Historical & Cultural Sites in Ganghwa Island, Korea  *Let’s dive in to the charms of Ganghwa Island, the 5th biggest island in Korea! *It is the experiencing tourism which can harvest and taste Ganghwa ginseng and strawberries, which are famous specialty of the Ganghwa.  ※Gathering ginseng around 4-6 years old/ Providing 400g of strawberry and can taste such strawberry without any restriction at the site.  *This tourism product is co-developed product by Incheon Tourism Organization and the 'TRIPPOSE.COM' *Can taste the Korean’s famous food, the ginseng chicken stew.  *We provide shuttle buses between Seoul and Incheon which takes about an hour.  *We are planning to provide various presents and events in each time period.  *We provide opportunities to experience the Korean traditional apparel and make one own/s customized handkerchief.  *We provide various spectacles including the beautiful sea, mountain and traditional streets of Ganghwa Island.  *We are planning to provide discount coupon if you purchase ginseng and strawberry at the site, so anyone who have such purchase plan, please inform us! This product is on sale in discounted price through the support of Incheon Tourism Organization so make reservation as soon as possible. We will provide delightful memory of Korea.  ★ GIFT : Poster (Switch Drama) * 1 per person #Sochang Experience Center appeared in SBS Wednesday/Thursday drama “Switch”! Take a look at the nice “hwamunseok” (a special matting mat) where actor #Jang Keun Suk sat, and experience also drinking Ganghwa special tea from cups used as props during filming. ※This event is subject to change or early termination due to our circumstances.       Ganghwado: The Island Getaway Just An Hour From Seoul  In 2018, We will provide cheap tour packages from Ganghwa-do, which was selected as a tourism city this year, with donation from Ganghwa-gun. Located in the northwest of Seoul, Ganghwa-do takes one hour and thirty minutes from Seoul and belongs to Incheon metropolitan city. It is the fifth largest island in Korea and has many precious historical sites from ancient times to modern times. It has a rich natural landscape with mountains and sea and is famous as a green tourist spot without air pollution.Do not miss the chance to visit major cities and a variety of sightseeing, food, and something to buy.   ★Tour course ＊08:30 Pick up at Myeongdong Station Exit 3  / 명동역 3번출구 출발 ＊09:00 Departing from Hongdae (in front of Exit 3)  / 홍대역 3번출구 경유 ＊10:00 Ganghwa peace observatory (The nearest observatory to see North Korea at the closest distance) / 강화평화전망대  ＊11:00 Ganghwa History Museum, Ganghwa Dolmen Site [UNESCO World Heritage], Museum of Natural History / 강화역사박물관, 강화 고인돌 유적[유네스코 세계문화유산], 자연사박물관 ＊11:40 : Pick your own Ginseng/ Strawberries / 강화 인삼밭 체험 또는 강화 인삼 딸기밭 체험 ▶6 year old Ginseng Picking (1 pieces/p.p (March~November) ▶Strawberries Picking (400g/p.p) (December~February) ＊13:00 - 14:00：Lunch - Ginseng Chicken Soup ＊14:00 - 14:30：Sochang Experience Center (DIY your own Korean style handkerchief!) ▶Visitors can join the activity program to make their own hand stamped handkerchiefs. / 소창체험관(손수건 스탬프 체험) ＊14:30 - 15:00：Ganghwa tourist platform (Hanbok experience, Self-photo, Ganghwa area paragliding VR, watching Koryeo history VCR) / 강화 관광플렛폼 *한복체험, 강화 VR시청 등 ＊15:10 - 16:00 Ganghwa Story walk (Korea’s first Hanok cathedral, Yonghung Palace, Koryeo Palace place etc.)