Travel/Culture List

Cheongpodae Beach is located in the coastal zone of Taean Coast National Park. It's gently curved shoreline, unique rock formations, pine trees, and migratory birds all combine to make one spectacular scenery. The sand is white, the waves are not too high, and the water temperature is just right — all these are reasons to make this the next family vacation destination.  Nearby beaches include Yeonpo Beach, Mongsanpo Beach, Baeksajang Beach, Sambong Beach and Bangpo Beach.

Situated in Taebaek in Gangwon-do, Chujeon Station is Korea’s highest train station at 855m above sea level. Visitors must pass through Jeongamgul, the second longest railway tunnel in Korea to arrive at Chujeon Station. This quiet, isolated station has attracted many visitors since it started operating the Fantastic Snow Flower Train tour in December 1998.Lying between Gohan Station and Taebaek Station, Chujeon Station offers the best of romantic winter scenery. During the renowned tour, visitors get off at the station and can enjoy the snowy winter or snow sledding for one hour.* Fantastic Snow Flower Train (Cheongnyangni Station/Yeongdeungpo Station -> Taebaek Station, December to February)* Fantastic Fall Foliage Train (Yeongdeungpo Station -> Chujeon Station, October to November) 

The Damyang Resort Spa is well equipped for large groups of people since it possesses 1,260 lockers in its men’s/women’s hot springs spa. Here there are a variety of event spas, an open-air spa so people can enjoy the outdoors, a jjimjilbang, a skincare beauty center, and a massage center. The nutrients found in Damyang Spa’s hot spring waters are said to cleanse the blood, effectively relieves stress, treat arthritis, and are great for your skin.  

On the way to Haegeumgang Village, one may encounter the fishing village of Dojangpo. On the left side of the village is Dojangpo Wharf, from where one can take a tour ferry to Oedo Island and Haegeumgang River. Looking up from here, one can see a hill covered in grass and overlooking the sea. This is Windy Hill. A growing number visitors come to the place after it was used a filming site for popular Korean dramas such as Eve's Garden (2003, SBS) and Merry- Go-Round (2004, MBC). The name “Windy Hill” was given by those who visited the island and became a fan. Walking toward the hill along the wooden promenade from the wharf, one can see Hakdong Village from a distance.

In honor of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, Suwon adopted the idea of ‘restrooms with culture’- building beautiful, clean, brand new bathrooms at main tourist sites around the city. The Firefly Restroom, located near the Gwanggyo Reservoir, is the most beautiful of them all. It features a tunnel for the handicapped, a ceiling which filters light, a simple interior, a coffee vending machine, and a rest area.

Guryongsa Temple (구룡사) is located 6km from Birobong Peak on Chiaksan Mountain, in the direction of Hakkok-ri. Monk Ui Sang (625~702) of the Silla Kingdom (BC 57~AD 935) built and named the temple Guryongsa in 668 (during the reign of King Moon Mu: reign 661 ~ 681). However, it is now known that the temple was built after King Sukjong, the 19th King of Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910), who reigned from 1674 to 1720, because of the architectural style of the Daewoongjeon Shrine. There is a legend that the Guryongsa Temple site was originally a lake where nine dragons lived. The name Guryong comes from the story that the lake was filled up to build the temple on it. There are many shrines such as Daewoongjeon, Bogwangnu, Samseonggak, Simgeomdang and Seolseondang. Daewoongjeon has maintained its original shape though it was repaired many times. Daewoongjeon is a wooden building with the basic Dapojip style in the Joseon Era. The shape of the building is a Chinese character (八), with three rooms in the front and two rooms on the side and built without any nails. It is designated as Tangible Cultural Property No.24. We can see the characteristics of the Buddhist statues in the Joseon Period though the Samjonmokbul inside Daewoongjeon. With the Seokgamuni figure in the center and two Bosal statues on each side harmonize the structure of the building, and there are many other Buddhist artifacts in the temple such as Bogwangru and others.

Yongmunsan Mountain (용문산) in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is comprised of Doilbong Peak, Baegunbong Peak, and other peaks. The resort shares the area with various cultural relics such as Yongmunsa Temple (용문사); Yongmunsa Temple’s gingko tree (용문사 은행나무); a stupa containing a relic of the Buddha, a monument of the reverend monk Jeongji; and the Yongmunsan Mountain area’s war record monument. The resort area is frequented by visitors throughout all four seasons but is especially popular in the fall because of the yellow-tinged gingko tree of Yongmunsa Temple (natural monument no. 30).A 2km trek through the valley from Yongmunsa Temple will bring you to Yonggakbawi Rock, shaped like a dragon’s horn, halfway up the mountain. 1km away from the Yonggakbawi Rock lays a huge boulder, Court Rock, on which 100 people can easily sit at the same time. There is also an amusement park that provides great entertainment for children, consisting of a rapid ride, a Viking-boat, a merry-go-round, bumper cars, a family coaster, and other rides.Thirty minutes from Yongmunsa Temple is Jungwon Valley that looks small when seen from the outside, but leads to the mountain’s summit where you can enjoy a superb view. And only another fifteen minutes walk will bring you to the three-tiered Jungwon Falls where you can enjoy the sound of crashing waters and feel the cooling mists that rise from the base of the falls.* Yongmunsa Temple’s gingko treeYongmunsa Temple’s gingko tree is the largest, most stout, and oldest ginkgo tree among all of Korea’s specimens. It enjoys a prime location in front of daeungjeon, the main hall of the temple. It is believed to be about 1,100 years old and is the biggest gingko tree in the East measuring 60m in x_height and 12.3m in circumference. 

Chungnyeolsa Temple was built by 7th Admiralty Commander Lee Un-nyong in 1606 upon the order of King Seonjo during his 39th year of rule in 1606. The temple, which was meant to commemorate Admiral Lee Sun-sin's loyalty and brilliant exploits, houses the memorial tablet of Admiral Lee. The temple has five gates: Naesammun, Jungmun, Oesammun, Jeongmun, and Hongsalmun. There are other significant structures inside the temple as well. Dongjae and Seojae, the place where food for ancestral rituals were prepared can be found inside Jungmun Gate. Located inside Oesammun Gate are Sungmudang (administrative office) and Gyeongchungjae (lecture hall). On both sides of the gate are six pavilions housing memorial tablets, including the tablet of Admiral Lee. Outside the gate are Ganghallu Pavilion and the exhibition hall. The sign with the words "忠烈祠" hanging on Jeongchim and Oesammun was written by Munjeonggong Song Sun-gil and bestowed by King Hyunjong. Total area: 9,067.8m², Building area: 727m² Exhibition hall: 115.7m²

Hamo Beach is a 250 meter long and 100 meter wide sandy beach. Being the closest beach to Moseulpo, it is also called Moseulpo Beach. The sand is fine, the seawater is shallow, and there is also an expansive green field behind the beach for camping, so it is a great summer vacation destination for families. The beach is still relatively unknown to tourists, so visitors can enjoy a quiet atmosphere. They can also rent a fishing boat. Wild fish and turban shells can be had at inexpensive prices in nearby restaurants.  

There are 3 slopes at Yangpyeong Hanwha Resort including the main slope (180m in length, 80m in x_width), children’s slope (150m in length, 80m in x_width) and the kids’ slope (60m in length, 25m in x_width). Yangpyeong Hanwha Resort provides convenience to family members with comfortable accommodation facilities, as well as other convenient services that other resorts do not provide. Yangpyeong Hanwha Resort includes all kinds of recreational sport facilities, over 400 rooms, a hiking course, swimming pool, sledding hills and sauna.