Travel/Culture List

The ARC Cultural Center, a major culture center in Korea that harmonizes the elegance of traditional Korean culture and the dynamics of nature The ARC is a cultural complex that shows everything about Korea's river culture with the theme of water, and the building itself is a piece of art that boasts a graceful design in harmony with the river. The center offers abundant useful things for visitors to see. The exhibition areas and an art gallery on the first level of the basement are in perfect harmony with the modern and simple interior design. The Circle Theater, a huge theater on the first and second floor, was designed with the theme of water. Visitors can also enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding nature at the observation deck on the third floor. In particular, the beautiful nightscape seen from the ARC Cultural Center makes it a landmark of Daegu.

Gangjin Dawon is beautiful landscape of green tea fields located at the southern foot of Wolchulsan Mountain in Jeollanam-do. The area’s big temperature difference between day and night and the air thick with fog provide ideal conditions for tea cultivation. The tea cultivated in Gangjin Dawon has a strong scent and rarely tastes bitter. Gangjin Dawon is the home of the nation’s first green tea product “Baegunokpancha” that was produced up until the independence of Korea in 1945. Since 1980, an extensive area of mountainous territory has been cultivated for green tea production to become the more than 80 acres of green tea fields that it is today. As Gangjin Dawon is relatively lesser known than the green tea fields in Boseong, visitors can enjoy a leisurely time surrounded by the vastness of the green tea fields. Nearby attractions include Baengnyeonsa Temple, the Birthplace of Yeongnang, Gangjin Goryeo Cheongja Doyoji (Goryeo celadon porcelain kiln site), and Dasan Chodang, which is the house where the famous scholar Dasan Jeong Yak-yong (1762-1836) lived during his exile.

The 4 km valley between the entrance of Mt. Gayasan National Park entrance and Haeinsa Temple is called Hongryudong Valley. It was named so because the leaves turn so crimson that the water of the valley reflects the color and appears crimson as well. This is the place where Chi-Won Choe, after returning from Dang China to Silla (BC57-AD935) found Korea in disarray. It was too much to bear for him so he retired to live privately with poetry until his death. There are 19 famous places in Hongryudong Valley, including major cultural assets like Jongsangjeong Pavilion, Nakhwadam, and Bunokpok. The scenery of Nongsanjeong Pavilion, where Chi-Won Choe read poetry and played baduk, is especially beautiful. On the opposite side is a rock where you can see the handwring of Chi-Won Choe. The Yongmun Falls, located in the north end of the valley, has beautiful scenery with its harmonious blend of silk like falling water and Giamgoiseok (fantastic rocks and stones). The scenery of Hongryudong Valley changes every season, and it is the finest part of Mt. Gayasan. It is famous for the azaleas in full bloom during the spring, and for the thousand-year-old pine trees and broad-leaved trees growing thickly throughout the valley and the cool, clear water that runs through it during the summer. In the fall, the nearby pine tree forests and broad-leaved trees tinge in color and accentuate the crimson foliage of autumnal leaves, making the crimson reflection of the leaves in the valley water look like a rising flame, and showing why the valley was named Hongryudong Valley.  

Mageompo Beach in Nam-myeon, Taean-gun is located right before the bridge that leads to Anmyeondo Island. As the beach is not widely popular among tourists, one can spend a quiet and tranquil vacation here. Near the beach is a dense pine tree forest where one can enjoy camping. The white sand and shallow waters also make it a good place for kids to swim. In the evening, the beach is a great spot to watch the breathtaking sunset.This place is famous for silchi-hoe, a dish consisting of freshly sliced raw fish. The ocean near the beach is one of the biggest natural sources of such fresh seafood as anchovy, sand eel and short arm octopus.

The arts center opened its doors to the public on November 6th, 2010 after two years and four months of construction, which started on April 14th, 2008. Standing on a lot measuring 27,925㎡, the five-storey building has two basement floors (equivalent to a 13-story apartment in x_height), is 21,232㎡ in area, and is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities (such as a revolving stage). Major facilities include a grand performance hall, small performance hall, exhibition chamber, outdoor performance stage, conference room, seminar room, and toy library where a wide range of educational and participatory programs are held.

The name “Deoksan” has been shortened from its original name, Mt. Deoksungsan. This mountain area boasts a beautiful valleys and the Sudeoksa Temple, which is unique in that only Buddhist nuns can be found here. The main building of the Sudeoksa Temple, the Daeunjeon, has been preserved in its original condition. This was first constructed in 1308 and has been designated a national treasure. As well as the Deungjeon, the Sudeoksa Temple houses many cultural treasures, such as the Sudeoksa 3-storey stone pagoda.

Muryangsa Temple, located at the foot of Mansusan Mountain in Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, is said to have been built during the reign of Silla’s King Munmu by national preceptor Beomilguksa.Geungnakjeon Hall, Treasure No. 356, can be seen after passing through Sacheonwangmun Gate, recognizably the best location for taking in the beauty of Muryangsa Temple. The temple grounds hold the Two-story Geungnakjeon Hall, Five-story Stone Pagoda (Treasure No. 185), and Stone Lantern (Treasure No. 233), all in a row. Terracotta Seated Amitabha Triad at Muryang Temple in Buyeo, Treasure No. 1565, also shows off its dignity.The temple is also famous for being the place where Kim Siseup, one of the Saengyuksin (Six Loyal Subjects of the Joseon Dynasty), spent his last few days before death. Visitors can see his portrait inside the temple. Although the temple site is included in Buyeo-gun’s administrative district, it is located closer to downtown Boryeong.

Gyodongdo Island is located northwest of the larger Ganghwado Island, and was made more accessible with the opening of Gyodongdaegyo Bridge in July 2014. The name changed with different dynasties, being Gomokgeunhyeon during the Goguryeo Era and Gyodonghyeon by Silla King Gyeongdeok. The island served as an important stopover point for ambassadors and envoys heading to China. Popular attractions on the island now include Daeryong Market, an alleyway market decorated with colorful murals and statues, and Manghyangdae Memorial, a gathering place for refugees for fled from the nearby Hwanghaedo Island during the Korean War.

Mt. Biseulsan stands at the edge of Cheongdo-gun and Dalseong-gun. It is not such a high mountain, but because of its scenic beauty and clean air, it’s an easy place to want to visit again. Mt. Biseulsan has long been known as a temple place, and according to the legends it’s to produce a thousand saints from its regions. Famous monk Il-Yeon (monk scholar of the Goryeo Period) apparently spent his 20s here, training for his career as a monk. At that time Il-Yeon spent his time in the Bodangam Building learning about various faiths and their scriptures, and it became a solid basis from which to write his famous Samgukyusa, a compilation of the history of the three kingdoms). The most beautiful aspect of Mt. Biseulsan is the Azaleas that blossom in the spring. Painted crimson red, the flowers harmonize perfectly with the complementary colors of the surrounding forest. All through the year, the pine forest fills the mountain, and the broad-leaf trees come alive in the fall in all their brilliant autumn colors in perfect harmony with the fantastic looking rocks of the mountain peaks. Large areas of the ridge tops become covered with purple eulalias, and it provides a majestic view for the fall mountain climbers.