Bamseom Island gets its name from its shape (‘bam’ meaning ‘chestnut’ in Korean) and has long been famous for its great view and beautiful surroundings. The Hangang River waters flowing around Bamseom Island were once so clean that the river was used as a source of drinking water for island residents. As part of the Yeouido Development Project, the 443 island residents and their 62 houses were mass migrated to Changcheon-dong, Mapo-gu and the hillside area of Wusan Mountain on Feb 10, 1968. As time passed on the newly uninhabited island, the river deposited sediment around the island and a bunch of wild water plants grew. In the early 1990s, the island became famous as a ‘migratory bird habitat in the middle of a city,’ which is a rare occurrence worldwide. On August 10, 1999 the Seoul Metropolitan Office designated the island an ‘Ecosystem Reserve,’ providing special care and preservation of the island. * Island Ecosystem Birds (41 species): the island is home to mandarin ducks, spotbill birds, reed warblers, white herons, and ringed plover (which also use the island as a breeding grounds). The island is a winter habitat for over 5,000 migratory birds. Fish (29 species): cornet fish, Korean bullhead, carp, mandarin fish, etc. Plants (189 species): common reed, dicentra, prince’s feather, salix matsudana, etc. Insects (15 species): small cabbage white, fabricius, faust, black-horned katydid, scopoli, etc. * Elevation: often submerged when large volumes of water are released from Paldang Dam due to flooding. * Island circumference: mudflats, sand, pebbles, etc.

Myeong-dong, Namdaemun and Bukchang-dong are widely known among international visitors as hot spots for shopping and food. Myeong-dong is a popular destination for shopping, culture, arts and fashion. Major shopping malls such as Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Myeong-dong Migliore and Samik Fashion Town are located here. Shoppers can find a variety of products here from high-end items to relatively inexpensive clothes. There’s also no shortage of street food, traditional restaurants, coffee shops and fancy cafes. Namdaemun Market is the biggest traditional market in Korea. Visitors can purchase souvenirs and local produce at an affordable price in the shopping complex crowded with stores and street stalls. The market sells a variety of clothes, kitchenware, toys, accessories, food, flowers and imported goods. Bukchang-dong and Sogong-dong have high-end accommodations including Lotte Hotel Seoul and Westin Chosun Seoul, duty-free shops, and restaurants serving traditional dishes. [Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong Special Tourist Zone] Areas included: Myeong-dong, Hoehyeon, Sogong-dong, Bukchang-dong, Mugyo-dong and Da-dong, Seoul Area size: 872,809㎡ Tourist attractions: Myeong-dong, Namdaemun Market and Bukchang-dong, Department Stores (Lotte Department and Shinsegae Department Store, etc.), Traditional Market, Duty-free Shop, Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower, etc.

Bongeunsa Temple, located on Sudosan Mountain in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, offers a 2-day, 1-night temple stay program designed to provide urbanites with an opportunity to take a break from their busy routines and meditate on Buddhist teachings. Every Thursday, the temple also holds ‘Thursday Temple Life’ for foreign visitors only. The temple has a volunteer group to help and accommodate the needs of foreigners attending the program.

