Top 10 places to visit in Ganghwa, Incheon | Travel attraction recommendations
Top 10 places to visit in Ganghwa, Incheon
hello? In this post, we will introduce the top 10 tourist destinations in Ganghwa, Incheon where you can enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and diverse cultural experiences.
This list was selected based on the Korea Tourism Organization's popularity rankings and is full of various things to do and attractive attractions.
If you want to have fun with your family, friends, or lover, refer to this list and create happy memories. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
Oktokki Space Center
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Oktokki Space Center
Oktokki Space Center is Korea’s first aerospace science theme park.
We collect and preserve aerospace-related materials and conduct exhibitions and education to help the general public understand aerospace science.
In particular, we develop and operate aerospace-related experiential equipment and experiential education programs, focusing on experiential education for children.
In addition, it is a complex cultural space that combines science, art, exploration, and play and can be visited all year round.
Jade Rabbit Space Center is a spiral-shaped building built with exposed concrete and stainless steel netting with two concepts: a space airport and a dinosaur's body.
The building is divided into an interior and exterior space, and in the interior space, you can experience science exhibits and view the space center along the viewing route.
The external space consists of a dinosaur forest, water cannon park, robot park, astronomical theater, all-season sledding hill, and Logos Garden, centered around an observation tower that provides a panoramic view of the entire Okrabbit Space Center.
The scenic ramp connecting the upper level of the building, which shows off the building's outstanding formativeness, and the parking lot, which is shaped like a dinosaur's skeleton, will give children the feeling of exploring the inside of a dinosaur.
Oktokki Space Center Basic Information
Homepage http://www.oktokki.com
Operating hours: Weekdays 10:00~17:30
Weekends 09:30~19:00
Parking facilities available
Open all year round on days off
Manisan (Ganghwa)
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Manisan (Ganghwa)
Manisan Mountain is one of the eight scenic spots of Ganghwa, and is also called Marisan Mountain, Marusan Mountain, and Duaksan Mountain.
It is located at the southwestern tip of Ganghwa Island and in the center of the Korean Peninsula.
It is also the highest in Ganghwa Island, with a height of 472.1m above sea level.
At the top of Mt. Manisan, there is Chamseongdan, which is recorded as the place where Dangun Wanggeom offered his heavenly offering. The foundation is round to symbolize the sky, and the altar is square to symbolize the earth, forming a lower-upward shape.
Even today, ancestral rites are held on Foundation Day, and the national sports festival torch is lit and relayed here every year, making it a sacred mountain for the nation.
If you climb the 918 stone steps along the hiking trail, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the West Sea at a glance.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Manisan (Ganghwa) Basic Information
Homepage Ganghwa-gun Cultural Tourism https://www.ganghwa.go.kr/open_content/tour/
Ganghwa-gun Facility Management Corporation https://www.ghss.or.kr
Operating hours 09:00~18:00
※The entry time may change depending on the sunset time.
Parking facilities available
Open all year round on days off
Gapgot Dondae
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Gapgot Dondae
Gapgotdon is an important fortress that guarded the Ganghwa Strait during the war with Mongolia when Goryeo moved its capital to Ganghwado Island from 1232 to 1270. It is a battery with 8 cannons, and Dondae is a small-scale fortress built with cannons placed. It is a protected place.
It is believed that the name Gapgot came from the fact that Ganghwa was called Gabbigocha (甲比古次) during the Three Kingdoms period. During the Goryeo Dynasty, the Mongolian army tried to cross this place, but was unable to achieve its goal and said, 'Even if our soldiers take off their armor and fill the sea,' There is also a legend that it originated from the saying, “I wish I could cross over.”
Gapgotdondae is a dondae belonging to Jemuljin (Gapgotjin) established in the 22nd year of King Injo's reign (1644) in Joseon after the capital was moved to Ganghwa Island from the 19th year of King Gojong's reign (1232) in Goryeo to the 11th year of King Wonjong's reign (1270). It was built in
In September 1866, the third year of King Gojong's reign, the French Far East fleet landed here with about 600 troops and occupied Ganghwaseong Fortress and Munsusanseong Fortress.
However, in October, the French army was defeated by General Yang Heon-su's troops at Jeongjoksanseong Fortress and fled.
In 1977, repairs and restoration were carried out on the old site to revive its old appearance.
The cannon currently on display inside the dondae is from the Joseon Dynasty and was used to bombard Japanese enemy ships invading through the sea.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Basic information on Gapgot Dondae
Website https://www.ghss.or.kr/user/facilities/tour/gapgot.do
Operating hours 09:00~18:00 (Last admission 17:00)
Parking facilities available
Open all year round on days off
Ganghwa Island
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Ganghwa Island
Ganghwa Island is the fifth largest island in Korea, with an area of 410㎢, 27km from north to south, and 16km from east to west.
It was connected to the mainland with the completion of Ganghwa Bridge on January 26, 1970, and the expansion work to Ganghwa Bridge was completed on December 31, 1997, making it much easier to travel to places such as Seoul or Incheon.
