A former trash-covered hill on Choa Mountain in Seoul's Nowon-gu district has been converted into a public hydrangea garden [1].

The project demonstrates an urban effort to revitalize neglected land and repurpose environmental hazards into community spaces for seasonal tourism.

The transformation of the site began approximately three years ago [1]. Once a location that struggled with waste accumulation, the area has been redesigned into a floral landscape that is now open to the public [1], [2].

Local officials are currently hosting a hydrangea festival that began yesterday and continues through today [1]. The event invites visitors to walk along designated trails to view a wide array of blossoms. According to reporter Moon Sang-a, the garden features about 10,000 plants across 20 different species, including Annabelle and star hydrangeas [1].

"In Nowon-gu, Seoul, there is a place that suffered from trash and has been transformed into a bright hydrangea garden," a YTN anchor said [1].

Moon Sang-a said that the site, which was previously covered in trash, underwent this change starting three years ago [1]. The effort was designed to turn a neglected area into a destination for nature viewing. The current festival serves as a showcase for the project's success in restoring the local environment.

Visitors can now explore the hillside without the presence of the waste that previously defined the mountain's landscape. The variety of the 20 species [1] ensures a diverse color palette for the garden, which provides a public space for residents of the Nowon-gu district, and visitors from other parts of the city.

“A former trash-covered hill has been converted into a public hydrangea garden.”

This transformation reflects a broader trend in South Korean urban planning to address 'brownfields' or neglected urban zones by integrating green infrastructure. By converting a waste site into a botanical attraction, the city not only improves local air and soil quality but also creates a sustainable model for urban renewal that prioritizes ecological restoration over commercial development.