Explore Incheon's Historic Open Port Area Discover Incheon's Rich Heritage: A Must-Visit Destination If you're planning a trip to Korea, Incheon should be at the top of your list, especially its historic Open Port Area. This area preserves over 130 years of history, offering visitors a unique glimpse into Korea's past. Gaehangjang Historic and Cultural Street Incheon's Gaehangjang (Open Port Area) Historic and Cultural Street is a place where time seems to stand still. This area has been carefully preserved to retain the essence of its rich history since the port opened in 1883. Walking through these streets, you'll feel as if you've stepped into a black-and-white photograph, with historical buildings and cultural landmarks around every corner. Incheon Station Your journey can begin at Incheon Station, the terminus of Korea's first railway, the Gyeongin Line. This station remains a significant historical landmark and serves as the gateway to Incheon's Jung-gu district. It's a bustling hub where countless travelers begin their exploration of the city's storied past. Historic Landmarks As you stroll through the streets, you'll encounter many well-preserved buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable sites include the former Japanese Consulate, which now houses the Jung-gu Office, and the old branches of Japan's 1st, 18th, and 58th Banks. These structures offer a fascinating glimpse into the architectural styles and cultural exchanges of that era. Cultural and Historical Experiences In addition to its architectural wonders, the Gaehangjang area is home to several other historical and cultural attractions. You can visit the former Japan Mail and Shipping Inc., the Incheon Art Platform, and the Jemulpo Club, all of which tell the story of Incheon's evolution as an international city. For those who prefer a guided experience, expert cultural tourism guides are available by reservation, providing in-depth insights into the area's history. Tour Routes To fully appreciate the area's charm, consider following one of the recommended tour routes: *1-Hour Course: Start at Incheon Station (World Community Center), then visit Chinatown, the Jajangmyeon Museum, Haegang Cathedral, Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall, Incheon Open Port Museum, Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, and the Incheon Art Platform. *2-Hour Course: Begin at the Korean-Chinese Cultural Center, followed by the Overseas Chinese History Museum, Daebul Hotel Exhibition Hall, Incheon Open Port Museum, Modern Architecture Exhibition Hall, Jung-gu Office, Qing-Japanese Concession Boundary Stairs, Three Kingdoms Mural Street, Jajangmyeon Museum, and Incheon Station. *3-Hour Course: This extended tour includes all the sites from the 2-hour course plus the Incheon Metropolitan City Historical Archives, Jemulpo Club, Jayu Park, General MacArthur's Statue, Fairy Tale Village, and Chinatown (Uiseondang). Conclusion Incheon's Open Port Area is a treasure trove of cultural and historical experiences waiting to be explored. Whether you're a history buff, an architecture enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique travel experience, this area has something to offer everyone. Plan your visit today and step back in time to discover the fascinating history of Incheon.

The Namsan Cable car runs from the base of Namsan Mountain (located in central Seoul) up to the Namsan Tower, one of the most representative tourist attractions in Seoul, loved by tourists and residents alike. The new cable cars, which have been in operation since Dec. 6, 2008, have an increased capacity of 48 people per car (up from 38). Unlike the older cars, the new cable cars have glass on all four sides, giving riders a wider view of the mountainside. Approximately 50,000 people ride the Namsan Cable Car each month. Visitors who are looking for a more tranquil tour are advised to go in the morning. For both a daytime and nighttime view of Seoul and the tower, take the cable car up the mountain in the late afternoon and coming back down in the early evening (to beat the nighttime rush). To get to the cable cars without having to walk too much, take the Namsan Oreumi, (Namsan outdoor elevator). The Namsan Oreumi is the first inclined outdoor elevator in Korea. It runs a distance of 140m (from the entrance of Namsan 3rd Tunnel to the parking lot of the Namsan Cable Car) and takes visitors to the Namsan Cable Car station in about two minutes, as opposed to the usual 20-min. walk. Maximum capacity is 20 people and operating hours are the same as the Namsan Cable Car (09:00 to 23:30). The other way to get to the Namsan Cable Car station is by going out of exit 3 of Myeongdong Station, subway line 4 (see ‘directions’ section for details).

Woljeongsa Temple is located in the forest of the valley east of Mt. Odaesan, and it is composed of 60 temples and 8 monasteries made into one large temple. Woljeongsa Temple was established by Monk Ja Jang (590~658). At Woljeongsa Temple there is the Seongbo Museum where you can view the Buddhist culture of the Goryeo Dynasty (918∼1392), the nine-story octagonal pagoda, also called as the Sari-Pagoda (relic pagoda), and the Stone Seated Buddha figure. Also there is the Jeokmyeolbogung where Buddha's bones are said to be preserved, and the large sermon hall Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion. Usually in a Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion the Vairocana figure is enshrined, but it is interesting that the Sakyamuni figure is enshrined at Jeokgwangjeon Pavilion at Woljeong temple. Woljeongsa Temple of today was restored after the Korean war in 1950 when the Chilbulbojeon, Yeongsanjeon, Gwaneungjeon, Jinyeonggak and 17 other buildings were burned. Many cultural assets and historic data were lost at this time. The Silla Dongjong, which was excavated from the Seonrimwon site in Yangyang-gun, was also lost. The Budo site (relic site) and sagoji (historic document storage) is nearby Woljeongsa Temple. The Budo site is a 15-minute walk from the Woljeongsa Temple to its location at the Sangwonsa Temple, just before crossing the Banya Bridge. Here there are 22 pagodas that hold the remains of the monks who had lived here. Sagoji is an hour’s walk from Woljeongsa Temple towards Sangwonsa near Yeonggamsa Temple.

