Naksansa Temple
 
Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun) ,
Naksansa Temple (낙산사) is located 4 km north of Naksan Beach, and boasts a 1,300-year history. It is a temple built by Ui-Sang, the ambassador of the 30th King of Silla Period (57 BC- AD 935), and inside there is the Seven Floor Stone Tower, Dongjong, Hongyaemun, together with several other cultural assets. It was named Naksansa Temple by Ui-Sang, at the spot where he learned the prayer Gwansae-eumbosal from Bosal, after he returned from studying abroad in the Chinese Dang Kingdom. It was rebuilt several times afterwards, and the current building was erected in 1953.You can get to Naksansa Temple by passing through Iljumun and Hongyaemun. When you enter the temple from Hongyaemun, you can see black bamboo trees and tiled earthen walls on either side of the sanctuary. North of Naksan Beach, beside the copper bell is a back door, with a path that leads to Uisangdae Pavillion and Hongryeonam. Uisangdae is a pavilion built on top of a cliff by the sea, and was built where Ui-sang used to sit and meditate. Hongryeonam is known as a small Buddhist temple, built above a stone cave by Ui-sang. Under the sanctuary floor there is a 10 cm hole through which you can peak through to view the sea. Past Uisangdae Pavillion, up the path on the hill at Sinseonbong, there is a stone statue of Buddha called Haesugwaneumsang. It is the largest of its kind in the Orient, and can be seen from as far as Mulchi Harbor.* Naksansa Temple was destroyed in a forest fire fanned by dry, strong winds on Tuesday (April 5).For detailed information about a Naksansa Temple Stay, please contact: Templestay Division, The Jogye Order of Korean BuddhismE-mail: ts2002@buddhism.or.krTel: 82) 2-732-9925~6 

Yungneung / Geolleung Royal Tomb (a.k.a, Yunggeolleung) [UNESCO World Heritage]
 
Gyeonggi-do(Hwaseong-si)
Yungneung (융릉) is the joint tomb of King Jangjo (1735-1762) and Queen Heongyeong (1735-1815). King Jangjo was the father of King Jeongjo, the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty.King Jangjo was the second son of King Yeongjo, the 21st ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. He was installed as a Crown Prince in 1736. As the Crown Prince, he administered the state affairs on behalf of his father and showed great capability in various fields. However, he died in 1762 after being locked in a wooden rice chest on the orders of his father, King Yeongjo.The tomb of this ill-fated Crown Prince was originally located in Baebongsan Mountain located in Yangju-gun, Gyeonggi-do. His son, King Jeongjo moved the tomb to Hwasan Mountain in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do and changed the title of the tomb to Hyeollyungwon (현륭원). Later, he posthumously gave his father the title King Jangjo and moved the tomb to its current place, and the title of the tomb was changed again to Yungneung.Queen Heongyeong was designated as a Crown princess in 1744. In 1795 when she turned 60 and long after her husband died, she wrote Hanjungnok (한중록), the memoirs, which is mainly about the terrible fate of her husband.The Memoirs have great historical significance, and these along with the Tales of Queen Inhyeon (Inhyeon Wanghujeon, 인현왕후전), are highly valued as pieces of royal literature.Yungneung is currently located in Annyeong-dong in Hwaseong. A stone called “Byeongpungseok” surrounds the tomb. On the stone, peony and lotus flowers are engraved. Like other royal tombs, there are two separate spaces – one raised and one lower space. In the raised space, there is the mound, “Honyuseok”, which is a rectangular shaped stone sitting in front of the mound, and 'Mangjuseok,' which is a pair of stones that sit on both sides of the mound. In the lower spaces, there are several stone statues. They include “Muninseok”, a statue of a civil officer, “Muinseok”, a statue of a military officer, and “Seokma”, a statue of a horse.Geolleung (건릉) is the joint tomb of King Jeongjo (1752-1800), the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, and Queen Hyoui (1753-1821).King Jeongjo’s last wish was to be buried near his father’s tomb in Yungneung. King Jeongjo was the second son of King Jangjo and Queen Heongyeong, but in 1759, when he was 8 years old, he was designated as an heir to the throne. During his 24 year-reign, King Jeongjo influenced state affairs by implementing the “Tangpyeongchaek” (탕평책, a policy to balance the power of political factions), and he also had great accomplishments in the area of academic research by creating the “Gyujanggak” (규장각, a national royal library).Queen Hyoui was a daughter of Kim Si Muk and was installed as a partner of the heir to the throne at the age of 10. In 1776, when King Jeongjo ascended the throne, she also became Queen. She is known to have led a frugal life. In 1821, she died without an heir at the age of 69 in Jagyeongjeon, Changgyeonggung Palace.Geolleung looks very similar to Yungneung, but unlike Yungneung, it does not have a “Byeongpungseok”, which is a wide and rectangular stone that surrounds the mound and protects it. Instead, it is surrounded by “Nanganseok”, stone handrails. On every handrail, lotus flowers are engraved. King Jeongjo’s tomb is simpler and less decorated than his father’s, which reflects King Jeongjo’s respect and love for his father. Both Geolleung and Yungneung are designated as Historic Site No. 206.

Jinhae NFRDI Environment Eco-Park
 
Gyeongsangnam-do(Changwon-si) ,
Jinhae NFRDI Environment Eco-Park (Inland Water Eco Park) is part of the land of the Nambu Inland Water Research Center and lies on an area measuring 83,897 square meters. This environmentally-friendly park boasts a splendid natural landscape with over 65 different species of trees (sheepberry, willow, boxwood, cherry blossom trees, etc.) and an abundance of flowers (golden reed, hosta, water canna, irises, etc.). The park is open to the public and is a favorite retreat for residents of the area.

