Get to know more about Gangwon-do Province !
=> Gangwon is a province of South Korea whose capital is Chuncheon. It is located in the east of the country. The symbols of the province are the Korean white pine, the royal azalea and the red- crowned crane.
=> Best cities or counties of the province : In Gangwondo province the best cities are mainly Gangneung, known for its beautiful beaches, Sokcho, Wonju, Donghae and Chuncheon. Wonju is the most populated city of Gangwondo Province.
What to visit there? What activities to do ?
In Gangwondo Province, there are so many things you can do, so many places to visit, and attractions for all tastes. Here are some main places we recommend you to visit during your trip to Gangwon do.
Tourist attractions :
NAMI ISLAND
You may have heard of many famous places located in Gangwondo such as Nami Island which is very famous among tourists. Nami Island, with a concept of “Fairy Tale Village and Song Village,” provides various cultural events, concerts, exhibitions and more to give children dreams and hopes, couples love and memories, and artists a space for creativity. You can find there the Song Museum, Picture Book Playground, Whatever Center, Art Shop, UNICEF Hall, Together Park, UNICEF Train, and Story Tour Bus. Restaurants provide various and delicious food and Hotel Jeonggwanru has themed accommodations.
HIKING :
SEORAKSAN NATIONAL PARK
Another great place you don’t want to miss is Seoraksan National Park. The Seoraksan Mountain is a Natural Reserve area, National Park, Biosphere Reserve area which is a plant resource of Korea. It has been listed by the South Korean government with UNESCO as a tentative World Heritage Site. The government designated the area as a nature reserve in 1965 and UNESCO designated it as a biosphere reserve in 1982.
It is without a doubt one of the most famous destinations in South Korea. It is known for the fantastic views of sunrise and sunset, and has a total of some 30 grand peaks. If you love hiking or trekking, this place is for you.
ODAESAN National Park :
There are also other places where you can hike such as Odaesan National Park. Odaesan Mountain has the largest natural forest of Korea, home to many wild animals and plants. The mountain is divided into smaller sections: Odaesan Section, Bangadari Bridge Section, Byeongnae-ri Section, Hwangbyeongsan Mountain Section, Hongcheon-myeon Section, and Sogeumgang River Section. It is also rich in soil and resources, with lush forests and gentle slopes.
TAEBAKSAN :
Taebaeksan Mountain range encompasses several peaks such as Yeongbong Peak, and serves as a home to diverse wild animals and plants, including several endangered species. The higher plains are covered with alpine vegetation. The mountain is a very famous spot for hiking and enjoying amazing views.
HAEPARANG TRAIL :
Haeparang road actually begins at Oryukdo Island in Busan, at the south of the country, and ends at the Unification observatory in Gangwon Province, in the north east. This trail is famous for the beautiful landscapes all along the trail. Many hiking lovers consider this trail as their favorite.
SKIING
Gangwon-do is not only enjoyable in spring or summer, but all year long. You maybe didn’t know that but you can go skiing in Gangwon-do Province, as it is also very known for its high quality ski resorts.
For example you can find the famous «Yongpyeong Resort Ski & Snowboard », which is the favorite spot for ski lovers. There is a total of 31 pistes, 15 lifts, with super nice accommodations, restaurants and great services.
There is also the very known Phoenix resort or the Vivaldi Ski world, both very famous places for skiing.
ICE FISHING
Gangwondo is also very famous for its Ice Fishing activities. Indeed, there are many Ice Fishing festivals, such as in Hwacheon county where you can enjoy this original activity. There are also some activities where you can fish the trouts with by hands, for a more authentic experience. The most famous festival is called « Pyeongchang Trout festival » where tourists can practice ice fishing, or bare hand fishing, and you can also cook nearby the fish that you caught.
SURFING :
Gangwon do is also very known for its surfing spots. Many surfer enjoy coming to Gangwon do to enjoy the waves and especially at Surfy Beach in Yangyang city, on the east coast of Korea. The atmosphere there is so exotic and many people take instagramable pictures there as it is a very pretty spot. It is actually the number one destination for surfers in Korea.
