There is a term for bringing a buried river back to life. It’s called ‘daylighting’, and one of the most spectacular examples is in South Korea.

By demolishing an elevated freeway and uncovering a section of the historic Cheonggyecheon Stream, the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project created both ecological and recreational opportunities along a 3.6-mile corridor in the center of Seoul. The project has spurred economic growth and development in a part of Seoul that had languished over several decades.

Since it came back to life in 2005, the Cheongggyecheon river has become one of Seoul’s biggest tourist attractions, as well as a cultural centre and an oasis in the city for both citizens and native wildlife. More than 200 million people have visited, including representatives of governments who are hoping to replicate the same model back in their hometowns.