Palgongsan Natural Park (Gatbawi District) is centered around Palgongsan Mountain, one of the larger mountains in the Taebaek mountain range. Palgongsan Mountain is located 20km northeast from downtown Daegu, where Nakdonggang River and Geumhogang River meet. The mountain has three peaks in a row: Birobong Peak in the center and Dongbong (aka ‘Mitabong,’ 1,155m) and Seobong (aka ‘Samseongbong,’ 1,150m) on either side.In terms of administrational district, the park (30.593㎢ in size) is within Dong-gu, Daegu and has four towns along its border including Yeongcheon-si, Gyeongsan-si, and Chilgok-gun. A number of Buddhist temples including Donghwasa, a headquarters of the 9th Buddhist Parish, are located in the area.The park has numerous rocks and valleys and is carpeted with azaleas in the spring. In the autumn many visitors flock to the park to admire the falls leaves on the trees lining the 16.3km-long road through the park. With vibrant green leaves and a delicate snowscape in the winter, Palgongsan Mt is an attractive destination for visitors throughout the year.[About Gatbawi]‘Gatbawi’ is a statue of Buddha that sits against a rocky cliff of Gwanbong Peak that rises 850m above the sea level. The name ‘Gatbawi’ comes from the fact that the Buddha has a flat rock (‘bawi’) on its head that looks like a Korean traditional hat (called a ‘gat’). The statue, designated Treasure No. 431, is one of the most sophisticated Buddha statues of the 9th Century. Legend has it that the statue grants honest prayers, so every year at sunrise on New Year’s Day people flock to the Buddha statue to make a wish for the new year and see the rising sun.

Originally founded as O Ik-hwan Women’s Hospital in 1993, Seoul Women’s Hospital is presently the only hospital specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in Incheon and it is the first women’s hospital to have acquired the medical institution certification. The hospital serves an average of about 5,000 child births annually, 250,000 outpatients, and numerous cases of surgical operations. The hospital has maintained the top ranking delivery rate in Incheon for consecutive years, and is ranked third nationwide. It has 97 beds in total, where 90 of them are for general patients and 7 are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It was approved as a baby-friendly hospital by UNICEF in 2005 and 2009. The hospital provides first aid for high risk infants and premature babies in need of special care or treatment at its neonatal intensive care unit, which is equipped with specialized equipment including 11 incubators, artificial ventilators, and echocardiographs to offer immediate and accurate checkup and treatment. Lastly, the hospital deals with over 800 cases of in vitro fertilization (IVF) a year and over 1,000 cases of artificial insemination (AID) annually. The success rate of pregnancy via IVF was 50% in year 2012. The hospital was designated as a “medical institution specialized in embryo creation” in 2005 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and was registered as a government supported IVF and AID authorized institution in 2006 for couples with sterility issues.

The Walkerhill outdoor ice-skating rink has a "Magical Snowland" theme where visitors can feel like they have suddenly stepped into a fairy tale village. The holiday atmosphere is made more festive by the Christmas tree, the more than 2,000 Christmas lights, and the romantic music. While skating, visitors can enjoy the beautiful view of the Hangang river.

