Chungcheongbuk-do(Yeongdong-gun)

Nestled at the foot of Cheontaesan Mountain, which has an altitude of 714.7m, in the southernmost part of Chungcheongbuk-do, as well as at the boundary with Chungcheongnam-do, Yeongguksa Temple is located in the area of Yeongdong-gun.In the southern part of Cheontaesan Mountain, Local Road No. 68, stretching from west to east, connects Jewon-myeon, Geumsan-gun and Gagok-ri, Yeongdong-gun. The scenery along the road is quite beautiful as well. The road meets Local Road No. 501 where Hotancheon Stream meets Geumgang River. Along this road, you will find a sign for Yeongguksa Temple and Cheontaesan Mountain. The parking lot can be seen at the base of Cheontaesan Mountain after making a left turn at this sign. From the parking lot, visitors can start trekking along the valley in order to reach the mountain.Streams through the valleys such as Jinju Falls, Samdan Falls (previously, Yongchu Falls), Samsinbawi Rock flow through rocks and cliffs and create picturesque scenery. Also, carved poems and writings can be found on the cliffs. While going up along the trekking path, a wide basin will unfold, where Yeongguksa Temple is situated with beautiful surroundings. Samdan Falls, meaning three layered waterfall, was made by the water flowing out of two valleys, and can be seen at the edge of this basin.If going up along the valley, one can see the road to Yeongguksa Temple, which is located in a broad plain amidst the deep forest of the mountain.The time of construction is not clearly known but it is said to have been built around the late Silla period, during the time of King Seonjong. The temple prospered when the State Preceptor Wongak, who completed the Cheontae, one of Buddhist orders from Daegak Guksa Uicheon, came to the temple in the middle of the Goryeo Period. It continued to flourish until the early Joseon era and then took a dive due to the rule of anti-Buddhism. Despite the situation at the time, the temple's reputation as one of the noted temples remained.However, the situation much worse in the early twentith century, so much so that it was almost closed. The temple was reconstructed by Jubongjosa Monk in 1934. As of now, the temple contains various treasures including the Stele for State Preceptor Wongak, Stupa of Yeongguksa Temple, Three-story Stone Pagoda of Yeongguksa Temple, Three-story Stone Pagoda at Mangtapbong Peak of Yeongguksa Temple. In addition, Bell-shaped Stupa and Round-shaped Stupa, regional tangible cultural assets, are situated in the temple site. Standing structures are Daeungjeon Hall (main temple), yosa (a temple dormitory for Buddhist monks), sansingak shrine and pavilions, as well as Gyewolam Temple, a small attached temple.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si)

About hundred years ago, the "Cheongju Eupseong Fortress" existed in the middle what is today's Cheongju-si. The fortress had two main gates connecting its northern and southern points, as well as a main avenue crossing the village formed inside the fortress. The name for this avenue, called Seongan-gil (literally 'road inside the fortress'), makes a clear statement as to the role it has served in the city throughout the decades.Geographically located in the heart of the city, the place still serves as the central commercial area of Cheongju, drawing in crowds of both young people and older residents. Being the top tourist attraction in the region, the city government designated the area as a 'car free street,' making it a pedestrian-friendly place for shopping and meandering. Only registered and shipping vehicles can enter the area, but only in the morning until noon. After that time, all vehicular access is prohibited.With its popular attractions, such as the Rodeo shopping district, the iron flagpole of Yongdusa Temple Site, as well as other major department stores, movie theaters, and recreational parks, Seongan-gil is a favorite gathering place for residents of Cheongju.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Yeongdong-gun)

Nangye Korean Traditional Music Experience Center was established to celebrate the musical talents of Nangye Park Yeon and preserve it. Furthermore, the center contributes to making Yeongdong the origin of gukak (Korean music), featuring a hub of gukak (Korean music) as well as world-famous traditional culture. Near the experience center, Nangye Korean Classical Music Museum, Nangyesa Shrine, and Nangye Gukak Instrument Production Village are situated to further experience the spirit and soul of Park Yeon. Nangye Korean Traditional Music Experience Center offers opportunities to play musical instrument as much as visitors want. Also, professional lecturers who majored in gukak (Korean music) work in the center to assist visitors in handling Korean musical instruments such as gayageum (Korean twelve-stringed zither), geomungo (Korean six-stringed musical instrument), janggu (double-headed drum with a narrow waist in the middle), haegeum (traditional Korean stringed instrument), and buk (drum).  


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Located in Danyang, Danuri Aquarium houses a lot of fish with a wide array of fish species from Korea and overseas countries, consisting of 13,000 fish of 83 species and 2,000 fish of 62 species, respectively. Visitors can enjoy a wide selection of fish including Siniperca, a traditional fish from Namhangang River, sweetfish and Korean bitterling, as well as various fish species from other countries all in one spot. Also, the aquarium offers a special sightseeing point, in the form of a fish tank decorated with the theme of Eight Scenic Views of Danyang.* Fish tanks: 82 exhibition tanks, 36 habituating tanks, approx. 854 tons* Display state: 145 species from domestic and overseas countries, 15,000 fish (83 from Korea (approx. 13,000 fish) / 62 from overseas countries (approx. 2,000 fish)


