Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun)

Uisangdae (의상대) is located on a seaside hill, on the way to Hongnyeonam Hermitage’s Gwaneumgul Cave from Naksansa Temple. It is a small temple, believed to have been built by Great Monk Uisang (625-702) during King Munmu’s reign (661-681) during Silla Period, on the spot where Uisang used to meditate while building Naksansa Temple. The current pavilion was built in 1925.Hongnyeonam Hermitage is a place you shouldn’t miss when you visit the octagonal Uisangdae. Believed to be built 5 years after Naksansa Temple, it is also where Great Monk Uisang used to meditate. It was named Hongnyeonam ('Hong' meaning 'red' and 'Ryeon' meaning 'lotus flower') because there is a legend that a red lotus flower bloomed in the sea during Great Monk Uisang’s seven days of prayer. It is built against the cliff beside a rocky cave, making it part of a great scenery, and the sunrise from Uisangdae is absolutely spectacular.Songgang Jeongcheol, who was a poet from the mid Joseon Period (1392-1910) expressed his feeling on the spectacle of sunrise from Uisangdae like this: “After the pear-tree flowers have fallen and when the cuckoo cries sadly, beyond the hill east of Naksan Mountain at Uisangdae, I get up in the middle of night to see the sun rise. The auspicious clouds look like they are blooming, and the sun look as if it is being held up by six dragons. As the sun rises majestically from the sea to the sky, the whole world shakes and the sun rises swiftly, shining more brightly than a thousand candles.” That is how much wonder the view of sunrise from Uisangdae has created from long ago.


Gangwon-do(Yangyang-gun)

Seoraksan Mountain, the highest amid the Taebaeksanmaek Moutain Range, boasts beautiful landscape and scenery all year round. To the east of Hangyeryeong and Misiryeong Ridges is classified as Oeseorak, to the west is Naeseorak; the Osaek District in the southern region of the Hangyeryeong Ridge is also known as Namseorak. The Namseorak area is famous for its mineral water, hot springs, and waterfalls including Yongso Falls, Sibi Falls, and Yeosin Falls. Jeongbongsan Mountain (1,424.2m) is also included in the area. There are also several different hiking courses varying in distance and duration.


Gangwon-do(Gangneung-si)

Guryong Falls (구룡폭포) refers to the group of nine waterfalls, varying in size, located over a three-kilometer stretch of Sogeumgang River (소금강), Cheonghak-dong (청학동), Odaesan National Park (오대산). ‘Guryong’ means nine dragons and legend has it that each of the waterfalls was occupied by a dragon. The 6th waterfall is particularly attractive. It is simultaneously the most magnificent and serene of the falls, which is why it is also known as the ‘Gentleman’s Waterfall.’ Two kilometers away from the 6th waterfall, is a curious-looking piece of rock called ‘Manmulsang.’ The name literally means ‘tens of thousands of different looks.’ Some of these looks have earned it to other names such as ‘Giant Rock,’ ‘Phantom-Face Rock,’ ‘Iworam,’ and ‘Candlestick Rock’.


Gangwon-do(Donghae-si)

Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock (추암 촛대바위) in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do Province is one of Korea’s most famous tourist attractions. The beautifully formed rock towers high into the sky and resembles a candlestick, from which it gets its name. "Chotdae” is Korean for “candle,” while “bawi” means “rock”; quite literally “candle rock.”The beautiful sight of Chotdaebawi Rock surrounded by 10 or so smaller rocks is sure to take your breath away. The surrounding rocks are named after their shapes; "Geobukbawi"(turtle), "Bububawi"(couple), and "Hyeongjebawi"(brothers).Chotdaebawi Rock is a popular place for visitors to come and enjoy the magnificent beauty of the sun slowly peeking its way over the edge of the rock face. The beauty of the rock at sunrise is so picturesque that it is even used as a backdrop for the Aegukga (the Korean national anthem) when it is aired on KBS (Korean Broadcasting System).Other nearby attractions include Chuam Beach and Haeamjeong (a type of pavilion dating back to the Joseon Dynasty).* The Legend of Chotdaebawi RockOnce upon a time, there was a man who lived in Chuam who had a concubine. His wife was jealous of the second wife and the conflict between the two women continually escalated. One day, god became enraged over their continual quarreling and threw lighting down from heaven, striking both women dead. The newly-made widower missed his wives so much that he remained frozen in his loneliness and eventually turned into a rock, which is now Chotdaebawi Rock that we see today. 