*스토리 워크 도보관광 ＊16:00 Café house : 1 free drink (coffee, beverage) / 강화 Cafe 주택(티타임 / 1인 1음료 제공) 16:30~17:00 Ganghwa pungmul market, Ganghwa Ginseng Center *Ganghwa-do tradition market tour / 강화풍물시장, 강화 인삼센터 전통시장 관광 *강화 인삼차, 인삼캔디 무료 시식 쿠폰 제공(1인 1개) ＊18:30 Arrive at Hongdae station ＊19:00 Arrive at Myeongdong station ※In the event that you do not receive an email from us, please check your Spam folder or notify us via email ※Children aged 0-2 may participate for free, provided they won't be occupying seats ※Only one child per booking may participate for free ※Children aged 3+ will be charged the same rate as adults A minimum number of 4 travelers is required for the tour to run. If the minimum number is not met, you have the option to reschedule to a different date or receive a full refund. You will be contacted at least 3 days before your scheduled tour ※The maximum number for each group is 40 ※This itinerary is for reference only and is subject to day-to-day circumstances such as weather, traffic, etc. ※The tour will not be canceled due to rain, but in case of inclement weather such as storms, the tour will not push through. You will be given the option to either reschedule or cancel in case of inclement weather ※This tour has an English and Chinese speaking guide. Please select your preferred language upon check out. ※Only 1 pieces of ginseng can be taken home per visitor. ※The tour will be canceled if the minimum of 4 people is not met and a full refund will be issued ※Please be patient should there be unexpected delays due to traffic conditions ※Please arrive on time. You will be considered a no-show if you are late. ※This tour involves a lot of walking time, please wear comfortable shoes.​ Incheon was the first port which opened in Korea. It has developed into a dynamic city with various expressions of color. If Incheon were to be summed up in just two words, they would be openness and diversity. Incheon has been a central location in Korea’s history because of its geographical significance as the gateway from Korea to Northeast Asia. It has a rich natural landscape with mountains and sea and is famous as a green tourist spot without air pollution. Also, the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, which can be seen from the closest location in North Korea, is 2.3km away from the naked eye to see North Korea. Do not miss the chance to visit major cities and a variety of sightseeing, food, and something to buy. Ganghwa Island has many famous local products, including the medicinally effective Ganghwa Ginseng, Pure-Ganghwa radish with its peculiar taste, and Hwamunseok, which is a mat woven with flower patterns. Hwamunseok is famous also as a representative traditional Korean product, with its intricate handwork and designs.   Minimum number 4 person  Age restriction None Sponsor WATERTREE(trippose.com) Included services Round-trip vehicles during the tour, guide, admission fee, Lunch, hanbok experience, Ginseng digging experience Non-inclusive service Dinner, Traveler’s insurance, Other personal expenses Vehicle time 08:30 Pick up at Myeongdong Station Exit 3 / 09:00 Departing from Hongdae (in front of Exit 3) ※ Please be sure to board in time, as damage will occur to others after the departure time. Please arrive at 15 minutes in advance. ※ Vehicles are offered for 12, 25, or 45 passengers depending on the number of passengers. ※ When you make a reservation, please leave a contact form to be able to contact you locally. Vehicle seat On-site first-come-first-served basis (no designated seats) ※ If you have a passenger, please tell us when you board the vehicle. ※ Cancellation Policy: 5 days ago 0%, 6~7 days ago 70%, 8~9 days ago 50%, 11 days ago 100% ※ It is not possible to change or cancel the reservation 5 days before the entry date. How to board Check your voucher and ID before boarding the vehicle. (Mobile, printed voucher available) ※ Be sure to present your voucher. You cannot present reservation mail. Costume Participants will recommend sneakers and clothes that are convenient for movement. Language The guide’s primary language is English. On-site first-come-first-served basis (no designated seats) ※ If you have a passenger, please tell us when you board the vehicle. ※ Cancellation Policy: 5 days ago 0%, 6~7 days ago 70%, 8~9 days ago 50%, 11 days ago 100% ※ It is not possible to change or cancel the reservation 5 days before the entry date. ★ Precautions ※Please bring your passport with you. ※ If you cannot board on that day, no refund will be given. ※ It is difficult to give another seat for 1 person. Please understand. ※ Follow the instructions of the field guide to avoid damaging others. Please be sure to keep your boarding time and assembly time. ※ You may be held liable if you have a problem with your entire tour due to your personal behavior. ※ The vehicle is insured. However, we are not responsible for accidents during individual activities during the tour.   1. 