For nearly 30 years, two areas of Seoul’s popular Secret Garden (Huwon) located in the capital’s Joseon-era Changdeokgung Palace, have remained behind walls, off limits to the general public. Those mysterious parts of the garden, the Ongnyu Stream and the Soyo Pavilion, opened for public tours in May.

Located in the deepest part of the garden, the Ongnyu Stream was a rest spot established in 1636, during the reign of King Injo. It is said that the king and his retainers would float their wine cups in a stream that flows along a channel carved in the stone and before the cup floated downstream, that person had to compose a poem. As this section of the garden has been off-limits to visitors since 1976, it has become a virtual "Natural Treasure House," and 24 kinds of rare birds and 160 varieties of trees living there. Tours run three times daily and accommodate 50 to 60 people. The cost of admission is just 5,000 won (~ USD 5). For more information about tours of Korea’s Secret Garden, visit the KNTO website at www.tour2korea.com.