Suwon was one of four main regional government centers during the Joseon dynasty. Hwaseong Fortress, built to protect the city, was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site on December 12, 1997 for its historical value. The fortress offers various performances daily as well as the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival every fall. The walls stretch for 5,700 kilometers, with Paldalsan Mountain at the center. The fortress, constructed from 1794 to 1796, was built as a display of King Jeongjo’s filial piety towards his father and to build a new pioneer city with its own economic power. You will enjoy trekking along the fortress

A haenggung is a temporary palace where the king and royal family retreated to during a war. Hwaseong Haenggung Palace is the largest one of these, used by the Joseon kings since the time of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800). In addition to being used as a shelter during war, King Jeongjo also stayed here during trips to worship at his father's tomb. The palace was the location of a splendid feast held on the 60th birthday of his mother, Hyegyeonggung Hong, and many other events, including award certificates for successful candidates of special national exams. These days, the palace serves as a venue for many traditional cultural performances and activities.

There is a neighborhood named Jidong because it used to be a pond under the fortress road leading to Changryongmun Gate and Nammun Gate. Artists, local residents, and volunteers are working together to create the nation's largest mural village from 2011 to 2017. Wall paintings and culture are being planted in every alley. If you come down from Changryongmun Gate to the inside of Jidong Village, you can find a good walking path with beautiful alleys.

Paldalmun Gate is the southern gate of Hwaseong Fortress, and its name means "a gate opening to a road that leads to all directions." Among the four gates of Hwaseong Fortress, the northern and southern gates are bigger and more grandiose. The gate has an entrance wide enough to let the king's palanquin pass through and a watchtower over the entrance. Outside of the gate is a crescent-shaped protection wall called ongseong. Among the ongseong walls found across the country, Paldalmun Gate's ongseong wall stands out in terms of size and form. The hip roof and decorations seen on Paldalmun Gate's watchtower resemble that of fortress watchtowers, and are recognized as representation of late Joseon dynasty's watchtower architecture.