08:30 Pick up at Myeongdong Station Exit 3 / 09:00 Departing from Hongdae (in front of Exit 3) 08:30 Pick up at Myeongdong Station Exit 3 09:00 Departing from Hongdae (in front of Exit 3)   2.  10:00 Ganghwa peace observatory (The nearest observatory to see North Korea at the closest distance) / 강화평화전망대        Ganghwado Peace Observatory When you look at the Gang hwado Peace Observatory, you can see the panorama of Haechang -ri and Samdal -ri in Gaepung - gun North Korea. On sunny days, the people of North Korea can be seen with the naked eye, and Mt.Songak reveals its beauty. When you write down your wishes at the Unification Wish Center and go down to the outside, you will find the stone monument of Missing Mt. Geumgang and Mangbaedan Altar. It is a popular tourist destination of peace in Ganghwado Island. It is the closest observatory in Korea that is 2.3km away from North Korea in naked eye which is hard to see in other regions. The basement and the 4th floor are dedicated to military units, on the 1st floor is a souvenir shop which sell souvenirs of North Korea, a restaurant, a management office, a unification desire center, and a relaxation room. On the 2nd floor, there is a high-performance telescope and an exhibition room where you can observe the traces and horrors of war. On the 3rd floor, there is a screen facility to see North Korea’s panoramic view even in cloudy weather through the North Korean landscape view facility which can be seen at a glance. ※ Field expert commentary explanation by language (English, Chinese, Japanese) ※ High performance telescope fee: 500 won (1 time: 2 minutes) * Size: Site area 9,975㎡, Gross area 2,277㎡ (B1-4F) Operating Hours  December-February 09:00-17:00 March-November 09:00-18:00 * Subject to change             3. *11:00 Ganghwa History Museum, Ganghwa Dolmen Site [UNESCO World Heritage], Museum of Natural History / 강화역사박물관, 강화 고인돌 유적[유네스코 세계문화유산], 자연사박물관     *Ganghwa History Museum（강화역사박물관） / Museum of Natural History(자연사박물관) History Museum of strengthening the cultural heritage preservation and study of enhancing the public museum is established for the purpose of exhibiting. The permanent exhibit was opened in 2010, Special Exhibition Hall, including the video room, auditorium, museum shop offers a variety of facilities. The permanent exhibit on prehistoric sites and consider the strengthening of the old monuments and tombs were excavated in the Confucian school, traditional temples and cultural collections are on display.  Ganghwa History Museum are located next to the dolmen park is designated as a World Heritage Site can be seen with the strengthening dolmen. Dolmen Dolmen Park, particularly in strengthening the province, including the game a huge table expression that is rare in the central region, the length of the lid stone 710cm, width 550cm or as the megalithic monuments of the Bronze Age is representative.       *Ganghwa Dolmen Site [UNESCO World Heritage] ‘Dolmens’ are stone graves/tombs which date back to the pre-historic era. Dolmens are largely concentrated in Northeast Asia with Korea alone being home to a total of around 30,000 dolmens. The Ganghwa Dolmen Heritage Site, in Bugeun-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, encompasses roughly 120 dolmens, most of which are Northern-style dolmen that are made of large pieces of stone 7.1m in length and 2.6m in height. The dolmens in this region are found in unusual altitudes of 100-200m above sea level and reveal important information about the prehistoric period. The Ganghwa Dolmen site was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage in Nov. 29th, 2000 along with Gochang Dolmen and Hwasun Dolmen sites. You may enjoy the best view of this historic site around sunset.   