In Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, Hwadam Botanic Garden brings woodland scenery and carefully tended gardens together. Its name conveys the idea of a warm, harmonious conversation.
Established by the LG Evergreen Foundation, the arboretum supports ecological restoration and conservation, including work to return endangered plants and animals to their natural habitats. It opened in 2013 and displays around 4,000 plant species across 16 themed gardens.
Follow the season, at your own pace.
Autumn brings richly coloured foliage, while other seasons reveal different flowers and woodland details. The two autumn photographs on this page were captured on 4 November 2021, with red and orange leaves framing Hwadam’s monorail. The spring photograph shows yellow daffodils beneath birch trees and accompanies an article published in April 2026. These are archive photographs, not live views or a forecast of current foliage.
Leave time for the smaller details along the paths. A walk and a monorail ride offer different ways to experience the landscape, rather than a single route everyone has to follow.
A monorail through the trees.
Archive photograph, not current conditions. Layout crop only; original colour unchanged. Source and image licence →
This is a monorail, not a cable car. Its complete circuit is approximately 1.2 kilometres and takes about 20 minutes. Shorter sections are also available. The ride is optional and requires a separate ticket in addition to garden admission.
Departures from Platform 1 can be booked online. Tickets departing from Platforms 2 and 3 are sold at their station kiosks, subject to availability. A circuit ticket does not allow you to get off and reboard.
Keep to the departure time on your ticket. Pushchairs and wagons must be folded for boarding; the service is primarily standing, with priority seating. Weather or maintenance may interrupt operation.
Book ahead.
Follow the booking link on the official Hwadam website to NOL. An account and sign-in are required. Select your admission time carefully and allow enough time to reach any reserved monorail departure. Popular seasonal slots can sell out.
Hours, closures and availability change with the season and weather. Check the current notices and booking page before travelling instead of relying on a fixed timetable.
Plan around your access needs.
The deck paths allow visitors using wheelchairs or pushchairs to explore without taking the monorail. Some sections are sloped or narrow, so plan around your needs and allow time for rests.
Bring your own wheelchair or pushchair, as rentals are not available. Visitors travelling with either can be dropped off in the turning area beside the ticket office before the driver parks. Check with Hwadam directly for individual boarding or access requirements.
Find the right Gwangju.
Hwadam is in Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province, not Gwangju Metropolitan City. Take the Gyeonggang Line to Gonjiam Station, then continue by taxi or Gwangju bus 9. Check current services when planning your journey.
Drivers can search for Hwadam Botanic Garden or Konjiam Resort and follow the parking attendants’ directions.
278-1 Docheokwit-ro, Docheok-myeon,
Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
경기도 광주시 도척면 도척윗로 278-1
Official directions →