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Located on the highlands of Pyeongchang County where the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held, Uiyaji Baram Maeul (Uiyaji Wind Village) is a mountain village situated on top of Daegwallyeong. At Uiyaji Wind Village, one can enjoy various types of activities such as making cheese or ice cream as well as enjoying the beautiful sight of wind-mills standing high above the frozen plain. Also, visitors can try various food including memil-mandu (buckwheat dumpling), ongsimi-kalguksu (handmade knife-cut noodles with sweet rice dough soup), gamja-jeon (potatoes pancakes), memil-kalguksu (buckwheat knife-cue noodles), sanchae-bibimbap (seasoned wild vegetables bibimbap), and more.


Gangwon-do(Sokcho-si)

If you begin at Seorak-dong in Oeseorak, cross the Biryong Bridge and pass by the Biryong Falls, you will reach Yukdam Falls (육담폭포), which actually consist of six waterfalls and a pond. Despite the fact that only a small amount of water actually flows in these waterfalls today, what is interesting, is how they came into existence: a slow-flowing stream of water eroded the rocks, creating dips and puddles at various levels, which later became a series of cascading waterfalls. The splendid scenery around the waterfalls is always a pleasing sight to the eyes of visitors.  


Gangwon-do(Pyeongchang-gun)

Sangwonsa Temple is located 8km north of Woljeongsa Temple. Stories are told that Sangwonsa Temple was built by Buddhist monk Ja Jang (590~658) in 643, in the 12th year of Silla Queen Seon-Deok, and others say that it was built by Bocheon and Hyo-myeong, the sons of King Sin-Mun (reign 681~692), the 31st king of the Silla Kingdom. It was rebuilt in 705 during the 4th year of King Seong-Deok's reign (702∼737). However, in 1946 it was burnt down in a fire, but later restored once again in 1947. Only a Bell Pavillon remained during this period until the building was rebuilt after Korea’s Independence Day. The oldest relic left today is Dongjong (National Treasure No.36), Munsu Child Figure, and the Jungchang, the promotion of virtue in rebuilding Sangwonsa Temple, written by the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty King Sejo (reign 1455∼1468).At the entrance is a site called Gwandaegeori, named after the story about how King Se-Jo would hang his royal garments here when he took baths. Also, there is the Munsu Child Figure where the story of King Sejo and monk Munsu comes from. As National Treasure No. 221, the official name is Sangwonsa Munsu Wooden Seated Child Figure. At Sangwonsa Temple, there are other pieces other than the Munsu Child figure. The 91cm diameter Sangwonsa Dongjong was established in 725, in the 24th year of Silla King Seong-Deok. It is famous for its beautiful bell sound and the delicately carved Juakbicheon figure but nowadays it sits silent in order to preserve the bell.Sangwonsa Temple is located at Jungdaeam on the way to Jeokmyeolbogung in the Mt.Odaesan Birobong Peak direction. At the 2km southwest point is a hermitage where Utongsu Stream, the origin of the Hangang river, flows. Jeokmyeolbogung is a reliquary which possesses the bonesetting relics of Buddha, which was brought by monk Ja Jang from Tang (China).


Gangwon-do(Cheorwon-gun)

Goseokjeong Pavilion is the most scenic spots among the eight scenic views of Cheorwon. The crystal clear waters of the Hantangang River wind around a peculiar shaped rock of about 10 meters tall that stands dominantly in the middle of the river. The two-story tower-style pavilion that has an area of about 33 square meters was built halfway up the Hantangang River and named Goseokjeong during the reign of King Jinpyeong (reign 579-632 AD) of Silla Kingdom. Today, Goseokjeong refers to the entire area around the Goseokjeong Pavilion and the valley surrounding Goseok Rock.Designated as Monument No. 8 of Gangwon-do, the pavilion is known to have been one of the most favored places by King Jinpyeong of Silla Kingdom, and King Chungsuk of Goryeo Dynasty. The area became all the more famous as the arena of Im Kkeok-jeong (?-1562), who was the legendary leader of a peasant rebellion in the early Joseon Dynasty. It is said that Im Kkeok-jeong resisted against the corrupt social class by helping the poor with the tribute goods that he had extorted around this area while the goods were being carried to the court from the Hamgyeong-do region.The pavilion was lost during the Korean War and restored in 1971 by community leaders in Cheorwon. Unfortunately, it was damaged once again by flood in 1996 and reconstructed the year after. There is a natural stone chamber inside the huge rock in the midstream of the river that Im Kkeok-jeong had used as a hiding place. On the opposite side, there are remains of a stone castle. Jiktang Waterfall is located about 2 kilometers up from this site, while Sundam Valley is situated about 2 kilometers in the downstream. Goseokjeong is an all-year-round tourist attraction with extensive grass square and recreational facilities. It is also the starting point for DMZ tours as the battlefield conservation office is located here and in winter, visitors can enjoy migratory bird tour.


Gangwon-do(Wonju-si)

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.