Jeollanam-do(Suncheon-si)

Songgwangsa Temple is located on the west side of Jogyesan Mountain, and is a famous sambosachal in Korea. Sambo means "three treasures" in Korean, and in Buddhism there is bulbo, beopbo, and seungbo. Songgwangsa Temple qualifies as a seungbo temple, which refers to the disciples and practicioners of Buddhism at the temple. The reason Songgwangsa Temple became a seungbo temple is because many high monks were produced from this temple.The road to the temple is covered by beautiful tall trees. If you cross the valley from the road, a bridge called Cheongryanggak appears. On the bridge is a pavilion, where you can have a rest. Inside the temple, you can see the Daeungbojeon, the main building. This building has a roof shaped to look like it has two roofs. To one side of the main building is Jijangjeon Shrine, where there is a statue of Buddha, and Seungbojeon Shrine, which tells the world that this is a seungbo temple.Songgwangsa Temple has three great treasures: the Bisari Gusi, Ssanghyangsu, and Neunggyeonnansa. Bisari Gusi is a rice container that was made from a large tree. It was used to store the rice for monks, and because it was so large, it contained enough rice for 4,000 monks. Ssanghyangsu refers to two large Chinese Juniper trees. Lastly, Neunggyeonnansa is a plate belonging to Songgwangsa Temple, and it was built with many intricate designs. Make time on your trip to see the many national treasures that are located here. 


Jeollanam-do(Damyang-gun)

If you follow National Road No. 15 up from the Bamboo Museum, you’ll come across a beautiful and exotic boulevard that looks like it is came straight out of a fairytale. This unearthly place is the Metasequoia-lined Road. Metasequoia trees were planted along the street in the early 1970s when the Ministry of Internal Affairs officially designated the road as a “boulevard.” At that time, the saplings were only 3 to 4 years old and their branches stretched sparsely out into the sky; now, the trees have grown so high that they seem to block out the sun! Thanks to these stately trees, in 2002 the Korea Forest Service selected the boulevard as one of the most beautiful roads in Korea. The 4 kilometer-long boulevard is located along National Road No. 24 and is one of the most popular driving routes in Korea, especially during summer when the trees’ lush green leaves are at their x_height of beauty. Feel free to stop your car along the roadside to take a walk among these 10 to 20-meter-tall trees and breathe their fresh scent. Bicycling along this route and appreciating its real beauty at a leisurely pace is also highly recommended.  


Jeollanam-do(Suncheon-si)

The fields in Suncheonman Bay is thickly covered with reeds taller than a full-grown man. It is the biggest colony of reeds in Korea. The image of the entire field swaying in the wind is as dazzling as waves on the sea.The field of reeds is home to many plants that thrive in damp conditions, like the common reed and the starwort. Among the world’s wetlands, Suncheonman Bay is widely known for attracting the largest number of rare birds. Internationally rare birds such as the hooded crane, white-naped crane, white stork, black-faced spoonbill, Eurasian Oystercatcher, as well as birds designated as natural treasures, can be spotted here. There are about 140 species of birds including the snipe, wild duck, shelduck, and wild goose in total. In order to get to Suncheon, visitors can either fly to Yeosu Airport from Gimpo or Jeju, and then take an airport bus to Suncheon.For more information, visit the Suncheonman Bay website at www.suncheonbay.go.kr


Jeollanam-do(Suncheon-si)

Naganeupseong Folk Village is located in Jeollanam-do Province, and contains a town castle that is over 18,000 Pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 sq m) in size. Within the east, south and west of the castle, about 100 families still reside, and the castle area has been very well preserved. You can observe the daily dwellings indigenous to the south provincial area such as the kitchen area, the clay rooms, and Korean-style verandas. There are also 9 houses designated as important cultural resources, and numerous straw-roof houses as well. The folk village’s other source of pride is the monument of General Im Kyeong-Eop (1594~1646). At every first full moon of the new year, they hold a ritual ceremony and celebration at the general’s monument, with games such as seesaw jumping, swings, and other folk activities.When you enter the front gate of Naganeupseong Folk Village, on the east side of the castle (called “Nakpung-ru”), you see a straight road leading to town. Follow along this road and you will come across the General Im Kyeong-Eop Monument, resource center, and other interesting sites. You may also walk to the end of this road, climb up to the castle itself, and walk along the castle wall to the south. The entire castle is exceptionally well-preserved, and you can view the whole town from the top level.


