is one of the primary attractions of
Seoraksan National Park.
Heritage It is not known exactly when human settlement in what is now Gangwon Province began, but
Paleolithic sites have been excavated. Many historical artifacts are found in the region, like the
Later Silla era's
Bell of Sangwonsa, the
North–South States Period era's Iron Seated Vairocana Buddha of Dopiansa Temple, the
Goryeo era's Main Gate of Imyeonggwan Guesthouse, and the
Joseon era's Documents of Sangwonsa Temple. Other popular historical areas, like
Ojukheon are located in the region. Because of Gangwon Province's landscape, a number of old Buddhist temples have survived, like
Woljeongsa and
Oseam.
Museums Established in 2002, the
Chuncheon National Museum is operated by the central government for the purpose of classification and reservation. The local government also has museums, including the
Park Su-geun Art Museum, and the
Taebaek Coal Museum. Purpose-built private museums, such as the
ChamSori Gramophone Edison Museum are also operated.
Festivals In Gangwon Province, almost all of the regions hold festivals.
Gangneung Danoje was listed in
UNESCO's
Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Geographically, Gangwon Province has
several national parks as well as some natural monuments.
Food Gangwon Province is composed of mountains or basins, so locals mainly make food with
potatoes or
buckwheat. In coastal regions, fish and salted seafood is consumed. For example,
Donghae is famous for Donghae steamed fish;
Sokcho is famous for Sokcho Squid Sausages; and
Samcheok is famous for blowfish soup. These are normally very simple and easy to cook, like the province's traditional food.
Tourism National Parks & Nature Monuments Due to the
Taebaek Mountains, Gangwon Province has 4 national parks & several natural monuments. •
Seoraksan National Park: Seoraksan National Park has rocky terrain around Daecheongbong, and was listed in the
Man and the Biosphere Programme. The government designated the area as a
nature reserve in 1965, and UNESCO designated it as a
biosphere reserve in 1982. It was also the first Korean national park to be named under the National Park Law in 1970. It is popular with tourists and nature enthusiasts, and home to many rare flora and fauna making it valued for its floral diversity. The reserve spans , and includes many mountain peaks measuring over 1,200 metres above sea level, the tallest being Daecheongbong, at an altitude of 1,708 metres. The ranges are composed largely of dissected granite and
gneiss. There are about 1,013 species of plants known, with 822
vascular plant species. Pine trees such as the
Siberian pine are abundant on the southern slopes whilst the northern slopes of the mountain range are characterized by
oaks and other
deciduous trees.
Thuja grow in the deep valleys,
dwarf pines and
yews grow on low and high slopes.
Juniper,
hawthorn,
forsythias,
saw-worts and
Manchurian fir can be found, with rare plants in the reserve including
Hanabusaya asiatica. 1,562 animal species have been classified so far. including
otters, the
Siberian flying squirrel,
kestrel,
Chinese sparrowhawk,
lenok,
Chinese minnow, and the
spotted barbel. Endangered animals include the
Tristram's woodpecker,
Korean goral, and
Korean musk deer. Cultural landmarks in the reserve include the
Buddhist temples
Baekdamsa and
Sinheungsa. •
Odaesan National Park: Odaesan is located in the center of
Baekdudaegan, and it was assigned as a national park in 1975. Odaesan is one of the holy places of Korean Buddhist cultures. •
Chiaksan National Park: Chiaksan is derived from the southwest side of Odaesan, close to
Wonju. In 2014, Wonju and the Korea National Park Service collaborated to make walking routes. •
Taebaeksan National Park: Taebaeksan is a traditional and historical "holy mountain," and it was assigned as a national park on October 22, 2016. Taebaeksan Mountain is located at the fork of Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, which starts from Bagdu into the south, heading to Jirisan Mountain. Ever since it has been designated as a provincial park, Taebaeksan Mountain has widened its realm and thus designated it as the 22nd national park. The park ranges from Gangwon Province to North Gyeongsang Province (Bongwha-gun) and spans . There are various cultural assets in Taebaeksan Mountain including Cheonjaedan, a place where a harvest ceremony had been held for thousands of years, and
Geomryeongso, the source of the Han River. It also has various and outstanding ecological landscapes including the biggest wildflower habitat in the country (Geumdaebong Peak to Daedeoksan Mountain), yew habitat around Janggunbong Peak, and Baekcheon Valley, the world's southernmost
Lenok habitat. The
Hantaan River penetrates
Cheorwon County's volcanic terrain, having several natural monuments. This area was a place of a fierce battle during the
Korean War and is now a common
rafting route. Around this river, the first
Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome virus, the
Hantaan River virus, was found. The virus was named after the river. The Civilian Control Zone is near the
Military Demarcation Line, providing areas to stay for migratory birds, especially
red-crowned cranes. In the township of
Haean,
Yanggu, the Haean Basin is nicknamed
Punchbowl, which was initially named by a
war correspondent for the
Korea War.
DMZ Museum The museum has a large amount of English in its narration of the history of the DMZ, as well as exhibits such as
United States POW letters and extensive amounts of photos. It is inside the Tongil Security Park.
Gangneung Gangneung contains beaches connecting each other from north to south along the coast. These beaches are covered with pine tree forests, planted to block the sea breeze. Gangneung Coffee Street is built along the beach, and the Gangneung Coffee Festival is held every year.{{cite news
Cheorwon County The Second Tunnel "Found in the DMZ" was found by Korean guards listening to the sound of explosions under the ground during their shift. After determined excavation on March 19, 1975, "The Second Tunnel" was discovered. It was for a sudden raid by the North Korean Army into South Korea. The second tunnel is composed of a firm granitic layer, is 3.5 km in length, and various in depth from 50m-160m. About 1 km of it is nowadays open to visitors.
Woljeong-ri Station Woljeong-ri station is a historical building in the
DMZ at
Cheorwon. The tourist attraction, which can only be visited on escorted security tours of the DMZ, is an abandoned train station on the northernmost end of
Korail's Gyeongwon Line. Near the station there was a small yard where rail stock was stored or shunted before leaving for
Wonsan, now in North Korea, along the
former Gyeongwon Line. Behind the station building there is the wreck of a train, bombed during the Korean War, used by the North Korean army and bombed by
U.N. forces. In 2012, it became a place where artists can meet and exhibit their works.
Sokcho Goseong Unification Observatory Building While the area was part of North Korea from 1945 to 1953, the building is now the closest most South Koreans can get to North Korea. There are binoculars installed on the viewing deck, and inside the observatory is a large map labelled with mountain names and the locations of military installations. Kiosks here sell liquor, cash, postage stamps and other souvenirs from North Korea. On a clear day, you can get a good view of Kumgang-san, about 20 km to the west. Despite the solemnity of the place, the parking lot is cluttered with souvenir shops and restaurants. On the other side of the lot is the Korean War Exhibition Hall.
Others Gangwon Province has many tourist attractions, as well as natural monuments, including
Namiseom, Tong-il Observatory (similar the
Dora Observatory),
Soyang Dam and
Jeongdongjin. A memorial centre of the novelist
Lee Hyo-seok is in
Pyeongchang County. Along the coast of the Sea of Japan, many
seaside resorts are located, including Gyongpo Seaside Resort. The only domestic
casino in Gangwon is
Kangwon Land, located in
Jeongseon County. The province also houses the largest ski resort in South Korea,
Yongpyong Resort. == Transportation ==