Jade Garden One Day Tour, Highly Recommend ♥♥♥ The Edelweiss Park, well known as a Swiss based cultural village and a best photo shooting place. Suitable for people who are interested in Swiss architecture, museum, gallery, food ad culture of Switzerland. Do not hesitate, Come and Join us ♥ *We could provide private tour for 2 people but it might cost an additional fee of KRW$15,000 per person *For the additional fee, please pay to the guide directly on the travelling day.   Location : Gyeonggi-do Gapyeong  Duration : 12 hour(s)  Guide Language : Chinese, Cantonese, English,  Korean  Introduction Experiencing Edelweiss Swiss Theme Park/ Jade Garden and Railbike in one day. The European forest brings us back to our childhoods as it is the background of our favorite fairy tales, where you can feel like you are in a fairy tale.    08:00 / 08:45 - Meeting at Hongdae/Myeongdong  10:00 - 11:00 : Swiss village 에델바이스 12:00 - 12:50 : Lunch：Chuncheon's dak-galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) 춘천닭갈비 14:00 - 15:10 :Railbike 레일바이크 16:00 - 17:00 :Jade Garden 제이드가든수목원 19:30 - Back to Myeongdong/Hongdae  Schedule 1day  08:00 Meeting at Hongdae Exit 3 (홍대역3번출구미팅)   08:45 Meeting at Myeongdong Exit 3 (명동역3번출구미팅-동보성식당앞)      08:00 Meeting at Hongdae Exit 3 (홍대역3번출구미팅) or  08:45 Meeting at Myeongdong Exit 3 (명동역3번출구미팅-동보성식당앞)  10:00 - 11:00 : Swiss village 에델바이스       "Small Swiss village" Swiss theme "The Sound of Music Swiss theme park" - people like being in a fairy kingdom! Small Swiss village has a variety of museums and museum,Corresponding to the fairy tale kingdom, chocolate museum. The museum has a different story of chocolate, people from outside to inside are in the middle of the world of chocolate! There is a very special,Symbolic capital of Berne ─ bear theme crafted Bern Bear theme museum. You can wear a bear mask and a giant bear doll taking pictures.  12:00 - 12:50 : Lunch：Chuncheon's dak-galbi (spicy stir-fried chicken) 춘천닭갈비     Dakgalbi is prepared by marinating chopped chicken in spicy red pepper paste for about one day. Cabbage, green onions, sweet potatoes, and rice cakes are then added and placed in a large cast iron pan. Dakgalbi can be enjoyed on its own or wrapped in lettuce leaves for a fresh, crunchy taste. After most of the dakgalbi has been eaten, rice is then stir-fried with the remaining sauce in the pan.  14:00 - 15:10 : Gapyeong Railbike 가평레일파크       The rail bike tour departing from the Gapyeong Rail Park follows a trail of Gapyeongcheon Stream Iron Bridge - Bukhanggang Iron Bridge - Zelkova Tree Tunnel, and finally back to the Gapyeong Rail Park. This route is featured in the Korean film 'The Letter (편지, 1997)', and thus loved by both love birds and photographers who like to capture some beautiful scenes along the old rail bike track. Visitors on the bikes will also get to enjoy the beautiful river view presented below the bridge while riding, as well as taking advantage of having a light exercise with your loved ones and it is definitely a great way to spend your time in the nature with friends or family.  16:00 - 17:00 :Jade Garden 제이드가든수목원       Jade Garden, created under the theme of ‘Small Europe in the Forest,’ is located near Jade Palace Golf Club on a plot of land measuring 160,000 square meters. The 24 distinctively-themed areas in the garden boast a total of 3,000 plant species including rhododendron, maple trees, irises, and blueberry bushes as well as patches of thick, natural forests. The arboretum makes the most out of its natural valley topography and presents visitors with a mix of tidy gardens, graceful flowers, and an array of European-style architecture.  19:30 - Back to Myeongdong / Hongdae  Included Entrance fee/Meals Driver/Tips Limousine/Toll fee 1 Free bottle water/person  Not Included Personal Expenditure  Caution 1. Itinerary may be changed according to real situation. 2. Must be on time，otherwise extra charge will be occurred. 3. If there is only 1 party, we will pick up at accommodation directly. 4. We suggest to take the tour on weekday due to serious traffic jam on weekend. 5. Languages: Chinese, Cantonese , English  Terms & Conditions - 100% full deposit is required for reservation - In case of bad weather, tour date could be rearranged or refund. However, tour will not be cancelled on rainy days. - No refund will be proceeded due to traffic conditions  Cancellation & Refund Policy - 10 days prior to departure - Refund 100% of total tour fee - 8 days prior to departure - Refund 50% of total tour fee - 6 days prior to departure - Refund 30% of total tour fee - Less than 3 days prior to departure - 100% of cancellation penalty applies - Tour date can be amended with KRW 10,000 handling charges applied per number of time of amendment