Enjoy the mountains and ocean of iridescent Gangwon-do. Enjoy hot springs and fresh sushi.
Kwongeumseong Cable Car from Gangwon province hall site by seon-ok Hong
-Gwongeumseong Fortress: Located 860m above sea level, Gwongeumseong Fortress is found near the south entrance of Sinheungsa Temple, located at the peak that reaches the heavens. The fortress is named after two generals - Kwon and Kim - who were said to have erected the wall in a day to block the Mongolian invasion (1253) during the Goryeo Dynasty. Seoraksan scenery seen from this Gwongeumseong Fortress is regarded to be the very best.
-Sinheungsa Temple: Jajangyulsa, a high Buddhist monk, under the king’s command during the Silla Kingdom, constructed Sinheungsa Temple in 652. Within the temple is a nine-level stone pagoda that contains some of Buddha's ashes. It took 11 years to build the bronze sitting-Buddha in front of the Iljumun Gate, which is 14.6 meters high. At Jwadae there are 16 stone sculptures delicately carved in hopes of the reunification of Korea. At Bokjang are three unique Buddhist scriptures, another famous Buddhist scripture Daranigeoyong, and Cheolbo, donated by the Myanmar government.
-Heundeulbawi Rock: One of the most famous attractions in Mt. Seoraksan. A small, round stone sitting on a bigger one, regardless of the number of people pushing it, rocks back and forth only 1530 cm.
-Ulsan Rock: Ulsan is a set of six steep, rocky peaks rising 873m above sea level, some 4km in total girth, and very difficult to climb. Their imposing stature has made Ulsan the symbol of Seoraksan and Gangwon-do. Ulsan is sometimes compared with the similar Ayers Rock in Australia.
-Jujeongol Valley: Situated in the southern Seoraksan Osaek region, Jujeongol Valley is where the old yeopjeon coins were made during the Joseon Dynasty. As one might expect of a valley in which the national currency is produced, Jujeongol lies deep between high mountain ridges where the glorious tints of the autumn foliage are said by many to be the most beautiful in all the Seoraksan Mountains. The path leading to Osaek Mineral Springs is the most popular hiking course in all the park.
-Gwongeumseong Cable Car: Gwongeumseong cable car offers the tingling pleasure of viewing the magnificent and grand beauty of Mt. Seoraksan National Park from a height of 670m. The round trip lasts for 14 minutes and, you will never forget the sensational panorama. (Departure from Mt. Seoraksan National Park)
-Osaek Mineral Water and Osaek Hot Spring: Osaek means five different flavors that may be tasted in this special water. The water has strong iron content and is highly carbonated, which makes it difficult to drink it the first time. The water is so famous, though, that people from all over the country comes to Mt. Seoraksan just for access to it. Osaek Hot Spring is called the beauty hot spring and does wonders for the skin.
-Naksan Provincial Park: It takes 15 minutes to Naksan Provincial Park from Yangyang International Airport, where visitors can enjoy a fine selection of facilities. There are many famous national monuments such as the Naksansa Temple, Hongryeonam, Uisangdae, and Hajodae; beaches with clean sand such as Naksan Beach and Hajodae Beach; theme parks, drive-in movie theaters, and sushi centers.
-Haesugwaneumsang: You can grasp the true essence of Korean Buddhist culture through this 16m Buddhist statue. The grand scale of the statue along with the benevolent smile on its delicate expression is so beautiful that it moves anyone who sees it.
-Naksansa Temple: This temple is in Naksan where the Buddhist Goddess is said to reside. Ui-sang Daesa built the temple in 676 during the unified Silla era. After studying in Tang Dynasty China, Ui-sang encountered the Buddhist Goddess in prayer, and she pointed out where Mt. Naksan should be built.
-Hongryeonam Shrine: Hongryeonam is a shrine within Naksansa Temple, too small to accommodate many people at once. However, this room is famous because Ui-sang Daesa is said to have met Gwaneumbosal where it stands. Many tourists come to see this little shrine, with a hole in the ground through which one can see the cliffs and the ocean.
-Uisangdae Pavilion: A six-sided pavilion built in honor of Ui-sang Daesa, the founder of Naksansa Temple, where he used to sit in meditation. The sunrise at Uisangdae is regarded as one of the most spectacular sights on the East Sea.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Gangwon
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Gangwon - updated Apr 2024
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Gangwon Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
