large, maybe we didn't explore it all.

The famous Ewha Wall is actually very small (about the size of a blackboard).

The sunken library (there is a Chinese warning sign: "Non-students, please do not enter").

Around Ewha Womans University, there are many cosmetics stores, clothing stores, shoe stores, and bag stores. Really cheap and pretty!

We ran out of cash, but there was a currency exchange place with a rate of 1:175, which was quite good.

We spent a long time at Innisfree and Etude House. Recommendations: Etude House lip gloss (6,000 KRW) and lip concealer (4,500 KRW).

No wonder Korean girls have such nice lips.

From Ewha Womans University, we took a taxi to Gwangjang Market: 3,700 KRW. For four people, it was cheaper than the subway. I'm not sure if Korea has a fuel surcharge or if it's included, but the price shown on the meter is the final fare.

A century-old traditional market, very old and worn.

But the things sold are very traditional. Recommended to visit!

We ate local traditional snacks: tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) + kimbap (seaweed rice rolls) – super delicious, highly recommended, 6,000 KRW.

Also had fish cake soup and japchae (stir-fried glass noodles). The seats were so comfortable; they were heated automatically, very warm!

Many vendors sell local rice cakes beautifully packaged.

Local accessories, very Korean style.

There were also hanbok for sale, very pretty.

D4: Free day (Gyeongbokgung Palace – Bukchon Hanok Village – Myeongdong shopping – N Seoul Tower – Namdaemun Market – Jjimjilbang).

Background: First snowfall of the year in Korea, -8°C, an extremely cold day.

Subway Line 2, transfer to Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station. The palace is right outside. When we exited, it was snowing heavily. Admission: 3,000 KRW. The palace is not large, and there were no guided tours to listen in on, so pure sightseeing was a bit boring.

We came to see the changing of the guard ceremony, but it was canceled due to weather.

A 2-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung leads to Gwanghwamun Gate.

2. From Gyeongbokgung to Bukchon Hanok Village: two subway stops, very close.

Bukchon Hanok Village is very small, but the buildings are indeed traditional Korean style. At the crossroads, there is a small building where you can get a map.

We had lunch at a small shop because it was too cold outside.

We asked if they had hot water, and the ajumma (elderly lady) was very kind; the side dishes were plentiful!

3. From Bukchon Hanok Village, we took a taxi to Myeongdong: 3,500 KRW.

We got off near a church in Myeongdong, and even saw a SF Express truck!

Myeongdong is very large. It was snowing heavily, so we didn't explore the streets much. Instead, we went to the underground shopping center, which was quite far, and only browsed a few shops. Later, we went to a shopping mall called Yong (?) that sells young people's clothing. The clothes were pretty and of good quality, not expensive. Down jackets were about 1,000 RMB, few coats, but nice sweatshirts (ranging from 150 to 350 RMB).

The last few pictures below are of napkins (tissues) – very cheap, seen at the Myeongdong underground shopping center, very nice.

4. Myeongdong – N Seoul Tower cable car.

TIP: Taxi drivers cannot go all the way up to N Seoul Tower; only buses are allowed (not sure about private cars).

The driver dropped us off at the cable car station, but the cable car was canceled due to weather.

No choice, we continued uphill. After much hassle, we found a bus, but it was going the wrong direction. Then we saw a Korean oppa waiting for a bus and asked for directions. We learned that the bus runs on a one-way loop. We followed oppa onto the bus and got off at the stop for N Seoul Tower, which was the terminal, so no worries. The bus wound up a long road to the top. After getting off, we had to climb a very steep, long slope to reach the tower.

It was extremely cold. We took some photos but didn't go up the tower before heading back.

On the way down, we noticed that Korean buses have a weight limit; once the limit is reached, no more passengers are allowed.

The bus passed Namdaemun Market, so we decisively got off.

With the help of an ajumma, we found a place to eat grilled beef. We had hanwoo (Korean beef), but didn't feel anything special.

After eating, we walked around Namdaemun Market. Honestly, it was not very interesting – mostly clothes for older people and small vendors. Plus, it was cold and many shops closed early. Since it was cold, I bought a scarf: 12,000 KRW, just okay, no pretty scarves or gloves.

From Namdaemun, about a 10-minute walk to the subway station, then back to the hotel.

We went to a jjimjilbang near the hotel again. This one was small and women-only.

There were fewer types of sauna rooms, but there was one shaped like an eggshell. I could only stay inside for one minute; it was too hot, so I came out. Surprisingly, we stayed for 2 hours in this small jjimjilbang. It was very comfortable, especially on such a cold day.

In the morning, we had breakfast near the airport: udon noodles, delicious! Downstairs was a local souvenir shop, but we didn't have time to go.

Then we went to the airport to queue for check-in. For items requiring tax refund, we told the check-in staff, they put a sticker on our luggage, and we took the luggage with the guide to a stamping area inside. After stamping, a staff member printed a slip at a self-service machine, which we kept. Then we went back to the stamping area to check in the luggage.

Next, we went through security. Liquids over 100ml are not allowed.

After security, we went to Gate 28 for tax refund. I went to the self-service tax refund counter at Gate 27. A staff member was there; I gave her the slip, and she refunded the money directly. Some receipts had to be processed at Gate 28, and she sorted them out and sent me to the manual counter at Gate 28.

After the tax refund, we hurried to the duty-free pickup area. First, take a number – one for Lotte and one for Shilla. Wait to be called, collect the items, and then head to the boarding gate. On the way, there were more duty-free cosmetics shops where you could buy more.

Everything in my hands now can be carried onto the plane. But the Nine Clouds cream I wanted was out of stock.

Return journey ends the pleasant trip.

Below is a picture of the Han River.