Daejeon
Daejeon, South Korea, located 95 mi/150 km south of Seoul, hosted the 1993 World Expo, which has been converted to a theme park focused on science and technology. West of town is Gyeryong Mountain, where there are hiking trails, beautiful fall foliage, and the Gapsa and Donghaksa temples nestled in the hills. Southeast of town is Jikjisa Temple and its 1,000 statues of the Buddha as a baby (the entire temple complex, in a gorgeous setting in the mountains, is wondrous). The Yuseong Hot Springs are also worth a visit.
About 50 mi/80 km northeast of Daejeon is Songnisan National Park. A wonderful place to experience Korea's Buddhist culture firsthand, it houses Beopjusa Temple, home to Korea's tallest Buddha statue (109 ft/33 m high). The Korean government named its mountain peaks one of the country's eight most scenic attractions. Also not far from Daejeon is the Twin Lions Stone Lantern, the Stone Lotus water container and other national treasures, all set in a beautiful, wooded mountain setting. The park is especially beautiful during spring and fall.
Allow two days for Daejeon and the surrounding area—we recommend overnighting near one of the temples rather than in the city itself.
Andong
Traditionally a center for the yangban (aristocrat) class, Andong and the surrounding area have retained much of Korea's old culture. When the Andong Dam was built in 1976, 111 mi/180 km southeast of Seoul, the resulting lake would have destroyed many cultural relics. Luckily, most were relocated to the Andong Folk Village (Hahoe Maeul) and Folk Museum, both located near the foot of the dam. Some of the houses have been converted to restaurants serving traditional food—definitely worth a stop.
Located north of Andong, Dosan Seowon was one of the country's most famous Confucian institutes. West of the town you will find the Hahoe Maeul, a living folk village with more than 100 traditional buildings. If you want to rough it and see how Koreans used to live, you can even arrange a homestay with one of the villagers there (best to have someone in the Korean Tourism Organization make arrangements for you in Korean, however). A popular Mask Dance Festival is held there each autumn, a combination of dance, drama, satire and traditional shamanistic rituals.
Gangneung
Although not a must-see, the eastern city of Gangneung, 110 mi/175 km east of Seoul, is well-known for the five-day Dano Festival held in May. This traditional festival celebrates the planting season and features parades, dances and traditional Korean competitions. The city is best visited as a brief stop on the way to Odaesan National Park, which has the impressive Woljeong Temple and beautiful mountain scenery.
Seoul
Seoul, capital of South Korea, lies in the northwest of the country on the Han River 37 miles from the coast. Landmarks in Seoul include the National Museum, featuring collections of Korean art and artefacts; the National Science Museum; Ch'anggyong, Ch'angdok, Kyongbok, and Toksu palaces; Chong-myo Shrine; a Roman Catholic cathedral; and zoological and botanical gardens. Other sights include the bell tower, which contains a large bronze bell inscribed with the date 1468, and the remains of the ancient stone wall that once encircled the city.
Daejeon, South Korea, located 95 mi/150 km south of Seoul, hosted the 1993 World Expo, which has been converted to a theme park focused on science and technology. West of town is Gyeryong Mountain, where there are hiking trails, beautiful fall foliage, and the Gapsa and Donghaksa temples nestled in the hills. Southeast of town is Jikjisa Temple and its 1,000 statues of the Buddha as a baby (the entire temple complex, in a gorgeous setting in the mountains, is wondrous). The Yuseong Hot Springs are also worth a visit.
About 50 mi/80 km northeast of Daejeon is Songnisan National Park. A wonderful place to experience Korea's Buddhist culture firsthand, it houses Beopjusa Temple, home to Korea's tallest Buddha statue (109 ft/33 m high). The Korean government named its mountain peaks one of the country's eight most scenic attractions. Also not far from Daejeon is the Twin Lions Stone Lantern, the Stone Lotus water container and other national treasures, all set in a beautiful, wooded mountain setting. The park is especially beautiful during spring and fall.
Allow two days for Daejeon and the surrounding area—we recommend overnighting near one of the temples rather than in the city itself.
Traditionally a center for the yangban (aristocrat) class, Andong and the surrounding area have retained much of Korea's old culture. When the Andong Dam was built in 1976, 111 mi/180 km southeast of Seoul, the resulting lake would have destroyed many cultural relics. Luckily, most were relocated to the Andong Folk Village (Hahoe Maeul) and Folk Museum, both located near the foot of the dam. Some of the houses have been converted to restaurants serving traditional food—definitely worth a stop.
Located north of Andong, Dosan Seowon was one of the country's most famous Confucian institutes. West of the town you will find the Hahoe Maeul, a living folk village with more than 100 traditional buildings. If you want to rough it and see how Koreans used to live, you can even arrange a homestay with one of the villagers there (best to have someone in the Korean Tourism Organization make arrangements for you in Korean, however). A popular Mask Dance Festival is held there each autumn, a combination of dance, drama, satire and traditional shamanistic rituals.
Although not a must-see, the eastern city of Gangneung, 110 mi/175 km east of Seoul, is well-known for the five-day Dano Festival held in May. This traditional festival celebrates the planting season and features parades, dances and traditional Korean competitions. The city is best visited as a brief stop on the way to Odaesan National Park, which has the impressive Woljeong Temple and beautiful mountain scenery.
Seoul, capital of South Korea, lies in the northwest of the country on the Han River 37 miles from the coast. Landmarks in Seoul include the National Museum, featuring collections of Korean art and artefacts; the National Science Museum; Ch'anggyong, Ch'angdok, Kyongbok, and Toksu palaces; Chong-myo Shrine; a Roman Catholic cathedral; and zoological and botanical gardens. Other sights include the bell tower, which contains a large bronze bell inscribed with the date 1468, and the remains of the ancient stone wall that once encircled the city.
