Gangseo Hangang Park
강서한강공원
Six kilometres between Gayang Bridge and the city boundary, where a wetland ecological park and a sports park run together as one themed district. Gangseo Wetland Ecological Park — one of the thirty sites on Seoul's ecotourism list — is reed bed and willow wood that migrating birds stop at, with a bird hide, an interpretive trail and a bookable ecology programme. The operator recommends walking in from Magongnaru station on Line 9 and the Airport Railroad, past Seoul Botanic Park and over the river footbridge.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 강서한강공원
- Address
- 279-23 Yangcheon-ro 27-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Gangseo information centre)
- Getting there
- Magongnaru Station (마곡나루역, Line 9 and the Airport Railroad) · 20-min walk, Banghwa Station (방화역, Line 5) (Exit 1 or 2), Yangcheonhyanggyo Station (양천향교역, Line 9) (Exit 1), Bus · Gangseo 07 (Gangseo Hangang Park terminus), Bus · Gangseo 06 (Yangcheon underpass), Ferry Hangang Bus · Magok pier (마곡 선착장)
- Opening hours
- open at all hours
- Closed
- Open year-round
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Admission
- Free
Accessibility and facilities
Gangseo Wetland Ecological Park was laid out in 2002. Its river island, interpretive trail and wet meadow restore a marsh ecosystem that does the river's own filtering work; there is a bird hide, and the operator notes that together with nearby Haengju Fortress it serves as a site for environmental and historical education. The ecology programme is booked online.
The family picnic ground has 50 picnic sites, ten tables and a playground, and from April to October it doubles as a zone where sun shelters may be pitched. Outdoor exercise equipment runs to 28 pieces in all — twelve under Banghwa Bridge, twelve in front of the picnic ground and six under Haengju Bridge. There is a climbing wall upstream of Banghwa Bridge on the south side and a jokgu court beneath it.
The bicycle-hire point is downstream of Banghwa Bridge on the south side, at 59 Banghwa-dong. The river viewpoint at the Guam underpass is a small open-air performance space, usable with a permit obtained from the Gangseo information centre seven days before an event.
The operator lists the park's amenities as one shop, one car park, four toilets, one playground, plus drinking fountains and the picnic ground.
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk in?
Yes, by one route, and the operator recommends it as a walk worth taking for itself: from Magongnaru station on Line 9 and the Airport Railroad, past Seoul Botanic Park and over the river footbridge, about twenty minutes. The other approaches need a change; they are listed separately under getting here.
Can I see the migratory birds?
The operator describes Gangseo Wetland Ecological Park as a stop for migrating birds among reed beds and willow wood, and provides a bird hide. It does not publish which birds arrive when, so if you are coming for a particular season it is worth checking before you travel. The ecology programme is booked online.
Can I picnic here?
The family picnic ground has 50 picnic sites and ten tables, and from April to October it is a designated zone for pitching sun shelters. Shelters and tents may only go up inside a designated zone.
Stories about this place
- Choosing a Han River Park in Seoul: Facilities, Summer Pools, Getting There
Seoul's eleven Han River parks compared on what each district has and who it suits, with how to check the summer pools, the nearest subway stations, and how to time the last train home.
