Picturesque Pyeongchang and Nearby Attractions

There is so much to see and discover in Gangwon with blessed astounding natural landscapes, pristine and clear waters beaches, dramatic mountains, peaceful valleys, cultural rich and more...

It’s no surprise that visitors and locals selected Gangwon-do as a getaway from the hustle and bustle city life and keep coming back for more. Discover the most beautiful places and be greeted with unique charms throughout all the seasons.

Known as the first place to receive snow falls and the the last snow to melt, Gangwon-do is the perfect place to enjoy winter sports and activities. There are 8 ski resorts scattered around this province. Yes, 2018 Winter Olympics will be held here~!!!

=== Pyeongchang-gun ===

Follow the walking trail and climb the steps to the peak of Daegwallyeong Skyranch (대관령 하늘목장) for the best breathtaking scenery from 950m. Beautiful sight of wind-mills and endless snow blanketing the whole place promoting some romantic atmosphere in the air. It's totally rejuvenating to your eyes and heart.

This iconic wooden shack is the background setting for the movie "A Man Who Went to Mars." where the two main characters finally fell in love. This is the most popular spot to snap instagram- worthy photos.

Nature and animal-lovers must not miss this haven for animals and human at this charming and clean countryside. Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm is the perfect place for family. Kids will surely fascinated and create lasting friend-sheep for having great opportunity to get up close, pat and hand-feed flocks of furry sheep.

Why not having recreation, education and adventure in one place? Visit Uiyaji Wind Village  situated on top of Daegwallyeong.They have various programs such as eeding of sheep, making ice-cream, cheese, pizza, ice cream, candle, soap, riding an ATV, and others. It's a great way for whole family to spend some quality time together.

 === Gangneung-si ===

Ojukheon (오죽헌) was home to Lady Sin Saimdang and the birthplace of the great Neo-Confucian scholar, Yulgok Yi-I. The recent K-drama 'Saimdang, Light's Diary' sheds light on Saimdang's life was filming here.

Although she's featured in Korean ₩50,000 banknote, but during her era where Confucian was held as social ideology that emphasized on  'yang' (male dominant), she's more recognised for her amazing personality as devoted daughter, good wife and wise mother of seven children instead of an outstanding artist and talented calligrapher.

Do check out her delicate paintings such landscape, birds, animals, grass and insects, and calligraphies including artworks of her talented family at Ojukheon Municipal Museum, which is just behind Ojukheon house. [Read more...]

Related Posts: Confucian: Calligraphy, Art and Culture

This 300 years well-preserved Hanok House is a typical noble family residence with 99-kan. Seongyojang (선교장) was built in 1703 by Mugyeong Lee Naebeon, the 11th descendent of Prince Hyoryeong, brother of King Sejong. In the past, the site was accessed by boat that crossed Gyeongpoho Lake, therefore it's called Seongyojang which literally means a "Boat-Bridging House."

Hwallaejeong pavilion and Seongyojang were one of famous backgrounds for sageuk dramas including Hwang Jin-Yi (황진이), Princess Hours Gung (궁), Princess’ Man (공주의남자) and  Saimdang (사임당, 빛의 일기).

Recommended to experience Hanok stay to enrich all senses and presents a feeling of back to old Joseon period. Seongyojang also offer various traditional and cultural classes which is family-friendly where you can learn Korean culture and at the same time having fun bonding time together.

Jumunjin Beach (주문진 해수욕장) is located in the northern-most part of Gangneung. Popular for family vacation because of shallow water, white sand and pines on the beach accentuates beauty of Jumunjin.

Jumunjin Breakwater became a popular attraction after Korean drama "Goblin: The Lonely and Great God" because visitors especially lovers going there to reenact the scene when Ji Eun-tak summoned Dokkaebi. [Read more...]

Jumunjin Fish Market is a small traditional market at this fisherman village where you can purchase freshly-caught seafood at reasonable price. There are also restaurants inside this market, which you can select the live seafood from the tanks and they'll cook as your instructions whether to serve it as sashimi, soup, grill or fry.

Gyeongpodae (강릉 경포대) is a large pavilion featuring a “paljak” roof. This pavilion is divided into 6 sections in the front, and 5 sections on the sides, with 28 pillars surrounding the structure.

It's famous and cherised for the spectacular view of Eight Scenic Points of Gyeongpo overlooking panoramic view of the mountains, Gyeongpo beach stretches 42 km long and feel the extensiveness of East sea, scenery of pine grove in Gyeongpoho lake. It's also perfect spot to admire full moon on the 15th day of the first lunar month. [Read more...]

Jeongdongjin Beach (정동진해변) is famous town near Gangneung which is one of the most popular places for watching the sunrise on New Year's Day. It's name Jeongdongjin because it's located on east (dong) of Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul.

