Seoul Photos -- National Geographic's Ultimate City Guides

Dance Ritual
Photograph by Heimo Aga
Young women perform a dance ritual at Jongmyo, a Confucian shrine where the ancestral tablets of kings and queens of the Joseon Dynasty are enshrined.
Lotus Lantern Festival
Photograph by Heimo Aga
At the annual Lotus Lantern Festival, held to celebrate Buddha's birthday, traditional fan-dancers perform on a stage in front of Buddha's image.
Bongeunsa Temple
Photograph by Heimo Aga
A lantern exhibition at the Bongeunsa Temple, in the Gangnam district, is part of the annual Lotus Lantern Festival celebrating Buddha's birthday.
Lamaist Monks
Photograph by Heimo Aga
Lamaist monks joyfully dance at the opening ceremony parade of the annual Lotus Lantern Festival. This event is held in Dongdaemun Stadium.
Traditional Fan Dancers
Photograph by Heimo Aga
Traditional fan dancers perform in the opening ceremony parade of the annual Lotus Lantern Festival at Dongdaemun Stadium.
Procession of Royal Family Members
Photograph by Heimo Aga
A procession of royal family members makes its way from Gyeongbok Palace to Jongmyo. The Confucian shrine was designated a World Heritage site in 1995.
Jongmyo Jerye
Photograph by Heimo Aga
A young man is honored during the Jongmyo Jerye, a ritual service for royal ancestors performed on the first Sunday of May each year.
Jongmyo Jerye Ceremonies
Photograph by Heimo Aga
Ceremonies attract a crowd to the Jongmyo Jerye, a ritual service for royal ancestors that takes place at the Jongmyo Confucian shrine.
Painting Lotus Flowers
Photograph by Heimo Aga
Youngsters take part in painting lotus flowers during the Lotus Lantern Festival, held each year to celebrate Buddha's birthday.
Yunjungno
Photograph by Heimo Aga
A couple enjoys the cherry blossoms along Yunjungno, the street around the National Assembly, which is cleared of traffic when the trees are in bloom.