Sandong-myeon in the Gurye-gun region is widely known as the home of Sansuyu (cornus fruit) and is responsible for 67% of Korea’s Sansuyu fruit production. The Sangwi Village located at the foot of the southwest side of Manbokdae Mountain (1,433m) is considered the region’s most representative village of Sansuyu. The village has a beautiful natural landscape with the snow-covered Jirisan Mountain range to its back and a small valley to its right. Visitors to Sangwi Village can wind down at the hot spring complex near the village, which is famous for its germanium content and said to have numerous health benefits. The Sansuyu flowers of Sanwi Village typically are at full bloom between March 20th and March 31st, drawing throngs of visitors. * Please note that blossom dates are not exact and change slightly from year to year.

Sureungwon is a 39,600㎡ ecological park built under the theme ‘The Meeting of King Suro and his Wife Queen Heo.’ The park connects the Royal Tomb of King Suro and the Daeseongdong Tomb Complex of the Gaya Dynasty. The east side of the park is landscaped with straight, tall trees, symbolizing King Kim Suro, while the west side of the park is full of pear, persimmon, and peach trees, representing Queen Heo. Up on the hill is a colony of Chinese linden trees, which is a symbol of Buddhism in India where Queen Heo is from. On the high grounds of the east side is a sacred Korean tree, symbolizing the birth of ancient Korea. At the center of the park is the grand ‘Gaya Plaza’ with an image that represents the meeting place of King Suro and the Queen. The plaza regularly hosts public events for visitors to the park.

Mangyeongdae Pavilion (만경대), located on the shore of the East Coast, one-kilometer east of Donghae City Hall, was built in 1613 while old Joseon was under the rule of King Gwanghaegun. However, the pavilion was destroyed by rainstorms and later rebuilt by the Samcheok Kim family some 60 years ago. While offering a spectacular view of sea to the east, the pavilion also offers a refreshing view of expansive pine forests to the north. If you look to the west, you will enjoy a magnificent view of Mt Duta beyond the pavilion’s back lawn as well as the Jeoncheon Stream flowing into the East Sea alongside a steep cliff-wall. As only Jukseoru Pavilion of Samcheok matched its view, poets of former times are said to have frequented Mangyeongdae Pavilion.  

Opened in 2004, the Hangang River Eco Learning Center is situated on the Namhangang Riverside. The site used to be a sandpit before it was turned into a wetland. Effluent from wastewater treatment plants, which in the past was released directly into the Hangang River, now passes through several ponds with various aquatic plants and a one kilometer-long waterway so that it can be naturally purified. This has contributed to an improvement in the water quality of the Hangang River. The learning center was built to restore the Namhangang Riverside area, which was destroyed due to sand extraction, and to restore its natural ecology of willow trees, reeds, and birds. The center organizes a number of ecological excursion programs for children.

Established in 1979 in Haenam, Jeollanam-do Province by the Bohae Brewery, Bohae Plum Farm (Bohae Maesil Nongwon) is the largest green plum farm in Korea. Every spring, as maehwa (apricot flower) blossoms begin to bloom on maesil (green plum) trees, the brewery opens the farm to the public, providing an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful blossoms, and also to purchase fresh plums. To this day, the brewery produces and sells various maesil products made with the plums harvested from the farm.

Chilgok Dogae Hot Springs opened on June 1, 1998. Its Grand Hot Springs Bath is capable of accommodating almost 2,000 people at once. The Chilgok Dogae Hot Springs has several facilities such as accommodations, convenience stores, a Korean restaurant, and more. Chilgok Dogae Hot Springs uses alkali sulfur spa water that contains 12.3mg of sulfur, 0.01mg germanium, 30.6mg sodium, 3.11mg chlorine, and 3.09mg fluorine and the water is around 35℃. Prior to first use, the water does not undergo any filtering so that it maintains all its natural benefits. There are several tourism attractions near the hot springs like the Songjeong Natural Recreation Forest, Dabudong War Memorial Museum, and Waegwan War Memorial Museum.