4. 11:40 ＊11:40 : Pick your own Ginseng/ Strawberries  ▶6 year old Ginseng Picking (1 pieces/p.p (March~November) ▶Strawberries Picking (400g/p.p) (December~February) / 강화 인삼밭체험 또는 강화 인삼딸기밭 체험  6 year old Ginseng Picking (1 pieces/p.p (March~November)        Strawberries Picking (400g/p.p) (December~February)       5. 13:00~14:00 Lunch - Ginseng Chicken Soup / 점심 *강화 삼계탕     We can eat while looking at view on beautiful terrace. There are many pine trees outside the store, and you can take a break on a flat floor along the path or on a hill. Samgyetang, a traditional Korean nourishing tonic dish, is a pan dish in which roast chicken is simmered with ingredients such as ginseng, garlic, persimmon, pine nuts, and other ingredients.   6.  14:00 - 14:30：Sochang Experience Center (DIY your own Korean style handkerchief!) / 소창체험관(손수건 스탬프 체험) Built in 1938, this Hanok experience hall provides an opportunity for you to stamp your own handkerchief as well as a history of Ganghwa-do’s past textile industry. You can enjoy a variety of history using ‘Sochang’, the fabric culture of Ganghwa-do. Sochang refers to the natural fabric that was used to make a baby diaper in the past. From the past, Ganghwado Island had been influenced by the North Korea Gaesung and the sochang industry had been blossoming. You can learn about sochang and make it at the Sochang Experience Center. You can also enjoy making Hwamunsuk mat and a specialty tea.              7. 14:30 - 15:00：Ganghwa tourist platform (Hanbok experience, Self-photo, Ganghwa area paragliding VR, watching Koryeo history VCR) / 강화 관광플렛폼 *한복체험, 강화 VR시청 등 The Ganghwa tourist platform is a comprehensive tourist information center that introduces various tourist sightseeing in Ganghwa. You can get a VR experience and a hanbok experience and at the information desk, you can get a guidebook for language-specific tourist attractions. Especially, along with the history of the Goryeo period, you can leave your own memories by wearing a hanbok in the photo zone. ※ Field expert commentary explanation by language (English, Chinese, Japanese)           8. 15:10 - 16:00 Ganghwa Story walk (Korea’s first Hanok cathedral, Yonghung Palace, Koryeo Palace place etc.)*스토리 워크 도보관광     ‘Gangwha Story Walk Road’ is a theme-based alley tour product developed to the tourist city of the year 2018. It is a place where you can experience the old history of Gangwha and the modern tourist city together while walking in Korea’s first Hanok cathedral, Yongheung palace, and Goryeo palace place with new and various contents. It is a roof-less museum of Gangwha-do which has a long history and has a travel course to enjoy with a special storyteller.         *GANGHWA ANGLICAN CHURCH : The Anglican church was first introduced to Ganghwado in 1890 and English Father Wangrando commenced preaching of the gospel right after he procured a house of residential church in Gapgotni in 1893. Meanwhile, Father Wangrando returned to his country and Father Joma succeedingly assigned to Joseon arriving at Ganghwa in 1896, then he evangelized Kim Maga (Kim Hui jun) in Ganghwaeup, and also opened Yeonghwawon, a nursery house, to take care of many patients in means of western medical techniques. This church building still remains there which was built in a conventional architecture of Korea in 1900. *Yongheunggung Palace (용흥궁) : Yongheunggung Palace is where King Cheoljong (a Joseon Dynasty ruler who reigned from 1849 to 1863) used to live before his ascension to throne. The chief of Ganghwa County, Jeong Gi-se, enlarged the original residence and named it Yongheunggung (meaning palace of the rising dragon) in the 4th year of King Cheoljong’s reign. Its architectural features include a paljak (Korean traditional half-hipped roof) and supporting columns rendered in Jusimpo style, the