Suanbo Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone is a time-honored hot springs resort in Korea. Known as the first naturally yielding hot springs that started to flow 30,000 years ago, its effect is also widely recognized. Gushing out from 100 m underground, its water is weak alkaline in nature, and the temperature is 53℃. What's more, the water contains minerals and far-infrared effect. This is why a large number of people flock to the hot springs for treatment and recuperation. Currently, it is under the jurisdiction of Chungju-si City. At the center of Suanbo Hot Springs is Multang Park, with a shallow hot spring water stream, which is used as a foot bath. For those who are not able to take a bath, a foot bath is a good option. The foot bath is especially popular from autumn to spring. Most visitors to Suanbo Hot Springs stay at a hotel or motel in the area. The restaurants here serve pheasant dishes, the local specialty. Suanbo Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone is adjacent to the national road that spans from downtown Chungju-si City to Mungyeong. Sitting in the heart of the Korean Peninsula, it is easy to access from Seoul and other provincial cities. Apart from the hot springs, there is a lot to see in this area, such as Woraksan Mountain, Chungjuho Lake and Songgye Valley. It is a great opportunity to immerse ones' tired body in the hot spring water after a long hike. * Current State of Suanbo Hot Springs Special Tourist Zone 1) Districts Covered: Areas around Anbo and Oncheon-ri, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do 2) Area: 9,216,210㎡ * Tourist Attractions Woraksan National Park, Chungjuho Lake, Songgye Valley, Mireuksa Temple Site, etc.

Agyang-myeon located in Hadong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do province is home to Korea’s well-known Jirisan Mountain, and the crystal clear waters of Seomjingang River. Two mountain ranges, both beginning from Samsinbong Peak, form the natural boundaries of the area and its villages.Agyang-myeon’s unique atmosphere invokes feelings of nostaligia as well as fresh natural scents of the outdoors. At the foot of the mountain is a time-honored wild tea field that has existed more than 1,300 years. Green tea from Hadong has long been known as superior to all other green teas.The area is also famous as the setting of ’Toji’, a saga written by Korea’s famed author Park Gyeong-Ri. Some places referenced in the novel include Cham Pan Choi’s residence and Pyeongsa-ri Park. Every autumn, the “Toji Literature Festival” takes place here. For its representative traditions and many other reasons, Agyang-myeon was designated the fifth Slow City in Korea in 2009. The city is the first tea producing area designate as a Slow City, and the green tea of Hadong was officially recognized as a local specialty by the World Slow City Network General Assembly.

Hwarangdae Railroad Park is a 400 meter long light park featuring 10 different themed courses with various lit sculptures.

Geumjeongsanseong Fortress (금정산성) is located on the peak of Mt. Geumjeongsan (801.5m) in Busan. Its original name was Dongrae Mountain Fortress, but it was changed because of its location.Its length is 17,377m, and 1.5m~3m high; it is the largest fortress in Korea. But now there is only a 4 km section remaining from the original. The exact time of the fortification is not recorded, but in reference to the location and size, it is presumed to have been built during the Three Kingdoms Era (when Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, the three dynasties, were fighting against each other). The present fortress was built in 1703, during the reign of Suk-Jong. It was built after Imjin Waeran (Japanese Invasion of Korea from 1592~1598) to prepare for any further invasions from Japan. It was first built with stones and was renovated in 1707. During the dark years under Japanese sovereignty it was damaged and devastated.In 1971, it was designated as private property. The West, East and South Gates have been reintegrated, and it is still undergoing the restoration process. On the fortress barbican there is Munru (watch tower). There is another watch tower called Mangru to watch for enemies. Different from other mountains, it is easy to find spring water here, and because it is a granite area, you can easily see rock caves and small and big rock peaks at Mt. Geumjeongsan.

