A place for all five senses: Slow city Sangju
The city of Sangju is an urban and rural composite town located in the northwest inland of Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. Not only is the city clean and eco-friendly, it also has fertile fields with abundant water supply from the Nakdonggang River that flows east of the city. Agriculture remains an important sector with its agricultural specialties being rice, dried persimmon, silkworm cocoons, hanu beef, pears, and grapes. Because its economy is hugely agricultural, Sangju is also referred to as the 'Agricultural Capital of Korea'.
Sangju today is an important regional center of industry and commerce as well as having a significant economic effect on neighboring areas. This is facilitated by its strong transit connections that make transportation easier. It is also first place in Korea where the use of bicycles became prevalent. Also, Sangju tries to keep up its strength in the agricultural section with some specialized products such as dried persimmon and traditional silk. Traditional culture and natural environment is well-preserved, with the residents pursuing sustainable development in harmony with nature. Hence, Sangju has been designated as a Slow City.
Sangju Slow City includes the towns of Hamchang-eup, Ian-myeon, and Gonggeom-myeon in Sangju. This area was designated as a Slow City (*see below) in June 2011 due to its well-preserved tourist legacy from the past and rich resources. Get away from the complex and fast-changing pace of the metropolitan city and visit Slow City Sangju.
Seongjubong Recreational Forest
Famous for its thick forest, clean air, clear waters, and beautiful landscape, Seongjubong Recreational Forest is a good place for recreation and relaxation coupled with the beauty and nature of Sangju's outdoors. Inside the resort, there are accommodation facilities like pensions, cabins, and camping sites. Leisure facilities are available and there are programs and activities for visitors to take part in. Communal kitchen areas and parking lots are also available. Near the resort, there are five hiking trails where visitors can enjoy a walk for two to six hours depending on the length of the trail. The construction of an Oriental Medicine Ecological Village and Oriental Medicine Resources Development Center is currently underway, occupying an area 800,000 square meters wide.
n part to a 2011 appearance on the TV program Infinite Challenge.
is quite expansive and similar to any other typical Korean restaurant.
Also known as ‘Jeongdong-ril road,’ Deoksugung Doldam-gil (Deoksugung Stone Wall Road), is the road along Deoksugung Palace’s stone wall and is a popular place for dates. In the fall, yellow gingko leaves add to the romantic ambience. This elegant road is about 900 meters long and stretches from Deoksugung Palace by Seoul City Hall to Chongdong Theater. There are numerous cultural sites and traditional and modern structures along the way that make the trip all the more worthwhile.
World Cup Park is made up of five parks: Haneul Park, Pyeonghwa (Peace) Park, Noeul (Sunset) Park, Nanjicheon Park, and Nanji Hangang Park. Haneul Park derives its name, which means ‘sky’ in Korean, from its status as the park with the highest elevation in the area. To get to the top you must first climb 290 steps. The top of the park offers impressive views of the city. The redwood tree path at the Haneul Park is about 900 meters. This popular path is lined with tall redwood trees and the path is in harmony with the thick groves and trees in the park. To reach the path, take the road to the left of the Haneul stairway that leads to the park. Walk straight and then follow the road to the right until you reach the information center. Pass the information center to arrive at the unpaved redwood lined path. In autumn every year, the Seoul Eulalia Festival is held at the top of the park to highlight the magnificent field of reeds. Walk among the reeds that move with the wind like silver waves to feel autumn at its fullest. The Haneul Park does not offer any convenience facilities, so be sure to bring drinks and snacks along with you.
The unique stone wall road that runs beside the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace, is called Samcheongdong-gil Road. The site is highly recommended in the fall, as many enjoy passing through the gates of the palace, visiting the Folk Museum, and going for a scenic walk along the road. The gingko trees paint the area with striking yellow hues, and sightseers can travel down the path through the autumn atmosphere. Also called Gallery Road, both sides are dotted with small galleries, restaurants and shops selling paintings and accessories. Visitors can stop in during their leisurely walk on the way to their final destination of Samcheong Park.
The routes that stretch from Namdaemun Market to Namsan Library and the path from Namsan Library down to Grand Hyatt Seoul offer a landscape rich in autumn colors, notably lined with dense forest areas on each side. As you walk along the road, you can look down at the houses sitting on the hill below and see Seoul from another perspective.
Just outside of Nakseongdae station on Seoul Subway Line 2 is a one-kilometer-long road to Nakseongdae (Shrine of Goryeo General Kang Kam-chan). Named Garosu-gil, the road is covered with yellow ginkgo leaves and crimson maple leaves in the fall. Nakseongdae Park is big, but it is relatively lesser known so it is a good spot for a stroll outdoors. Inside, there is a shrine called Anguksa with small flower trees around the cozy and quaint crossroad. The road to the left of Seoul Science Park nearby leads to top-tier Seoul National University. Nestled in Gwanaksan Mountain, Seoul National University is renowned for its beautiful campus. The road between the dormitory and the art museum is notably lined with a wide variety of trees and flowers. Museum of Art, Seoul National University, which was designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, is also a must-visit site. The road from the main gate of Seoul National University to the Seoul National University subway station also offers scenic views of Gwanaksan Mountain.
Seoul Grand Park Forest Park is a narrow path that takes visitors up and down the park’s trails. “Forest bathing” is the act of taking a leisurely walk in the woods while breathing in the aromatic scent of trees and nature. The trail’s entrance points are found in two areas: one behind the Forest Exhibition Center to the right side of the main entrance of the Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park and the other behind the Australian Pavilion. For both starting points, the trail goes back to the main entrance of the Seoul Zoo in Seoul Grand Park. Within the zoo, the path is divided into five sections by type of tree, which includes groves of acacia, chestnuts, and pine trees. Visitors will enjoy 11 different themes such as ‘forest with nature,’ ‘forest for meditation,’ and ‘forest for rest.’ Walking through the forest bathing area takes as little as 50 minutes or as long as 2.5 hours.
he Fortress Wall of Bugaksan Mountain is a popular tourist destination in Seoul and one of the best trails in the city. The road is surrounded by a scenic natural landscape and is visited by people of every age and gender. The hiking trail was closed to the public in 1968, and was finally reopened in 2006. Since then, it has become a major tourist site with more than 200,000 visitors a year. It is a popular trail course in every season because of the old fortress road and the view of Seoul over the fortress. Sightseers can enjoy a view of Seoul and autumn foliage on both sides of the trail. When visiting the fortress wall, make sure to bring proper identification (resident registration card, Korean driver’s license, or passport) as this area is under military control. Note that photos can only be taken where officially permitted.
Cloud Bridge in Seoul Forest, which boasts beautiful autumn scenery, in Seongdong-gu district takes you to the Hangang Riverside area. Walk along the road on the upper side of the river, and you will reach Ttukseom Hangang Park under Cheongdamdaegyo Bridge. The Ttukseom Hangang Park is a large riverside park spanning 11.5 kilometers in length. The park features various facilities including a music fountain and swimming pools. The music fountain behind the park plaza spouts jets of water 15 meters high, and the water dances along with the music. When you reach Gwangjingyo Bridge, make sure to go up the bridge. Along both sides of the street you will find wide sidewalks. Midway on the bridge, there are observatories and gardens where you can rest while taking in the view of the Hangang River. Located under the bridge is a café called Riverview 8th Avenue. The name derives from the fact that the café is located on the eighth pillar of the bridge. The cafe is popular with Japanese tourists, as it is a famous filming location of TV drama Iris.
