Seoul: Gyeong Bok Gung 景福宫

The Joseon Dynasty(朝鲜王朝) built Five Grand Palaces in Seoul, which are the Gyeong Bok Gung, Chang Deok Gung, Chang Yeong Gung, Gyeong Hui Gung and DeokSu Gung.

The first tourist spot that I visited once I stepped into Seoul city is the GyeongBok Gung.

Here is some little history about the palace:
Gyeongbok Palace was built by, King Taejo(太祖王) in 1395. Then, the premises were destroyed by fire during the Imjinwaeran War (Japanese Invasion, 1592-1598). However, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored under the leadership of Heung Seon Dae Won Gun(兴宣大院君) during the reign of King Gojong (高宗王) . When Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910, 90% of the palace was abolished.
So, the palace that we see now is actually the results of efforts done by government to fully restore Gyeong Bok Gung to its former glory since 1990.

According to visitkorea.or.kr, Gyeong Bok Gung is arguably the most beautiful and remains the grandest of all palaces, but I think it is the grandest not the most beautiful one after I visited Chang Deok Gung and it Secret Garden.

Directions to Gyeong Bok Gung

I took the subway line 3 to GyeongBokGung station. Then, head towards the exit 5. 
Follow the directions as written in the signboard, and you will reach the palace.
Finally I am standing at the entrance of Gyeong Bok Palace. The ticket booth is at the right side of the main entrance.
Entrance fee: 3,000 Won for adults

Fall in love with the Mount Bugakhsan
that serve as background of palace.

Gwang Hwa Mun(光化门)that facing the south
is the main door of the palace.My mum standing in front of Hyeung Nye Mun(兴礼门).
Hyeung Nye Mun is the first gate inside the palace walls at the front.
We came to this open area after passing through Hyeung Nye Mun .Gargoyle statues on the roof to protect the palace
Keunjeong-jeon (勤政殿)is the royal throne hall.
Kings conducted state affairs, held official functions,
and received foreign envoys here.
Sajeongjeon (思政殿), a building where the king carried out
his executive duties and held meetings
with the top government officialsKyeonghoe-ru(庆会楼),was a favored place for the King
to entertain visiting dignitaries.Hyangwon-jeong(香远亭), a hexagonal pavilion
constructed on an artificial island of a lake.

Gangnyeongjeon(康寧殿), the king's main residing quarters

Other images taken in the Palace 
Royal Guards Changing Ceremony

Every day visitors to Gyeongbokgung palace can watch a reenactment of the “Changing of the Royal Guards” ceremony, which takes place at the Gwanghwamun and Heungnyemun plazas. The royal guards of the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910) were in charge of protecting the gates of the capital city and the royal palace. The ceremony is reenacted exactly as it used to be held, with guards wearing the Joseon uniforms, carrying traditional weapons and playing instruments. (Information from visitkorea)

I was hanging around the palace without following any tour guide, which I personally think that is meaningless because I just walk around and snap the pictures blindly without knowing the history behind the palace even though I was holding the leaflet. So, my advice is, do visit the palace with a tour guide beside you. (Fyi, the tour guide service is provided free by the authority)