A small harbor town in Seocheon County on the west coast, Maryangpogu is the only place in Korea where visitors can see the sunrise and sunset on the same day. Sunrise here can only be seen for about 50 days around mid-December, which attracts many visitors around that time. There is a beautiful camellia forest alongside the sea, which has been designated as National Monument No. 169. There are about 80 camellia trees and some of them are 500-years old. The camellia flowers are in bloom from late-March to early-May and reach their peak around mid-April. Dongbaekjeong Pavilion in the forest offers a splendid view of the sunset. There are many attractions visitors can easily get to from Maryangpogu such as Chunjangdae Beach (춘장대 해수욕장), Hongwonhang Harbor (홍원항), Busa Embankment (부사방조제), Geumgang Estuary Bank (금강하구둑) and Hansan Mosi Town (한산모시타운). Hongwonhang Harbor (홍원항) is rich in marine products and the Geumgang Estuary Bank (금강하구둑) is a well-known place to watch winter migratory birds.

Guwau Village is located below Pijae Hill (also called Samsuryeong) at the entrance to Maebongsan Mountain. The village got its name because its topography resembles the scenery of nine cows peacefully lying around. The Alpine Botanical Garden is located 800-900 meters above sea level and protects the endangered alpine plant species from disappearing. The botanical garden also offers visitors an opportunity to conveniently observe some rare flowers and plants. In August, when the sunflowers are in full bloom, the Taebaek Sunflower Festival is held at Guwau Village. In addition to celebrating the area’s wide array of colorful flowers, the festival also has a variety of attractions such as a drawing exhibition, a photo exhibition, and an environmental sculpture exhibition using repurposed materials.

Located in Mt. Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park, Cheongnyangsa Temple was built by the great monk Wonhyo in 663, the 3rd year of King Munmu of the Silla Kingdom. According to the principles of feng shui, the area is an ideal place for a temple – with the 12 mountain peaks surrounding the temple like the petals of a lotus flower.The temple is home to two precious historical remains; one is the board of Yuribojeon that King Gongmin of Goryeo wrote upon and the other is Jibul. Yuribojeon is the building where Yaksa-yorae-bul (the Medicine Buddha Statute) is housed and Jibul is a Buddha statute made of paper that was painted with gold.At the back of the temple is Bosalbong Peak looking out towards Mt. Cheongnyangsan. A 30-minute walk along the hiking trail will lead you to Eungjinjeon, a hermitage with a beautiful view where the great monk Wonhyo once stayed. Behind Eungjinjeon stands Geumtapbong Peak and the sheer cliffs below. The peak was named Geumtapbong (meaning ‘golden pagoda’ in Korean) since it looks like a nine-story pagoda with pine trees growing around the base. In the autumn, the beautiful red, gold and orange hues of the maple trees are a true sight to behold.

Yongjusa Temple is 5-minutes walk away from Yungneung (the joint tomb of King Jangjo and Queen Heongyeong) and Geolleung (the joint tomb of King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and Queen Hyoui). The temple was built by King Jeongjo to protect Hyeollyungwon (현륭원), the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado.This site was originally the location of Garyangsa Temple, which was constructed in AD854, the 16th year of King Munseong of the Silla Kingdom. The temple was very famous as it was surrounded by beautiful mountains and crystal clear waters. However, the temple was destroyed by fire during the Byungjahoran (the second Manchu invasion of Korea). During the Joseon Dynasty, King Jeongjo moved the tomb of his father, Crown Prince Sado (or posthumously designated King Jangjo), to this spot, and built Yongjusa Temple here to pray for the repose of his father’s soul. It is said that one night before the temple was completed, King Jeongjo dreamed of a dragon ascending to the sky holding a magic ball in its mouth. He therefore named the temple “Yongjusa”, which means the temple of a dragon with a magic ball in Korean.The courtyard of the temple contains Beomjong (the Sacred Bell of Yongjusa Temple, National Treasure No. 120), a stupa (stone pagoda), Daeungbojeon (the main hall) and Cheonboru Pavilion. Visitors to Yongjusa Temple can also find the “Bumoeunjunggyeong (부모은중경)” books, which were written by King Jeongjo on the subject of filial affection and respect for one’s parents. These days Yongjusa temple and the Yungneung and Geolleung tombs are highly valued for their cultural heritage.