Besides Hourglass that takes 1 year for sand in the hourglass to drop down completely, it's also known as the closest train station to sea in the world. Do check out this website if you want to explore  travel destinations such as Jeongdongjin Beach, Jeongdongjin Railbike, Jeongdongjin Time Museum, Mukho Lighthouse and Nongoldam-gil Street (Deungdae Damhwa Village) and enjoying pictureaques viewa of East Sea by Sea Train.

=== Samcheok-si ===

Samcheok Beach (삼척해변) has a vast clean white-sand, shallow water beach spanning 1.2 kilometres long and 100 meters wide and surrounded by pine trees.

Along Samcheok Romantic Road, you can find few seafood restaurants serving Gangwon speciality Gomchi Guk Snailfish Soup. [Read more...]

Jukseoru Pavilion (죽서루) means "Bamboo West Pavilion" sitting on the edge of a cliff  is one of the eight major attractions of Gwandong District. It offers fantastic view of Osipcheon Stream and  nice view of Samcheok city.

There are 26 signboards inscriptions written by kings and famous ancient scholars hanging here, such as:  King Sukjong, King Jeongjo, Yulgok Yi-Yi, Heo Mok, Yi Seong-jo and Yi Gyu-heon.

 Filming location of recent K-drama "The King in Love (왕은 사랑한다)"

=== Donghae-si ===

This beautifully formed rock towers high into the sky and resembles a candlestick, from which it gets its name. "Chotdae” (촛대) means Candle, while “Bawi” (바위) means Rock.  

Chotdaebawi Rock is most famous tourist attraction in Donghae to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the sun slowly peeking its way over the edge of the rock face. It's so picturesque and KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) used it as a background for the "Aegukga" (the Korean national anthem). [Read more...]

Few minutes walk from Chotdaebawi Rock, you'll find this beautiful Haeamjeong Pavilion (북평 해암정), which was built by the founder of Samcheok Sim family in 1361. After he left his public office, he spent the rest of his life teaching junior scholars and enjoying the beauty of nature here.

Majestic Mureung Valley (무릉계곡) stretches 4 kilometers, unfolding a colorful spectrum of river topography, from Hoam Pond to Yongchu Falls against the backdrop of Dutasan Mountain and Cheongoksan Mountain creating mystical and serene atmosphere. In fact, Mureung means “Paradise” in Korean.

Judging from the spectacular scenery with unusual wide flat rocks formations, green valleys, clear water, and witness with your eyes of insanely beautiful calligraphies of names, family surname and poetries in Hanja engraved on 5,000 square meter bedrock canvas I do believe they said “All ancient poets, monks, painters and travellers in the country have been there at least once!” [Read more...]

This one-thousand year old Samhwasa Temple (삼화사) is located near the entrance of the Mureung Valley, therefore it's known as Mureung Dowon (Arcadia in Peach Tree Garden). It's home to national treasures No. 1277 (Three story stone pagoda) and No. 1292 (Steel Sitting Buddha Statue). 

Great news that this historicl temple offers temple stay programs where you can learn more on Buddhism teaching, experience of temple life. It must be awesome way to rejuvenate mind, body and soul with such a beautiful mountains and serene valley that surrounded this temple.

=== Taebaek-si ===

Locals and tourists alike flock down the train to admire breathtaking panoramic view from 855m above sea when O-Train stop for 10 minutes at Chujeon Station. 

Although it's such a mesmerasing romantic winter scenery, but make sure you board the train on time if you're continuing your journey because the train will depart exactly as per schedule. [Read more...]

Transportation:
* Train

On our first trip to Korea in 2012, we purchased KR Pass. It's available for foreigners to travel around cheaper and more convenient by railroad without limit of travel sectors. KR Pass is appicable for KTX, KTX-Sancheon, ITX-Samaeul, ITX-CheongChun, Samaeul, Mugunghwa, Nuriro, O-train, V-train, S-train, DMZ-train, A-train, Westgold-train trains. The pass is not available for use on subways, SRT or temporary tourist trains.

KR Pass can be purchased from Korail's website.

* Bus

Gangwon province has come up with “One-Stop-Service” called “GoGoGangwon” bus. This GoGoGangwon bus takes you directly from Seoul to local festival spot (Coffee Festival, Hyoseok Cultural Festival, Chuncheon Dalkgalbi & Mukguksu Festival) in Gangwon without any transit!

For information on bus schedule, fare and bus terminal, you can check Kobus website.


Related Posts: 

The Most Beautiful Places in Gangwon during Autumn

 

How and Where to Learn Winter Sports in Korea?

101 News about Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018.

September in Mureung Valley & Samhwasa Temple [Day 5]

4.  Mureung Valley (무릉계곡)

Mystical and Magnificent Mureung Valley

about 10 minutes walk from the parking lot / ticket office to Mureung Valley

Entrance to Mureung Valley

 Admission Fees: Adults 2,000 won, Children 700 won

and you'll pass by this giant rock with beautiful calligraphy carved on it

So sorry that I don't know how to read Chinese.

Please let me know if you can read this... Thank you ^^

and also this neatly carved Hanja...

