An old residential district containing about 860 Korean traditional houses, Bukchon is thus named because it is located north of Cheonggyecheon, a stream cutting across downtown Seoul. Formed on a site flanked by two of the Joseon’s royal palaces, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, the district had been a hub of Joseon’s politics, culture and administration as it contained homes of royals, high-ranking officials and Confucian literati elites of the dynasty. It is widely regarded as a living museum preserving much of the Seoul’s tradition and culture with, in addition to the age-old houses and alleys, historic sites, art galleries, museums, exhibition facilities, antique shops, craft workshops and restaurants.