Cheonggyecheon, Linear park and restored stream in Central Seoul, South Korea
Cheonggyecheon is a stream with footpaths and planted banks running through the business districts in central Seoul. The water flows down several stepped levels and is accompanied in some places by wide stone platforms where visitors can linger.
The city began restoration in the early 2000s by tearing down a multilane expressway that had run above the buried stream for decades. By 2005, the waterway was open again and accessible to the public.
The name combines words for clear and brook, describing the water that now runs through the city center. Pedestrians use the shaded paths along the banks as a shortcut and as a place to rest during lunch breaks.
Access is possible at many points along the route, and the paths are level and suitable for wheelchairs. In the evening the water is lit, so walks are possible after dark as well.
The restoration raised biodiversity by 639% between 2003 and 2008: fish species rose from 4 to 25, bird species from 6 to 36, and insect species from 15 to 192. The stream also cools nearby streets by 3.3 to 5.9 °C compared with a parallel road four to seven blocks away.
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