Prepare for your trip to Gangneung
Bohyeonsa Temple, originally founded by Precepts Master Jajang in 650 (4th year of Queen Jindeok’s reign over Silla), was reconstructed by Great Monk Nangwon, and its name was changed to Jijang Temple (Jijang Seonwon). Inside the temple compounds, one can find Nangwondaesaojintap (Treasure No. 191), which is a pagoda where the sarira of Great Monk Nangwon has been enshrined, and Nangwondaesaojintapbi monument (Treasure No. 192).
Daegwallyeong is situated at the center of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, which is considered the spine of the Korean peninsula, and it has long been an important gateway, bridging Gangneung with Pyeongchang, Wonju and Seoul. The sights of classical scholars including Yulgok Yi Yi walking over the hills with a traveler’s knapsack on their backs and itinerant vendors passing through with bags of goods can no longer be seen today along the Old Daegwallyeong Road; however, the pristine natural environment still remains to captivate the hikers with its beauty.
Daegwallyeong Museum is a museum donated to Gangneung by Hong Gwi-suk as well as his/her lifelong collection of some 2,000 folk items. It presents a wide range of artifacts dating from the prehistoric period to the modern times by theme.
This is Korea’s first natural recreational forest established in 1988 on the foothills of Daegwallyeong, where there are a dense pine forest, clean water in the valley, and fascinating rock forms. A part of the Areumdeuri Pine Forest, containing 50- to 200-year-old pine trees, was created by artificially planting pine seeds between 1922 and 1926, and this is why it is considered to have high academic value. Also, in addition to a self-learning forest experience program, there are many sightseeing spots including the Wild Flower Garden, and a number of forest culture experience areas.
The museum houses a wide range of rare coffee-related items from around the world including coffee roasters and grinders and espresso machines. You can also tour the Coffee Cupper Coffee Farm, which is where commercial coffee was produced for the first time in Korea, and take a look at the history of coffee with your own eyes. The museum also offers various experience programs related to coffee.
Situated in a high-altitude area at 1,100m above sea level, Anbandegi Village was formed as slash-and-burn farmers settled here after developing farmlands and started growing hardy plants. Since 1995, it has been the top vegetable producer in an alpine area in Korea. It presents an exquisite landscape, with a beautiful blend of green plains and wind turbines at the summit.
Cha Ok-sun relocated to Gangneung from Seoul after marrying a local man, and had four children. When two of her children died before her as a result of an unfortunate accident, she, of course, fell into despair. One day, a mountain god appeared before her in one of the dreams, and told her to build a tower with 3,000 stones to bring peace to her family. Cha Ok-sun finally accomplished this in 2011, and now people believe that when you earnestly make a wish here, it will come true.
