* What is rafting? Originally, rafting was a term used when riding along on a raft built with logs. However, rafting is now known as a popular water sport where a team of people on PVCs or rubber rafts use paddles to navigate themselves down adventurous ravines or fast-flowing river rapids. * Advantages of Rafting First of all, all you need is water and flowing rapids in order to safely enjoy yourself with speed and thrills. Secondly, since this is a sport where a group of people need to work together, you foster team spirit and patience. Last of all, you will need to use all of your strength to navigate through the water currents with paddles, resulting in a full-body workout body while taking in the crisp, clean air of the mountains.

Bigeum Valley is also known as “Mulgolan” (literally meaning inside water valley), as clean water flows abundantly in this area. The region is surrounded by the mountains of Seorisan, Chungnyeongsan, Jugeumsan, and Cheonmasan, and has several valleys. Bigeum Valley is located at the upper most region of Sudong National Tourist Park, and stretches for about 2 km. It is a popular vacation site, as thick forests provide cool shade and fresh, clean water runs through the scenic valley.

Manhangjae Hill is located at the point where three areas (Gohan-eup in Jeongseon-gun, Sangdong-eup in Yeongwol-gun, and Taebaek-si) in Gangwon-do all meet. Manhangjae refers to the area where the slope of Hambaeksan Mountain (1,567m, South Korea's 6th highest mountain) rests for a while before going down towards Tabaeksan Mountain (1,172m). In Korea, this is the highest mountain path accessible to motor vehicles. When driving to Manhangjae at night, one can see stars right above one's head.

Nadeul-gil means a leisurely outing (nadeuri) road. Comprised of 19 courses in total, the Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trail offers a variety of historical assets and cultural sites to see. Each Nadeul-gil course connects Ganghwa Fortress outposts that are located every 1.3 km on high ground along the walking paths. The trails are on the island of Ganghwa which holds many Goryeo Dynasty remains that are important to Korean history. Fortresses that stood against Mongolian invasions are still standing and many of the Goryeo Kingdom’s palaces and royal tomb sites are also found in Ganghwa region. Exploring the major cultural heritage sites dispersed throughout the town can be just as fun as exploring Ganghwa’s natural beauty. The sunset on the Seohae (West coast), expansive open mud flats, views from Marisan and Goryeosan Mountains and the peaceful farming villages are just a handful of the sights along this walking trail. The establishment of Ganghwa Nadeul-gil’s begins with the ancient scholar Go Jae-hyeong (pen name Hwanam), who left his hometown Ganghwa on a spring day in 1906 when the peach trees were in full bloom. He walked through more than 100 villages around the whole island. Back home, he composed poems about his journey and published them under the title of “Simdo Gihaeng (Simdo Travels),” Simdo being another name for Ganghwa. During his travels, he sang songs of his home Ganghwa. Thanks to his work, people can now follow in the footsteps of Hwanam and his appreciation of the beautiful scenery and great people of Ganghwa Island.

Nadeul-gil means a leisurely outing (nadeuri) road. Comprised of 19 courses in total, the Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trail offers a variety of historical assets and cultural sites to see. Each Nadeul-gil course connects Ganghwa Fortress outposts that are located every 1.3 km on high ground along the walking paths. The trails are on the island of Ganghwa which holds many Goryeo Dynasty remains that are important to Korean history. Fortresses that stood against Mongolian invasions are still standing and many of the Goryeo Kingdom’s palaces and royal tomb sites are also found in Ganghwa region. Exploring the major cultural heritage sites dispersed throughout the town can be just as fun as exploring Ganghwa’s natural beauty. The sunset on the Seohae (West coast), expansive open mud flats, views from Marisan and Goryeosan Mountains and the peaceful farming villages are just a handful of the sights along this walking trail. The establishment of Ganghwa Nadeul-gil’s begins with the ancient scholar Go Jae-hyeong (pen name Hwanam), who left his hometown Ganghwa on a spring day in 1906 when the peach trees were in full bloom. He walked through more than 100 villages around the whole island. Back home, he composed poems about his journey and published them under the title of “Simdo Gihaeng (Simdo Travels),” Simdo being another name for Ganghwa. During his travels, he sang songs of his home Ganghwa. Thanks to his work, people can now follow in the footsteps of Hwanam and his appreciation of the beautiful scenery and great people of Ganghwa Island.

Located within Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, Woljeongsa Museum was founded in October 1999, and began displaying treasures and artifacts from some 60 plus temples in the southern part of Gangwon region. Currently, the museum houses Sangwonsa Temple’s Jungchanggwonseonmun (National Treasure No. 292) and Woljinseokbo (Treasure No. 745), the remains of Octagonal nine-story pagoda (National Treasure No 48), and many other treasures.

At the x_height of 63 meters on top of Hwajeongsan Mountain (alt. 203 meters), Ulsandaegyo Observatory has a breathtaking view of city's three major industy as well as a panoramic view of the city. The view from both day and night are amazing to see, making vistors go more than once. Within the observatory there are local specialty gift shop, cafe and more for visitors to see and enjoy.

Jisimdo Island is about 500m wide and 1.5km in length and sits 5km to the southeast of Geojedo Island’s Jangseungpo Port. The island is densely filled with tree. 37 species of trees including pine trees, and Geoje aerides can be seen but camellia trees account for 60 to 70 percent of the whole area of the island. The flower of cameillia trees blooms in the beginning of December and closes its flowers in April. The best time for seeing the flowers is around March even though people can admire the blooming flower for 5 months. The island’s edges are mostly comprised of steep cliffs, otherwise private land and mountain slopes are generally flat. To see the whole island, it may take 2 to 3 hours on foot along the flat trail in the village.

The Ttukseom Water Purification Plant (Waterworks Museum and Slow Sand Filtration Basin) was completed in August 1908 as the first water purification plant ever built in Korea. In 2008, it celebrated 100 years of history with the opeing of the Waterworks Museum, which showcases the history and value of Seoul's public waterworks. The water supply facility and Slow Sand Filtration Basin are designated No.72 Tangible Cultural Asset of Seoul.

Must-Visit Tourist Spot in Incheon: The Cheongil Jogyeji Border Stairway Cheongil Jogyeji Border Stairway If you are planning a trip to Incheon, one of Korea's representative cities, the Cheongil Jogyeji Border Stairway is a must-visit attraction. Located in Jeondong, Jung-gu, Incheon, this historical site marks the boundary between the Qing Dynasty and Japanese concessions established in 1884. It was designated as Incheon's Monument No. 51 on December 23, 2002. The area, which began with the Japanese concession in 1883, is a space where the boundary between the Qing Dynasty and Japanese concessions was established in 1884, connected by steps and landscaping to what is now Jayu Park (formerly known as Manguk Park). This stairway, with a history of about 120 years, has a central stone staircase, with the left side representing the Qing concession and the right side representing the Japanese concession. The buildings on either side of the stairs distinctly showcase the architectural styles and characteristics of each country. One of the notable features of the Cheongil Jogyeji Border Stairway is its design, which includes a rest area to accommodate the steep incline and landscaped areas for visitors to relax and enjoy the scenic views of Incheon Port. The stairs are located on the steep southwestern slope of Jayu Park, where the different architectural styles of the Qing and Japanese buildings vividly illustrate the historical significance of this area. While the stairs themselves might not hold much intrinsic value, the historical and locational significance of the Cheongil Jogyeji Border Stairway makes it a site of great importance. When visiting Incheon, it is highly recommended to explore this historic site along with Jayu Park, offering a glimpse into the intertwined history of Korea, Japan, and China.