At the top of Mt. Manisan in the south, there is Chamseongdan, which is said to have been prepared by Dangun Wanggeom for ancestral rites. The coast of the island and Ganghwa-eup have historical relics from numerous national crises from the Goryeo Dynasty to modern times, making it a suitable place for family exploration.
In addition, ginseng and Hwamunseok, which are special products, are widely known not only domestically but also overseas, and Naega Reservoir and Bunori Reservoir on the island are also famous fishing spots.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Ganghwa Island Basic Information
Homepage Incheon Tour https://itour.incheon.go.kr/
Ganghwa-gun Cultural Tourism https://itour.incheon.go.kr/
Operating hours 00:00~24:00
Parking facility parking available
Open all year round on days off
Baekryunsa Temple (Ganghwa)
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Baekryunsa Temple (Ganghwa)
This temple is located at the foot of Goryeo Mountain in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City and was founded in 416 during the reign of King Jangsu of Goguryeo.
According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, an Indian monk was searching for a temple site when he discovered a pond full of five-colored lotus flowers at the top of Mt. Goryeo. He plucked the five-colored lotus flowers, threw them away, and built a temple where the flowers fell.
It is said that they built a temple where a white lotus flower fell and named it Baekryunsa Temple.
Afterwards, although it is unclear, there is a record that the sarira and stupa of Master Cheonbonghu, the 6th generation descendant of Great Master Seosan, was built in 1806, the 6th year of King Sunjo's reign in the Joseon Dynasty.
Geungnakjeon and Samseonggak were renovated in 1906, and the remaining buildings include Geungnakjeon, Samseonggak, Chilseonggak, Beomjonggak, and Yosa.
The Baekryunsa Temple iron seated Amitabha Buddha statue, which had been designated as a treasure, was stolen the same year it was designated as a treasure.
There is a record that the Tripitaka Koreana was once enshrined here.
Many people visit the grounds to see the 470- and 350-year-old zelkova trees and the 100-year-old ginkgo trees.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Baekryunsa Temple (Ganghwa) Basic Information
Operating hours 09:00~18:00
Parking facilities available
※ However, parking is not available during the Azalea Festival.
Open all year round on days off
Bomunsa Temple (Ganghwa)
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Bomunsa Temple (Ganghwa)
Bomunsa Temple, located on Mt. Nakgasan on Seokmodo Island, west of Ganghwa Island, is said to have been founded in 635 during the Silla Dynasty by Monk Hoejeong, who came down to Ganghwa Island after seeing Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in person while he was training at Mt. Geumgang.
At the time of its founding, it was named Nakgasan after the mountain where Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva resided, and it was named Bomunsa Temple to symbolize the vast and unchanging power of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, which it continues to this day.
Along with Naksansa Temple in Yangyang and Boriam Temple in Geumsan, which are sacred sites for the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, where Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is known to reside, it is one of the three major maritime Avalokitesvara prayers in Korea (a place to pray to Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara).
In 649, 14 years after the founding of Bomunsa Temple, the story of the creation of Nahanjeon, where twenty-two stone statues, including Sakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Bodhisattva, were rescued from the sea and placed in the cave temple is famous, and it is also called Shintong Cave because it shows many miracles of prayer.
The rock-carved Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, a tangible cultural property of Incheon Metropolitan City, located under the eyebrow rock on the slope of Mt. Nakgasan, is said to be looking out on sentient beings while looking out over the open West Sea, and is visited by many Buddhists.
Bomunsa Temple (Ganghwa) Basic Information
Homepage http://www.bomunsa.me
Operating hours 09:00~18:00
Parking facilities available (paid)
Open all year round on days off
Ganghwa Jeondeungsa Temple
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Ganghwa Jeondeungsa Temple
It is the oldest temple in Korea, located within the Jeongjoksanseong Fortress in the southern part of Ganghwa Island. It houses Korea's treasures such as Daeungjeon, Yaksijeon, and Buddhist temple bells, and Jeongjoksago, which stored the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, is located within the precincts.
It was built during the reign of King Sosurim of Goguryeo, and continued to be expanded and renovated throughout the Goryeo Dynasty. It was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire during the reign of Gwanghaegun.
When it was founded, it was Jinjongsa Temple, but it was later changed to Jeondeungsa Temple.
There are two entrances to Jeondeungsa Temple: the east gate and the south gate.
At the east gate, there is a monument to Monk Yangheon, which proves that Jeondeungsa Temple is the epicenter of Buddhism.
It was built in 1873, the 10th year of King Gojong's reign, to commemorate the achievement of General Yang Heon-su, who defeated the French army that invaded Jeondeungsa Temple, a strategic point during the Byeonginyangyo period, and saved the country from crisis.
After purchasing a ticket at the Nammun ticket office, passing Jonghaeru Pavilion and on the way to Dajoru Pavilion, there are two large ginkgo trees that are over 700 years old and are protected, and are called old ginkgo trees and dongseung trees.
In addition, there is a Buddhist art exhibition and Seoun Gallery, a modern-style Buddhist temple, and a Buddhist art exhibition is always held in the gallery.
Temple stay is available as an experience program.