Gapyeong Sledding Hills
 
Gyeonggi-do(Gapyeong-gun)
Gapyeong Sledding Hills are open throughout the year. It normally operates from the beginning of December to early March. Unlike other sledding Hills using artificial snow, Gapyeong has artificial grass under its snow as well as the characteristic of having the sun behind the hill so that the snow does not melt. Thus, operating hours are prolonged by 1 month until the end of winter on natural snow.Gapyeong Sledding Hills features two slopes for adults and two for children. With the set up of the ‘horizontal baby-walker (moving walker)', going up the hill is easy just by standing on the sled. Next to the children’s slope, there is a separate snow house and a place for snowball fights.In addition, visitors can experience the unique fun of summer sleighing with the operation of the Water Sledding Hills in summer from the middle of July to October.Gapyeong Sledding Hills also operate the ‘Ice Sledding Hills’ during winter, and it is available with no extra fee.When coming from Seoul, take the bus to Hyeon-ri from the Seoul Sangbong Bus Terminal and get off at Deokhyon-ri Gapyeong Sledding Hills.

Achasan Mountain
 
Seoul(Gwangjin-gu)
Achasan (alt. 287m) stretches from Seoul to Guri City and is an extremely popular hiking spot for residents of Seoul and Guri City and the surrounding area. Towards the top of the mountain (about 40 minutes into the climb) a panoramic view of the Han River and Seoul unfolds at the mountain base.During the Joseon Dynasty, what are now Bonghwa and Yongmabong Peak and the Manguri Cemetery were considered part of Achasan Mountain. Twenty bastions were discovered along Achasan Mountain that were originally estimated to date back to the Three Kingdoms Era. Further research indicated that some of the remains were actually part of a military fortress built during the Goguryeo Era. In light of these findings, it was officially designated a Historic Site No. 455 (2004).

Huijeongdang Hall (희정당)
 
Seoul(Jongno-gu)
Located inside Changdeokgung Palace, Huijeongdang Hall is a one-storey structure built in ikgong style (bird wing-shaped eaves placed on top of the pillars) with a hip tiled gable roof. It has 11 kans in the front and 4 kans to the sides (kan: a traditional unit of measurement referring to the space between two columns that is roughly 6 to 8 feet). During the latter period of the Joseon Dynasty, the hall was used as the king’s workplace. It is situated right in front of the palace’s residential hall called Daejojeon Hall. Originally built upon the foundation of Changdeokgung Palace, Huijeongdang Hall was destroyed by multiple fires during the battles of the Imjin War (Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592). It was rebuilt in 1834 but was burnt down again in 1917. The current structure is the one reconstructed in 1920. The frequent destruction and restoration of the hall account for the many changes that occurred in terms of the size and purpose of the building. The 9 kans in the front and 3 kans on the sides have been decorated into a living room with a Korean-style reception room on the left and a western-style reception room on the right. The rest of the building was used as hallways and other small rooms such as bathroom and cubicles. The hall's interior is decorated with foreign-made furniture as a result of the western influences at the time. The electricity installed in and outside the rooms is a change that took place during the last phase of the Korean empire. The original structure, however, had been strictly constructed according to the original palace building standards.

Icheon Hot Springs
 
Gyeonggi-do(Icheon-si)
Icheon Hot Springs is conveniently located close to Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Its water is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and contains minerals like magnesium, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate. Particularly, it has high amounts of sodium that is beneficial to various skin disease, neuralgia, and eye disease. The temperature of the water is around 30℃, which is somewhat low, so make sure to occasionally warm up when using the water. For facilities that use these hot springs, try Spa Plus (Hotel Miranda) and Icheon Termeden.

Eongtto Falls
 
Jeju-do(Seogwipo-si)
Eongtto Waterfalls is hidden within a forest and appears only after a heavy rainfall. The falls is 50 meters high and is surrounded by uniquely formed rocks and stones. In the vicinity of the falls, there is a spacious temperate forest and evergreen scenery creates that contributes to the area's scenic beauty year-round. To reach the waterfall, visitors pass through Wolsan Village in Gangjeong-dong, Seogwipo-si, and follow an upward path for 500m, following Akgeuncheon Stream or walking along the mandarin field for 800m to the northwest at the front road of Gang Chang-hak Park. Eongtto Falls is one of the 70 scenic views of Jeju-do Island.

Daegu Arboretum
 
Daegu(Dalseo-gu) ,
Daegu Arboretum was built on a sanitary landfill. It is home to more than 1,000 species of plants including giant cacti, flowers, medicinal herbs, and trees. In addition, the facility regularly holds ecology experience programs for students and young children. Meanwhile, Daegu Arboretum has been recognized as an excellent model of ecosystem restoration.

Ganghwa Tidal Flat Center
 
Incheon(Ganghwa-gun)
Ganghwa's mud flats cover about 105㎢, including notable areas in the southwest such as Yeocha-ri, Dongmak-ri, and Donggeom-ri. These three locations are a maximum of 6km from land and have an area of 90㎢ that accounts for 86% of Ganghwa's entire mud flats area.Ganghwado Island is the path to the river mouth of the Hangang River, Yeseonggang River and Imjingang River, so sediment moved from the rivers piles up and reaches far distances during low tide and the materials again settle around the island as the tide rises.Ganghwa Tidal Flat Center is a prime location for observing migratory birds and the surrounding mud flats. The center offers visitors access to an array of information about mud flats and first-hand experience with tidal flats.