Hobakso Pond (호박소) sits on the hillside of the 885 meter-high Mt. Baekunsan (백운산) located in Milyang, Gyeongnam Province. The pond is located at the base of a 10-meter-high waterfall and is named after hobak, a grain-grinding tool. The circumference of the pond is around 30 meters and it is quite deep. In olden days, the pond was a spiritual place where people would pray for rain. Surrounded by white granite rocks, the area is a scenic place of natural beauty, free of any kind of pollution. Visitors can also look around nearby Baengnyeonsa Temple, Hyeongjeso Pond and Ocheonpyeong Rock. * Eoreumgol (Ice Valley) Eoreumgol (얼음골), or the Ice Valley, refers to the 30,000 m² valley area that stretches from the 600-meter level to 750-meter level on the northern side of Mt Jaeyak (also known as Mt Cheonhwang). In this mysterious valley, water freezes during the peak of summer and begins to melt around the end of the summer season, but never freezes during the wintertime. Designated as Natural Monument No.224, Eoreumgol is under the official protection of the government.

Nestled at the edge of Chiaksan Mountain’s (alt. 1,182m) Namdaebong Peak, Sangwonsa Temple was built on an area spanning over 100 pyeong (330.59㎡). Cool spring water gushes up through the crevice directly in front of the temple, and just before the crevice is a 40-meter high cliff at the end of which stand three rare specimens of cinnamon trees. Although the exact time of its foundation is unknown, it is assumed to have been built during the Silla Period. Designated as Tangible Cultural Heritage No. 25, the temple has two pagodas standing in front of Daeungjeon Hall, displaying the typical style that was popular in the Unified Silla Period, and hinting at the flourishing Buddhist culture of that time. As the temple is located on high land, it commands a sweeping view of the southern part of Chiaksan Mountain. * Historical Site of Sangwonsa Temple Existing structures include Daeungjeon Hall (designated as Cultural Heritage Material No. 18 on June 2, 1984) and others including Simudang, Simgeomdang, Beomjonggak, Sansingak, etc. The two pagodas in front of Daeungjeon became popular throughout the nation after the unification of the Three Kingdoms. The tips of these pagodas are rounded with a lotus bud carved on each one, making these pagodas extremely unique.

Namhae's Geumsan, located in Gyeongsangnam-do, is the only mountain within Hallyeo National Maritime Park to have craggy ridge lines and gorgeous rocky surfaces. In December of 1974, it was designated as Gyeongsangnam-do's Natural Monument No. 18, but has since gone up to No. 39 as of May 2008. The mountain also features a trail that spans eight ridge lines that you can access from Idong-myeon Bokgok Entrance, and there is also Sangju Beach in the vicinity, which attracts many tourists.

Palgongsan Mountain (1,192m in elevation), in the outlying reaches of the Taebaek Range, stands sentinel over the spot where the Nakdonggang and Geumhogang Rivers converge. In the past, Palgongsan Mountain was regarded as a sacred mountain because it resembles the shape of the Three Buddhas. This mountain has magnificent granite formations at higher elevations, and the beautiful valleys, seamlessly interwoven with rock formations and thick forests, make for a spectacular view. Palgongsan Mountain borders Gyeongsan, Yeongcheon, Gunwi-gun and Chilgok-gun in the north and surrounds Daegu metropolitan city in the south. With Birobong Peak in the middle, it extends to Dongbong Peak – Gwanbong Peak (Gatbawi Stone Buddha) in the east and Seobong Peak – Gasan Fortress in the west (20km long). It also offers many beautiful trails. At Gunwi-gun (Palgongsan Provincial Park), you can find a Grotto of the Three Buddhas and Ingaksa Temple. This park reflects the glory of Korean Buddhist culture, containing numerous statues of the Medicine Buddha.