DMZ PART :
DMZ Museum :
Gangwon-do is also known for its touristic attractions related to the DMZ. To get to know more about the tragedy Korean War make sure to visit the DMZ Museum, that shows the past, the present and the future of the Korean history
Goseong Unification Observatory :
Built by an army unit in 1983, Goseong Unification Observation Tower is the nearest place for viewing Geumgangsan Mountain in North Korea. From the observatory, visitors can see the Haegeumgang River and the islands nearby as well as get a glimpse of various peaks of Geumgangsan Mountain. More than one million people visit his area on an annual basis.
2nd and 4th tunnel :
Discovered on March 19, 1975, the Second Underground Tunnel is huge enough to allow 30,000 Soldiers (plus tanks) to pass through it per hour. The tunnel has been developed into a tourist site so that visitors can tour the tunnel. This experience is very unique and gets you to know more about the soldier situation during the war.
About the 4th tunnel, it is the only tunnel with a motorcar for visitors to tour the tunnel. The water flowing out from the tunnel is known to be very healthy and has become much sought after.
GYEONGPO BEACH :
Located 6 kilometers from downtown Gangneung, Gyeongpo Beach is a sand bank formed between Gyeongpoho Lake and the ocean. This beach has a beautiful sandy shore that extends to a length of 1.8 kilometers and shallow waters, making it a popular beach attraction. By the beach is a lush pine forest where visitors can enjoy forest bathing. Other activities to enjoy around the area include the cultural art fair that takes place at the beach stage every summer, riding a bike along Gyeongpoho Lake, and hiking the nearby mountains and valleys.
WOLJEONGSA TEMPLE :
Woljeongsa is one of the 24 main temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is located in Jinbu Village of Pyeongchang District on the slopes of Mount Odae. It was founded in 643 by the monk Jajang. During its history, it was burned and rebuilt in 1307 and then in 1833.The 1 kilometer path leading to the temple passes through a forest of tall fir trees, some over 500 years old. Woljeongsa Temple is in charge of over 60 temples and 8 monasteries in the area.
GANGCHON RAIL PARK
After Gyeongchun Subway Line opened, the old train tracks turned into a rail bike park. Gangchon Rail Park starts next to Gimyujeong Station and offers various attractions including large book photo zone, café, zipwire and more. The total course of the rail bike is 8.5 kilometers long with 6 kilometers on rail bike and last 2.5 kilometers on a train. Most of the track is downhill for an easy ride with a beautiful view of mountains, fields, and a river. You can also enjoy a VR experience of the ride. It is a perfect activity if you have children traveling with you !
Local food :
Yangyang pine mushroom stew : Various mushrooms, vegetables and beef are placed in a large earthen pot and it is topped with pine mushrooms and boiled. You can first enjoy the strong scent of pine mushrooms with your nose, and then the scent of the pine mushrooms permeating in the broth with your mouth.
Buckwheat Mussel Jang-kalguksu : The buckwheat used for the noodles of kalguksu (chopped noodles) is a major ingredient of Gangwon-do that contains high quality proteins and it also contains essential amino acids such as lysine, iron and zinc that are lacking in other grains to help prevent and treat adult diseases. Also, the mussels gathered from the East Sea have low fat content and calories, while supplying proteins needed during diets.
Clear pollack soup of Goseong : Clear pollack soup is boiled without sauces and spices, but simply with pollack, radish, cabbage, green onions, garlic, etc. Because it is a clear soup, you can enjoy the clean taste of fresh ingredients rather than sauces and artificial seasoning. Also, the soup is refreshing as it is boiled with radish.
Where to stay :
For you stay, you have many options. You can book a hotel, as you can find hotels of all categories, from cheap ones to very high quality hotels. You may find the hotels anywhere, but especially in the main cities that we introduced before.
For example if you plan to stay in Gangneug city, you can book a room at the Herren Haus Hotel, which was built on the motif of a mansion in the medieval Europe and all rooms have a view on the east sea, which makes this hotel popular among tourists.
Thanks for reading ! 🙂
Soukaina from Etourism,