Jeollanam-do(Damyang-gun)

Juknokwon in Damyang is a bamboo forest cultivated by the town of Damyang. Seonginsan Mountain behind Damyang Hyanggyo (Confucian school) was transformed into Juknokwon Bamboo Garden featuring a beautiful artificial waterfall, pavilion, walking paths and an eco-exhibition center, a popular destination for visitors. It takes about 1 hour to tour around the entire garden. Crossing Hyanggyo Bridge from Juknokwon, a forest for preventing floods can be seen. Lights are turned on in the evenings in the bamboo forest for night walk. 


Jeollanam-do(Jindo-gun)

Jindo Island is the third largest island in Korea, next to Jejudo and Geojedo Island. It is made up of 250 smaller islands, and it is famous for the appearance of a dry road in the middle of the sea, near the end of February and mid June of the lunar calendar. As it resembles a passage in the Old Testament in the Book of Exodus, the event is called “The Miracle of Moses”. When the water recedes, a road about 30-40 meter wide and 2.8 km long appears, which stays for about an hour before being submerged again.Jindo Island has some legends which are still popular today, especially that of “Old Woman Bbyong of Hoedongri”. A long time ago, there were many tigers on Jindo Island. When tigers began appearing frequently in the village, the people fled to Modo Island. In the process, only the old woman Bbyong ended up remaining on the island, so the lady prayed everyday to Yongwang, the god of the ocean, to let her see her family again. Around February, Yongwang appeared to her in her dream and said, “I will send a rainbow to the sea tomorrow; ride it and cross the ocean”. The next day old woman Bbyong went out to the sea and prayed again, and the seawater parted as the rainbow road appeared. Through this road, her family and the other villagers came back to the island. Therefore when the sea parts, the people celebrate this phenomenon by holding the Yeongdeung Festival to remember the Old Woman Bbyong. During the Festival, original folk plays of Jindo Island are performed and draws many tourists into Jindo Island. 


Jeollabuk-do(Gimje-si)

Since 2008, Gimje-si has hosted the Gimje Moaksan Festival, famous for its cherry blossoms. During the festival, the mountain is packed with visitors from the province and urban areas to enjoy the cherry blossoms. The districts of Geumpyeong Reservoir and Cheongdo-ri gil Road nearby make for a great drive to see all the cherry blossoms, and a reason that brings visitors back again year after year. Moaksan Mountain, with its thousand years of Silla Dynasty, is located in Geumsan-myeon of Gimje. Geumsansa, Gwisinsa, Suwangsa, and Daewonsa Temples are enveloped by Moaksan Mountain. Standing tall in the eastern part, it allows you overlook the Honam plains at a glance. It is also noted for its scenic beauty as well as lots of cultural properties, including national treasures. It even topped the list of the four best natural scenic views in the Honam region. Geumsansa Temple was established in the Baekje period (599 AD) featuring over ten designated cultural properties, including Mireukjeon, the country’s only three-storey building. In spring, the temple is thronging with tourists coming to see the beautiful cherry blossom trees in full bloom along the Bangdeunggyedan stairs that enshrines Sari, a cremated remain of Buddha.


Jeollabuk-do(Iksan-si)

Dongboseong is an authentic Chinese restaurant serving dishes prepared by a number of chefs from China. It has separate rooms and large banquet rooms for group dining.


Jeollabuk-do(Gunsan-si)

Dongguksa Temple was built by Japanese monk Seoneungbulgwan in 1909. The temple was run by Japanese monks for 36 years during the Japanese occupation, reverting to Korean jurisdiction when Korea was liberated in 1945. The historical temple is the only surviving Japanese-style temple in the nation. The temple is characterized by its two main buildings, Daeungjeon Hall and Yosachae, which are connected by a corridor, and the temple’s relative lack of decoration, which stands as a sharp contrast to the brilliantly-colored Korean temples. Dongguksa Temple was officially designated Cultural Asset No. 64 in July 2003 and is now a branch temple of Seonunsa Temple in Gochang, the 24th district of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order.


Jeollabuk-do(Buan-gun)

Located within Byeonsanbando National Park in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, BENIKEA Chaeseokgang Starhills Hotel is only five meters away from Chaeseokgang River. The hotel has a spacious reception area, an information desk, a cafe, restaurant and a convenience store. The guest rooms are stylish and inviting, providing comfortable bedding and modern interior design and decor.