Gangwon

city of caves

Samcheok, Jeongseon, Donghae, Taebaek

Travel to the beautiful and mysterious world of caves created by water over eons of time

-Hwanseon Cave: This is the largest limestone cave in Asia. It is not only famous for its gigantic and majestic chambers and fascinating formations, but is a mysterious living habitat of rare species. On the way up the climb to the cave entrance a huge waterfall can be seen falling from high on Mt. Deokhangsan. Special dwelling sites of people living in the mountains here are unique to Gangwon-do.

-Yongyeon Cave: Yongyeondonggul Cave, located 920 meters above sea level, is 843 meters long. The interior of the cave has four plazas and two water pathways. In the center plaza a rhythm water fountain dancing to a musical beat can be found, and a volcano water fountain. In particularly, a tram operates 1.1 km from the parking lot up to the entrance of the cave, another feature that adds to the fun.

-Cheongok Natural Cave: This cave is unique as it is located under the city streets of Donghae. The cave is 400 million to 500 million years old, and visitors can sight rare stones that are rich in academic value.

-Hwaam Cave: A natural cave that was used to mind gold, Hwaamdonggul has been developed as a theme cave: The Meeting of Gold and Mother Nature. The total area is 1,803 m and it has five special exhibition rooms. Asia's largest golden stalactite wall stands here, 30 m high and 20 m wide, and stalactites in differing types and various sizes. There is also a waterfall basin of unfathomable depth; maybe it goes to the center of the earth!

city of tradition and history

Gangneung

A city full of cultural relics and traditions takes pride in its 600-year history

-Ojukheon: Ojukheon is one of the private houses that are equipped with Korea's traditional separate houses. It is also the birthplace of Korea's most famous scholar and politician, Yulgok Yi, and his mother Sinsaimdang. Yulgok Yi and Ojukheon are prominent enough to be drawn in the 5,000 won Korean bill.

-Seongyojang Residence: A traditional house of the high Joseon Dynasty society. It is famous for the beautiful curved lines of its roof, which resemble the shape of traditional Korean socks and hanbok clothing. Garments and products from the Joseon period are displayed in the exhibit and folk information exhibit within Seongyojang.

-Gyeongpodae Beach: One the most beautiful sites in Gangwon-do. From a bird's-eye view of Gyeongpodae Beach, when ocean and lake are calm like mirrors you can see the five moons of Gyeongpoho Lake of which many poets have sung: the moon in the sky, moon on the ocean, moon on the lake, moon in the glass of wine and the moon reflected in the eyes of the person across from you.

-Jeongdongjin: Jeongdongjin is the world's closest train station to the ocean, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. It is one of the favorite traveling sites for young couples in Korea for its romantic scenery and white sand. On top of the cliff where you can look down on Jeongdongjin Station, there is a sculpture park surrounded by palm trees.

-Chamsori Gramophone & Edison Museum: As the world's largest museum of gramophones, the Gramophone Museum displays unique gramophones collected from all over the world. The museum has items from a tin foil that was invented by Edison in 1877, all the way up to modern audio systems.

-North Korean Submarine Infiltration Site: Twenty-six armed North Korean commandos invaded this location when their submarine beached here on September 18, 1996.The submarine is located at the very site where it was stranded and visitors can tour inside the hull. A South Korean military vessel that took part in the Gulf War is stationed next to the submarine.

-Haslla Art World : This is a massive 26.9 ac. natural art park established by a husband-and-wife team of sculptors. The couple’s desire to preserve the smallest pieces of grass, flowers, trees, and rocks harmonized nature and artistic creations to bring into being a massive art world. Named after Haslla, an old name of Gangneung, it is also known as one of the most beautiful scenic points for the sunrise and moonrise along the east coast.

romantic and culture

Chuncheon

Chuncheon is famous for lakes and for festivals - Come and enjoys a romantic trip to Chuncheon, the city that Koreans rank as the nicest city to live in.

-Chuncheon Myeongdong Street: A small street, splendid for shopping. Stores are located on both sides of the lane. It is dubbed the "street of the young people" since you can always find clothes and culture currently in fashion.

-Chuncheon Barbecue Spicy Chicken Street: Chuncheon barbecue spicy chicken is almost better known than Chuncheon itself. Many chicken restaurants each boasting to be the original. The savory smell of the cuisine attracts passers-by.

-University Street: A 900-meter street at the back of Gangwon University in the "city of education," Chuncheon. Many interesting stores and cafes.

-Chuncheon Underground Shopping Complex: A huge underground shopping complex under City Hall. This is a one-stop shopping mall where you can compare prices and get a nice bargain.

-Jade Mine: This is the only mine in the word producing light jade. It has various facilities where visitors can excavate the stone by themselves, and directly experience the beneficial energy of this magical semi-precious stone.

-Soyang Dam: Built in 1973, Soyang Dam is Asia's largest gravel dam. Soyang Lake was formed while the dam was being constructed and lies across Chuncheon, Yanggu and Inje. It is called the "ocean within the land," and forms an ideal driving course for its open panorama and beautiful scenery. There is a ferryboat trip to Yanggu, a popular dating course.

-Gangchon: A popular membership-training site for college students. Gangchon is called the heaven for bike trekking. It is very close from Seoul, 40 minutes by train, a favorite weekend vacation spot because of the amusement parks, hostels and the new Gangchon resort.

