Old city wall of Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon, South Korea May 28, 2026

Old city wall of Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon, South Korea

As night settles over Suwon, South Korea, the old city wall pictured here shows that function doesn"t necessarily cancel out beauty—it can create it. Built between 1794 and 1796 under King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty, Hwaseong Fortress was more than a barrier. It was policy in stone: a reform-minded push for a leaner, better-run state, driven by practicality and a deeply personal motive. Jeongjo ordered its construction to honour his father while strengthening a kingdom that wanted smarter systems, not just thicker walls.

© aomam/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Hovering over harmonious horticulture
Bungle beehives
May 28, 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
May 28, 2025World Otter Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

World Hippo Day, a giant celebration
Apr 28, 2025Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
When landscape met wilderness
Aug 24, 2026Brooklyn Bridge, New York City, United States
Revered ruins
A painters palette of natures hues
‘Only one Earth’
A bevy of buzzers
Dec 29, 2023Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
A day for the worlds Indigenous populations
May 11, 2024An indigo on a branch, Texas, USA
Nov 9, 2025Interstellar clouds in the Lagoon Nebula
A breathtaking cave when it’s cold
Oct 8, 2023World Octopus Day
Feb 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Apr 20, 2024Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Mar 23, 2025World Meteorological Day
Mar 3, 2024World Wildlife Day
Nov 16, 2024Wadden Sea coast, Friesland, Netherlands
Jun 4, 2025Cala Luna beach, Sardinia, Italy
Aug 20, 2024Sunrise at Grand Teton National Park
On the trail of the Indian eagle-owl
Oct 12, 2023Old barn and canola field, Palouse region, Idaho
Finding beauty in ruins
The Riviera of India
Sep 5, 20242024 Toronto International Film Festival
Feb 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Sept 22, 2026Black lava beach, El Golfo, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Jul 20, 2026International Moon Day
This magical beach is worth the hike