Visitors to Seoul at this time of year for business or tourism are in for a special treat. With unique Christmas ambience and exciting New Year celebrations added to its cultural riches and state-of-the-art facilities, the city is as alluring as ever. The final days of 2010 hold the promise of Christmas warmth, good cheer and seasonal delicacies, all served up with the gusto that one would expect of the festive season.
On December 31, a wide variety of celebrations are held at hotels, restaurants, bars and other locations across the city to welcome the New Year. The main event, however, is the bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak, a historic pavilion in the heart of Seoul near City Hall and the Gwanghwamun intersection. An ocean of revelers gathers around the pavilion where its huge bell is struck at midnight to officially welcome the New Year. The event draws so many people that many families opt to watch the ceremony on TV in the comfort of their living rooms.
Others, meanwhile, opt to bundle up and join the massive crowd so they can be part of one of Seoul’s most festive and exciting events. Attendees can enjoy the once-a-year opportunity to stroll through the downtown streets untroubled by motor vehicles, as many major roads are closed on New Year's Eve. There is also a late-evening concert, featuring some of the country’s top entertainers and pop stars, on a stage set up in front of the pavilion. Street vendors sell various items ranging from tasty finger food to holiday paraphernalia like sparklers. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks paint the sky while a massive cheer erupts from the crowd. After the ceremony is over, many attendees head to the adjacent Jongno area to continue the celebrations at one of the many bars, clubs and restaurants.
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