-Gongjicheon: A favorite resort spot for citizens of Chuncheon; it is said that spring has come to Chuncheon when the ice of Gongjicheon melts and boat lovers come out. You can enjoy biking and boating on the weekends. Covered wagons in the vicinity are full of people until late at night.

dmz tours

The DMZ Demilitarized zone is the dividing line set up according to the Korean War cease-fire agreement on June 27, 1953. It is a buffer zone to stave off hostilities between North and South. Military activity or equipment is prohibited in strip of land four kilometers wide that runs the width of the entire peninsula and constitutes approximately 0.5 percent of Korean territory North and South. The United Nations Committee of Military Administration manages the Southern half of the DMZ. The DMZ is the world's only remaining symbol of a divided nation, and Gangwon-do is Korea's only divided province. DMZ tours offer visitors a chance see how time has been at a standstill for the past half century. In Gangwon-do, DMZ tours are available in Cheorwon at the far West of the province, in Yanggu county in the center, and on the East coast at Goseong, about 50km North of Sokcho.

Cheorwon

철원

Saemtong Migratory Bird's Sanctuary: Saemtong is a 5,000-square-meter natural pond that never freezes. The surrounding area in a 2-kilometer radius is a haven for migratory birds from November through March. Of the 1,300 white-napped cranes around the world, some 800 of them can be spotted in Cheorwon during this period. A commemorative picture of the cranes in this area was presented to Queen Elizabeth.

Goseokjeong Pavilion: This two-story tower was established under King Jinpyeong of the Silla Kingdom. Goseokjeong Pavilion was built above a valley, surrounded by cliffs and clear, blue waters. The battlefield conservation office here is the starting point for DMZ tours.

Woljeong-ri Station: This was a through-station before the division of the two Koreas, but now is the northernmost terminal station near the southern boundary of the DMZ. A large sign says The train wants to run, symbolizing the tragedy of national division.

The Second Underground Tunnel: Discovered on March 19, 1975, the Second Underground Tunnel is wide enough to pass 30,000 soldiers an hour and even large armored vehicles. The tunnel has been developed into a tourist site so that visitors can tour the tunnel.

Cheorui Samgakji The Iron Triangle Zone: This observatory has the capacity for 300 people at once. Through eight sets of high-quality binoculars visitors can view the DMZ, the Pyeonggang highlands and propaganda village a village built only to brag that North Korea is enjoying high living standards, a Kim Il Sung native home, and "Bloody Ridge" in North Korea.

Labor Party Building: Built in 1946 under fund-raising and labor forced by the North Korean government, the shelled-out carcass of a building is in Soviet-type architecture with concrete building. For security reasons, only devoted communist partisans were allowed to work within the building.

Seungilgyo Bridge:A bridge that North and South Korea built together - the North completed the basic construction and two piers while the remaining parts were completely by the South. The name of the bridge is Seungilgyo after 'Seung' of the late President Rhee Seung Man, and 'Il' of President Kim Il Sung so as to commemorate the ironic construction process.

Yanggu

양구

Punch Bowl: A valley by 400-to-500-meter-above-sea-level highlands near the coast of Yanggu-gun. American reporters dubbed the basin the punch bowl. From Dolsanryeong that is between the east side and coasts in Yanggu-gun, visitors can view the beautiful panorama of the sea of fog that often hangs around the punch bowl.

The Fourth Underground Tunnel: This is the only of the North-Korean-built tunnels discovered with motorized transport inside. The water flowing out from the tunnel have filtered through mountain rock and is considered healthy to drink.

Eulji Observatory Tower: Eulji Observatory Tower is located 1,049 meters above sea level and one of the bitterest battlegrounds of the Korean War. From the tower, visitors can see the checkpoint and farms in North Korea and four peaks including Birobong, the highest in the Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains.

Goseong

고성

Unification Observatory: As the observatory closest to North Korea and the Northernmost point of the ROK, more than one million people visit this area on an annual basis. Visitors can see the Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains and the Haegeumgang in North Korea, with the naked eye, and unlike many other observatories, photographs are allowed everywhere. In the observatory North Korean food products are for sale, and the North Korean beer is actually quite good. Several Clunky North Korean-made Viewmasters give three-dimensional slide shows of idyllic scenes from the DPRK, with commentary in Korean, for a 500 Won coin. The windy road to the observatory brings forth a sense of tension due to the barbed-wire entanglements along the coast and soldiers stationed on alert at a checkpoint along the approach. Tickets and passage papers have to be obtained 4km before the first checkpoint or you will be made to turn around. The building to obtain these papers is not hard to find, it is on the left as you drive North just after the "World Mineral Museum," but the sign 100m before it is only in Korean.

Hwajinpo Beach: Surrounded by pine forests, Hwajinpo Beach with its white sand was a foreigner-exclusive summerhouse during the time of Japanese imperialism. The surrounding scenery is so beautiful that it was the summerhouse of Kim Il Sung and Rhee Seung Man after liberation from Japan. In the winter, cranes of various species visit Hwajinpo Beach to create a beautiful panorama. This area also became famous for filming the popular drama Autumn in my heart and now many fans come to Hwanjinpo to collect a sample of the beach sand.

Summerhouse of Kim Il Sung: The house is embedded in a cliff where you can have a bird's eye view of the beautiful Hwajinpo beach. There is an exhibition of Kim Il Sung's personal belongings including furniture. On the stairs up to the summerhouse, photos are displayed of Kim Jeong-il during his early days.

Maritime Museum:Located at the entrance of Hwajinpo Beach, the Maritime Museum exhibits 40,000 articles of 1,500 types of shellfish, corals and fossils some very rare.

Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains Land Tour: This is a one-day tour starting at 5AM in Goseong with return by nightfall. This tour is not only an important project of North-South Korea exchange with global significance but also a historical trip symbolizing the start of a new Silk Road, which has been closed to the public for decades.