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Ondal Cave is located underground at the foot of Seongsan Mountain, where Ondalsanseong Fortress is situated. It is a natural limestone cave that is estimated to have begun forming around 450 million years ago. The total 760 meter-long cave covers an area of 349,485 square meters. The cave mouth is two meters high, while the cave itself is 5 to 10 meters high and about 5 meters wide. The cave features stairway structure and contains an abundance of beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. The average temperature of the cave maintains 14 degrees Celsius in summer and 16 degrees Celsius in winter, making it a perfect all-year-round attraction. The cave is rich in underground water resources and there is a 0.8 to 1 meter-deep cave river flowing at the bottom of the cave floor. The cave also has over 40 small ponds that are inhabited by a variety of living organisms like fish and insects. Situated on top of the mountain peak to the left of the cave is Ondalsanseong Fortress. The fortress has been preserved in its original form throughout some 1,400 years and shows the advanced building skills of Goguryeo Era (37 BC-668 AD). The annual Ondal Culture Festival is held every October around Ondal Cave and Ondalsanseong Fortress in memory of the legendary love story between General Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang. Other attractions in the area include a theme park and Jangseung (Korean traditional totem poles) Park.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Danyang Jeokseong Fortress is a fortress made of stone from Seongjaesan Mountain in Danyang. About 900 square meters of the surrounding area was mostly destroyed, but in the northeast section, the inner wall of the part that was heaped across the wall still remains. The castle was built surrounding the mountain's southern slope and around the summit. It was designated as Historical Site No. 265 in August 1979. Also, the circumference of the fortress is 923 meters, but most of the fortress walls have collapsed. A 3-meter section of wall remains at the end of the northeast part. Three gates were found in the southwest, east, and southeast areas. Inside of the fortress is the Jeokseongbi stone stele. Jeokseong Fortress is also called Jeoksanseong, as the place was an outpost for the Silla army's invasion of the north, where they stole Goguryeo army’s compound. * Historical symbol of Jeokseongsanseong Fortress Jeokseongbi Stone Stele was found in 1978 inside of the fortress. This artifact relates the power struggle between the Silla and Goguryeo. Besides the stone stele, the fortress also houses relics from the Three Kingdoms Period, such as earthenware and tiles from the Goryeo period. Also, the method employed to construct the structure resulted in its sturdiness, and thus the fortress has important value for studying fortification.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Sainam Rock, located in Sainam-ri, Daegang-myeon, is one of eight scenic areas in Danyang, and is located in the southeast side of Danyang-gun, along with Sangseonam Rock, Jungseonam Rock, and Haseonam Rock of Seonam Valley. The Sainam Rock is a rugged outcropping with an inspiring x_height of 70 meters, and the deep blue Namjocheon Stream passes in front of it, located in the southern part of Danyang-gun. Most visitors to Danyang Eight Scenic Views tend to come to the rock as their first destination due to the good condition of the road. Also, Unseongugok Valley flows in front of Sainam Rock. The rock was picked as the most picturesque place among the Eight Scenic Views. On the cliff, there is a phrase carved by Utak’s own handwriting, as well as old pine trees on a rock floor that is reminiscent of the Haegeumgang River. Sainam was named after the great scholar Yeokdong Utak during Goryeo Period. He had taken up a public service to assist a king in a position called sain (사인), and then he retired to his hometown of Danyang, starting out teaching young students. For this story, a governor of Danyang named the rock Sainam to commemorate his achievement during King Seongjong of the Joseon Dynasty.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Cheongju-si)

Gee Hotel is located in the center of a high-tech industrial complex, which was built to advance Korea into the new millennium, in Ochang, Cheongwon-gu, Chungcheongbuk-do. The hotel provides optimal comfort and relaxation for tourists and business travelers in its spacious guest rooms. It is ten minutes’ drive from Cheongju International Airport and twenty minutes from KTX Osong Station. Cheongwon is well-known for Chojeong Mineral Spring, which is regarded as one of the world’s three best mineral waters, and such tourist destinations as Daecheongho Lake with its attractive scenery reminiscent of a watercolor painting, and the Cheongnamdae Presidential Villa with its splendid views and pure air.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Two hundred meters upstream from Dodamsambong Peaks is a large rainbow-shaped stone gate on the left side of the river. This oddly-shaped stone arch is called Seongmun. With its fascinating scenery, Seongmun is the second of Danyang’s Eight Scenic Wonders. To the left of the stone gate is a small cave. Inside the cave is Okdap (Stone Field), which is believed to have been cultivated by an old enchantress. The legend of Okdap says that an old enchantress who lived in heaven once came to the earth to get water and then dropped her hairpin, just near the stone gate. She looked for the hairpin but was extremely impressed by the beautiful views. She gave up heaven and lived near the Stone Gate as an ordinary peasant for the rest of her life.


Chungcheongbuk-do(Danyang-gun)

Suyanggae Prehistory Museum boasts itself as the largest prehistoric site in Korea. The museum contains a multitude of remains, especially stone toolkits, of the late Stone Age and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The stone toolkits were discovered by a museum of Chungbuk National University while the team was on the project to excavate historical remains around the site that were submerged due to the construction of Chungju Dam. The museum provides detailed explanations and maps marked for the prehistorical sites in Danyang. Visitors can learn the life and wisdom of Paleolithic man in the museum.