Suwon Hwaseong and Hwaseong Haenggung are easy places to spend a lot of time walking.

This time, I tried something different: Flying Suwon and the Hwaseong Eocha. Both were more fun than I expected, and they offered two very different views of the fortress area.

Flying Suwon: looking over the city

Flying Suwon is a tethered helium balloon operating near the Changnyongmun parking area.

Its operating height changes with weather conditions, and official information says it can rise as high as 150 metres. On the day I visited, wind conditions limited the ride to about 60 metres.

Looking over Suwon Hwaseong and the city from Flying Suwon

Suwon Hwaseong and the surrounding city seen from Flying Suwon Personal photo · 2026-09-16

Even at the lower height, the view was worth it. Seeing the fortress and the surrounding city from above felt completely different from exploring them at ground level.

Drinks were not allowed on board during my visit, but there was a small place near the entrance where passengers could leave them temporarily.

The daytime view was good, but I would like to try it again after the city lights come on.

Hwaseong Eocha: seeing the fortress from the ground

Next, I took the Hwaseong Eocha.

The Hwaseong Eocha at Suwon Hwaseong

The Hwaseong Eocha, which currently departs from Yeonmudae Personal photo · 2026-09-16

From the outside, it looked like a simple tourist train. The actual ride was more enjoyable than I expected.

The current Hwaseong Eocha route starts at Yeonmudae, not Hwaseong Haenggung. It runs on a roughly 30-minute loop past places including Hwahongmun, Janganmun and Hwaseomun before returning to Yeonmudae.

It seems particularly useful on a day when you do not want to walk the entire fortress route, or when visiting with children.

Early autumn in Suwon

I visited in mid-September.

The sun still felt quite hot in open areas, but the air in the shade was noticeably cooler.

Suwon Hwaseong under a clear early-autumn sky

Suwon Hwaseong under a clear September sky Personal photo · 2026-09-16

Walking the fortress is still one of the best ways to experience Suwon Hwaseong, but combining it with Flying Suwon and the Hwaseong Eocha made the day easier and more varied.

PRACTICAL INFO

Flying Suwon

  • Location: Changnyongmun parking area
  • Operating period: Year-round
  • Weekdays: 12:30–21:30 / last flight 21:00
  • Weekends & public holidays: 11:00–22:00 / last flight 21:30
  • Price: Adult KRW 24,000 / Youth KRW 22,000 / Elementary school KRW 20,000 / Age 25 months–kindergarten KRW 18,000
  • Height: Weather-dependent; official guidance says up to 150 m
  • Important: Wind and other weather conditions may reduce the operating height or cancel flights
  • My visit: Approximately 60 m because of wind
  • Info checked: 2026-09-19

Hwaseong Eocha

  • Departure: Yeonmudae
  • Operating days: Tuesday–Sunday / closed Monday
  • Hours: 09:40–17:00
  • Ride time: About 30 minutes
  • Price: Adult KRW 6,000 / Military & youth KRW 3,500 / Child age 36 months+ KRW 2,000
  • Route: Yeonmudae → Hwahongmun → Janganmun → Hwaseomun → Maehyanggyo → Yeonmudae
  • Note: You cannot re-board after getting off at an intermediate stop
  • Info checked: 2026-09-19