Hyowon’s Bell

Seojangdae is a military command post located at the summit of Paldalsan Mountain. Hwaseong Fortress has two command posts: Dongjangdae was used for regular military training, while Seojangdae served as the command post for military drills. It is said that Seojangdae offered an open view, allowing one to see as far as the beacon fire at Seokseongsan Mountain in Yongin and the entrance to Yungneung Royal Tomb. Seojangdae has a structure that narrows as it goes up, with three bays on each side on the lower floor and one bay on the upper floor. The lower floor was used by generals to stay and command military training, while the upper floor was used by soldiers to monitor the surroundings. King Jeongjo held the fortress drill (Seongjo) at Seojangdae, and a painting of the event in 1795 remains. The plaques reading 'Hwaseongjangdae' and the poem hanging under the eaves of the upper floor are both works of King Jeongjo. After the Seongjo ceremony in 1795, King Jeongjo wrote the calligraphy for the Hwaseongjangdae plaque and expressed his satisfaction and joy in a poem. These are the only two plaques in Hwaseong Fortress that were composed and written by King Jeongjo.

The Hyowon Bell is a bell created by Suwon City in November 1991, with a height of 3.54m, a diameter of 2.15m, and a weight of 12.5 tons. A bell pavilion was built at the summit of Paldalsan Mountain, constructed as a Korean-style tiled building made of reinforced concrete with an area of 19 pyeong. The front of the bell is engraved with the city's symbols, such as the ginkgo tree, azalea, and dove, as well as major cultural properties of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, including Hwahongmun Gate. The Hyowon Bell was made to commemorate King Jeongjo's filial piety toward his father, Crown Prince Sado. The Hyowon Bell can be rung three times for a fee, each time with a different wish. The first ring gives thanks for parents' grace, the second prays for family health and harmony, and the third wishes for personal development and the fulfillment of one's wishes. This bell pavilion symbolizes Suwon as a city of filial piety.