Pavilion sitting beside Mureung Valley (무릉계곡).



Mureung Valley stretches 4 kilometers, unfolding a colorful spectrum

of river topography, from Hoam Pond to Yongchu Falls

against the backdrop of Dutasan Mountain and Cheongoksan Mountain.

It offers spectacular scenery consisting of unusual wide flat

rocks formations, green valleys, and clear water.

Kim Hyo-Won (김효원), Neo-Confucian scholar in Joseon Dynasty named it Mureung, 

because its scenery resembled Mureungdowon, a Chinese landscape

where you can see a waterfall flowing down a rock wall.

This valley creates mystical and serene atmosphere.

In fact, Mureung means “Paradise” in Korean.

Yang Sa Eon (양사언), one of the four greatest calligraphers from the early

Joseon Dynasty carved more than 10 names of governors or mayors of Samcheok

on this 5,000 square meter bedrock 'canvas'.

My son, Hao Zhi (昊志) found his name 志 is on the rock ^^

Absolutely awesome and insanely beautiful calligraphy that made me almost cried! How can the carved them so neat and artistic. It's like printed out calligraphy fonts from computer!  So embarrassing that I don't even know how to write that neat on the paper ㅠㅠ

 Countless of ancient poets, monks and travellers that visited this place

carved their names, family name and poetries in Hanja (한자), which many of them

are considered masterpieces of calligraphy.

 

It is said “All poets and painters in the country have been there at least once,”

Edited one of the photos to water-painting pictorialisation on canvas,

as I don't know how to draw or paint!

Great escape place from bustling city!

I did scan around the area to see whether someone craving or painting. But not a lot of people visiting on that day. Only spotted few people walking on the rock, some sitting and enjoying the view or fresher themselves by tapping cold water on their faces.

The scenes of Cheon Gi painting Haram's portrait is set at this beautiful valley.

They enjoyed the time until Prince Yangmyeong arrived to arrest Haram...

(Lovers of the Red Sky #홍천기 ep. 10)

The Princess' Man Episode 7

"What is love, to the world I ask... And hers is my answer:

It means you and I becoming one, without hesitation, until death do us part"

That is what “Love” is.

It's one of the filming location for "Hwang Jin-Yi" and "Painter of the Wind". I'm wondering whether The Princess' Man was filming there as it's quite near to Seongyojang and the scenery and flat rock quite similar. But, I searched view blogs said it was filmed in Jeollanam-do, Wolchulsan mountain.  I'm adding Wolchulsan to places to visit for my next trip :P

You should go to Ssang (Twin Waterfalls) and Yongchu waterfalls if you have time about 3-4 hour roundtrip hike from Samhwasa temple. Again, we didn't have time as we need to be in Seongyojang before 6 pm...

5. Samhwasa Temple (삼화사)

Samhwasa is also called Mureung Dowon (Arcadia in Peach Tree Garden). This one-thousand year old, small but historical temple falls under the supervision of Woljeongsa Temple

头陀山三和, entrance to Samhwasa Temple

about 10 minutes from Mureung Valley, the temple is just over this bridge...

Beautiful and tranquil temple near Mureung Valley.

This temple is home to...

Three story stone Pagoda (National treasures No. 1277)

and Steel sitting Buddha statue (National treasures No. 1292)

  

 Bell Pavilion storing Dharma Percusions (Drum, Bell, Gong, Wooden Fish).

Samhwasa also houses the main shrine called Yaksajeon, Jeokkwangjeon, Beomjonggak pavilion, Geukrakjeon shrine, Birojeon shrine, Chilseongdan shrine, and Muhyanggak pavilion.

  

Renovation in progress...

therefore, we couldn't go to the main hall and Buddha statue

Donated money for renovation and wrote our names on this roof tile

Surrounding walls of Samhwasa Temple

  

Turtle Pedestal outside the temple (click the link for the photos)

and somehow when I edited my photos I saw these "Turtle" Pedestals in:

1. Ojukheon - 율곡선생 유적정화기념비

2. Samhwasa Temple - 비직사사화삼

3. Bonguensa Temple.

I'm really curious on these, please enlighten me if you know:

1. What is the name of this pedestal / sculpture (in Hangul too if possible)?

2. Is it just to support memorial tablet? or any other functions?

3. Does it have special / mystical "power" (something like Haechi / Dolharubang / Jangseung)?

4. Is it only for people with special rank or contribution can use it?

    I saw a lot of normal (without turtle) memorial tablets outside Bonguensa Temple.

4. Other interesting information about this "Turtle"

Thank you ^^

  

🙏 Peace from Mureung Valley and Samhwasa Temple 🙏

Related Posts:

~ Hanok Stay at 300 years Seongyojang Hanok House.

~ Traditional Cultural Experience at Seongyojang.

~ Ojukheon House and Museum

~ [Gangneung] Jumunjin & Gyeongpodae Pavilion

~ Chuam - Chotdaebawi Rock