While bustling streets and crowded buildings characterize most urban areas, the green spaces often set each city apart. Whether it is the landscaping in an urban area’s parks or the presence of nature preserves just outside of city limits, the interplay between concrete and canopy is crucial for people’s well-being and for providing relief in the midst of human crowds.

In Denmark, cemeteries are not seen as haunted grounds, but rather as public spaces for relaxation and walking. They nurture new life and offer a breath of fresh air in the middle of the city. Many cemeteries have long walkways lined with slender, graceful trees.

Outside the city lies the magnificent wonder that is the white chalk cliffs. Many Copenhagen residents flock to the edge of the sea to explore the peculiar geology and stretch their legs with a nice hike along the ridge of the island.

Bukhan Mountain, which gets its name for being north of the Han River, is the highest mountain in Seoul. It overlooks numerous buildings and attracts many hikers each year by being easily accessible by public transportation. This is a way for people to escape the extreme working culture for a day and relieve stress. Rather than hearing the sounds of horns or people bustling in the city, it is peaceful and people rest at the peak and enjoy each other’s company.

Urban centers need these green spaces for people to retreat to… and BREATHE. There is so much wonder right outside city limits, and it still very much forms a part of the city-dwellers lifestyle.