column brackets placed only on top of the columns. The palace was built in the tradition of dwelling houses such as the Yeongyeongdang and Nakseonjae houses in Changdeokgung Palace, so the palace buildings give off a simple and plain atmosphere. Within the precincts of the palace are a memorial stone and a monument house indicating that the palace used to be the old home of King Cheoljong. *Goryeogung Palace Site : Goryeogung Palace Site on Ganghwado Island is the site of the royal palace where the people of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) resisted the Mongolian invasion for 39 years. In the 19th year of his reign, King Gojong moved the capital to Ganghwa on account of its natural and strategic advantages. During the Byeongjahoran (Chinese invasion of Korea) in 1637, the palace was lost by force to the Qing dynasty of China. Later, Joseon Dynasty palace building and Ganghwa Yusubu (Ganghwa governor’s office) buildings existed in the Goryeo palace site but were destroyed by the French army during the Byeonginyangyo (French Campaign against Korea). Nowadays, the only structures that remain are the Dongheon main office (built in 1638) and Ibangcheong administration office (built in 1654). The palace and its subsidiary buildings were restored in 1977. It has historical lessons of the spirit of independence and overcoming national crisis.   9. 16:00 Café house : 1 free drink (coffee, beverage) / 강화 Cafe 주택(티타임 / 1인 1음료 제공)16:00        With sweet desserts and enough caffeine to clear one’s head, cafés are a must! Many travelers make use of the comfortable ambiance and Wi-Fi found in cafés to enjoy a moment of rest in their busy schedule while fueling up on energy between meals. These days, some people are even going so far as to set off on café tours, exploring all the latest and greatest coffee shops available in the area! The following cafés are the hottest cafés in Ganghwa based on Instagram posts.   10. 16:30~17:00 Ganghwa pungmul market, Ganghwa Ginseng Center *Ganghwa-do tradition market tour / Free tasting coupon(1 per person) / 강화 풍물시장, 강화 인삼농협센터 관광       Moving a few steps from the Ganghwa Bus Terminal, you can easily locate the Folk Flea Market. The Folk Flea Market was built in 2007, being converted from Ganghwa Folk Market as part of the County’s project of creating numerous tourist attractions. Folk Flea Market and raw fish center are being opened at the 1st floor where the visitors can have fun not only in enjoying fresh raw fish but also in bargaining the prices with the merchants. Folk Flea Market and restaurants are opened at the 2nd floor so as to provide edible wonders that are not just pleasing to the palate but also to the eyes. Another wonderful thing to be seen and experienced in the Folk Flea Market! Korean traditional markets surrounding the Folk Flea Market are opened every 2nd, and 7th day of the month. Aside from red pepper powder, the visitors can feast upon a variety of edible wild greens from mountainous places brought by old ladies. *Scale : 1 story under ground, 2 stories above ground (Total area 8,842.28㎡) Ganghwado Island has the optimal environment for ginseng cultivation with clay soil, sandy loam, and a cool climate condition influenced by onshore winds. The thick root of a Ganghwa ginseng does not have any inside cavity or white interior. This is how Ganghwa became a leading producer of the 6-year-old root, which has a high rate of red ginseng extract, cheonji. Ganghwa Ginseng Center handles quality ginseng guaranteed in its cultivation, processing, and distribution, owing to the utmost care exerted to provide safe and reliable products. 『 COPYRIGHTS ©incheon Tourism Organization. All Rights Reserved. www.travelicn.or.kr』 韓国旅行情報のすべて : トリップポーズ   http://www.trippose.com South Korea travel tips and articles : TRIP-PROPOSE      http://en.trippose.com 韩国旅游提示和文章 : TRIP-PROPOSE       http://cn.trippose.com 韓國旅遊提示和文章 : TRIP-PROPOSE       http://tw.trippose.com  /  http://hk.trippose.com