It is divided into an experiential type and a relaxation type. The experiential type starts at 1pm on the first day, followed by temple etiquette, offerings, 108 bows, and zazen. The next day, it consists of worship and tea with a monk, and ends after a lunch offering.
In comparison, the rest type starts at 12 o'clock on the first day, follows temple etiquette, ringing the temple bell, and offering prayers, and ends the next day after paying worship, Ulryeok (helping with work), and offering lunch.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Basic information about Ganghwa Jeondeungsa Temple
Homepagehttp://www.jeondeungsa.org
Operating hours 09:00~17:30
Parking facilities available
Open all year round on days off
Ganghwahyanggyo
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Ganghwahyanggyo
Ganghwahyanggyo, a tangible cultural property of Incheon Metropolitan City, is an educational institution for local education and edification of local people.
It was founded in 1127 (5th year of King Injong’s reign) during the Goryeo Dynasty in Gocheon-ri, currently Naegye-myeon.
It was moved to Gapgot-ri, Ganghwa-eup in 1232 (the 19th year of King Gojong’s reign) and then moved to Boreumdo, Seodo-myeon in 1259 (46th year of King Gojong’s reign).
In 1624 (the 2nd year of King Injo’s reign), Shim Yeol, who was the governor of Ganghwa at the time, moved Hyanggyo to the foot of Songaksan Mountain again.
In 1629 (the 7th year of King Injo’s reign), Myeongryundang was established and promoted to a school, calling it Hak Palace.
In 1673 (the 14th year of King Hyeonjong's reign), Yusu Min Si-jung moved to near Namsan, and in 1731 (the 9th year of King Injo's reign), Yusu Yucheokgi moved to the current location.
The buildings of Ganghwahyanggyo consist of Daeseongjeon, Dongmu and Seomu, Naesammun, Myeongryundang, Dongjae and Seojae, and Oesammun.
Daeseongjeon Hall enshrines the memorial tablets of the five castles and 18 prefectures of Korea, and ancestral rites are held in the spring and fall.
Myeongnyundang is an auditorium where Hyanggyo students gathered to study.
It received support from the government with land, slaves, books, etc., and was responsible for the functions of ancestral rites and education, but now the educational function has disappeared and only the ancestral rite function remains.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Basic information about Ganghwahyanggyo
Website https://www.heritage.go.kr/
Parking facilities available (free)
Open all year round on days off
Ganghwasanseong
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Ganghwasanseong Fortress
This fortress was built during the Mongol invasion in the late Goryeo Dynasty and is currently built across the areas of Ganghwa-eup, Naega-myeon, and Hajeom-myeon.
Construction of Ganghwasanseong Fortress began in 1232 when the capital was moved to Ganghwa, and construction began in earnest in 1234.
It is a valley-style fortress connected to Buksan, Namsan, and Gyeonjasan Mountains and has a circumference of 7,122m.
There were four main gates, four dark gates, and two water gates, and there were Bukjangdae and Namjangdae, which were observation and command posts, at the top of Buksan and Namsan.
Ganghwasanseong Fortress has a triple defense system of the inner, middle, and outer fortresses, and the inner fortress is the current Ganghwaseong Fortress and has a circumference of approximately 1.2km.
These three castles were all earthen walls, and they were all demolished in 1259 when Goryeo strengthened with Mongolia.
It was scaled down and rebuilt in the early Joseon Dynasty, but was damaged during the Manchu War of 1637.
In 1677, Ganghwa Yusu Heojil completely rebuilt the castle and rebuilt it as a stone fortress.
Now, much of the eastern part of the castle has disappeared, but the southern, northern, and western mountainside parts are in a relatively good state of preservation.
It has gone through several renovations and repairs to reach what it is today.
Ganghwasanseong Fortress was also the scene of numerous foreign invasions in the late Joseon Dynasty, including the signing of the Ganghwa Island Treaty with Byeonginyangyo and Shinmiyangyo.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Ganghwasanseong Fortress Basic Information
Website http://www.ganghwa.go.kr/open_content/tour/
http://www.cha.go.kr
Parking facilities: Parking available (paid)
Open all year round on days off
Ganghwa Dolmen Ruins [UNESCO World Heritage]
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Introduction to Ganghwa Dolmen Ruins [UNESCO World Heritage Site]
Dolmens are representative tombs of the Bronze Age, and are mainly known as the tombs of the ruling class with economic or political power.
The Ganghwa Bujeong-ri dolmen used a large stone measuring 710 cm in length, 260 cm in height, and 550 cm in width. It is a northern-style dolmen in shape and serves as good material for the study of ancient history.
On November 29, 2000, it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage along with the dolmens of Gochang and Hwasun at the 24th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Keynes, Australia.
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Image source: Korea Tourism Organization
Ganghwa Dolmen Ruins [UNESCO World Heritage] Basic Information
Website http://www.ganghwa.go.kr/open_content/tour/
http://www.cha.go.kr
Operating hours: Always
Parking facilities available
Open all year round on days off
This was an introduction to the top 10 places to visit in Ganghwa, Incheon.
thank you
Comments
Post a Comment