Living in Washington DC reveals many surprises about the city that you might not expect.

When you realize that DC is more than just a tourist spot, the depth of the city hits you quite heavily. Today, let's take a closer look at DC.

The official name of Washington DC is Washington D.C. (Washington, District of Columbia). Established as the federal capital by Congress in 1790, it is a special administrative district that is not part of any state. It is located along the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia, covering an area of 68.34 square miles (177 km²), which is about a quarter the size of Seoul. According to the 2020 Census, the population is 689,545, but the metropolitan area, including Northern Virginia and Maryland suburbs, exceeds 6.4 million. While it is the capital, the city itself is surprisingly small.

The city is named after President George Washington, and the 'DC' commemorates Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America. French military engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed a unique city plan that incorporated a grid structure with diagonal roadways. As a result, DC's streets are a mix of numbered and lettered streets intertwined with diagonal avenues, which can be quite confusing for first-time drivers. I often wonder how people managed to drive in DC before the days of GPS.

There are numerous world-renowned attractions in the city. Centered around the National Mall, you can find the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument (169 meters tall), U.S. Capitol, White House, and Korean War Veterans Memorial, all within walking distance. The Smithsonian Institution consists of 17 museums and galleries, all of which offer free admission. One of DC's biggest bragging points is that you can see top-notch exhibitions at the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture for free.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival, held every spring, is the largest festival in DC, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually. The 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees gifted by Japan in 1912 bloom around the Tidal Basin, painting the area in pink.

Typically, they reach full bloom between late March and early April, and visiting the Tidal Basin during peak bloom is truly a sight to behold. However, don't even think about parking; taking the Metro is much better for your sanity.

Before being a tourist destination, DC is the heart of American power. It is home to federal government agencies, think tanks, lobbying groups, and over 175 embassies, making it a hub for global political and diplomatic news.

Living in this city means that news is never far away. It's not uncommon to hear stories of someone spotting a senator dining at the next table while out for a meal, as DC is that kind of city.