We will introduce the Top 10 Promising Tourist Spots selected by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization. You might even find hidden gems nearby.
 
1. Marine Culture Complex: Ara Marina in Gimpo
Ara Marina in Gimpo, where the ocean and inland waters meet, is the largest marina facility in the capital area. You can sightsee on water or land, and a variety of programs in which anyone can easily participate are offered throughout the year, from yachts to marine leisure craft. A large shopping outlet lies adjacent to the marina, enabling the enjoyment of shopping, sightseeing and various activities all in one place.
※ 73, Arayuk-ro 270beon-gil Gochon-eup, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
031-999-7843 (Ara Marina Marine Academy), 1899-3650 (Ara Waterway Information Center)
www.ara-edu.net

2. The Garden BCJ with 1,500 Species of Living, Breathing Plants
The Botanical Garden BCJ, which is famous as a drama and commercial filming site, was created as an eco-friendly arboretum to preserve the form of a natural ecosystem. With an area of 120,000 square meters, it is home to over 1,400 species of plants including native plants as well as rarities from around the world and various trees, shrubs and aquatic plants, offering a background of beautiful natural scenery.
※ 242, Buheung-ro Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-957-2004)
www.bcj.co.kr

3. The Romance of a Picturesque Meadow: Anseong Farmland
Anseong Farmland offers a variety of enjoyments throughout the year, including the Shepherd’s Purse Picking Festival, Rye Field and Grassland Festival, Summer Cool Festival, Autumn Shepherd Festival, and Winter Play Festival. Unlike amusement parks that only seek to amuse, Anseong Farmland offers relaxation with vistas of wide meadows along with various educational activities such as livestock feeding and horseback riding, allowing one to enjoy edifying benefits as well.
※ 28, Daesindu-gil Gongdo-eup, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-8053-7979)
nhasfarmland.com

4. Yongmunsan Tourist Area Where One Can Sense the Fragrance of Mountains
The Yongmunsan Tourist Area, designated as a national tourist area in 1971, is a place where one can savor each individual season’s charm, no matter the season of the visit. There are also cultural relics such as the Ginkgo Tree of Yongmunsa Temple, Yangpyeong (Natural Monument No. 30), the Stupa of State Preceptor Jeongji and Stele at Yongmunsa Temple, Yangpyeong, and the Yongmunsan Mountain Area’s War Monument, along with Yongmunsa Temple, which has a thousand-year history. The Retro Museum, which is an optical illusion museum that brings back memories for older generations, and a floor mural are also worth checking out.
※ 782, Yongmunsan-ro Yongmun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do (031-773-0088, Yongmunsan Tourist Information Center)
tour.yp21.net

5. Uiwang RailPark Where One Can Experience the Ecology with your Five Senses
Wangsong Lake, a sanctuary for migratory birds during the four seasons, is a popular nature and eco-education site. It is also known as one of the best sunset spots in the capital area. One can ride the 4.3 km track surrounding the lake on a rail bike, an experience during which there is no time to be bored. There are also photo zones as well as large and small events around the park where one can forge unforgettable memories.
※ 209, Wangsongmotdong-ro, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do (1670-3110)
www.uwrailpark.co.kr

6. Jeongok Prehistoric Site Abounds with Ancestral Wisdom
The remains found in Jeongok-ri, where an Acheulean hand axe was discovered for the first time in East Asia in 1978, are of global importance as Paleolithic relics. At Jeongok Prehistoric Site, one can learn in detail about prehistoric culture, and the Prehistory Museum – with its unusual appearance and rewarding experiences – also awaits visitors. There is a Paleolithic archery zone, a wide lawn where one can take photos with sculptures and run and play with abandon, and a small garden where native plants of the region grow.
※ 1510, Yangyeon-ro Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do (031-839-2206. Prehistoric Experience Village)
www.yeoncheon.go.kr/seonsa

7. Jebudo Island with a Sea of Various Colors
Twice a day, this small island is the site of the so-called ‘Miracle of Moses,’ during which the sea is divides to reveal a trail. Featuring nature, flavor, and fun, it is a ‘must go’ travel site in all four seasons. Of particular note, the Three Maebawi Rocks set against the glow of a sunset creates a beautiful view. One can also enjoy tidal flat experiences, horseback riding, walks along the coast, marine leisure sports and sea fishing at this novel tourist attraction.
※ Haean-gil Seosin-myeon, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-357-3808)
tour.hscity.go.kr

8. A Meeting of Books, Architecture and Culture: Paju Bookcity
Established in 1989 through a gathering of publishers who dreamed of modernizing the structure of publication distribution, Paju Bookcity has evolved into a cultural complex as visionary buildings were added. The city has over 50 cultural and experience spaces including bookstores, book cafes, art shops, exhibition halls, galleries, museums, and more, providing fun-filled experiences as well as opportunities for healing. In addition, the buildings each have their own unique stories and are well worth paying attention to.
※ 145, Hoedong-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-955-0050, Bookcity Culture Foundation)
www.pajubookcity.org

9. Where the Sky and Lake Meet: Pyeongtaekho Tourist Complex
Pyeongtaekho Lake, where the romance of lakes and an appreciation for music flow, is a representative sightseeing spot of Pyeongtaek, a city where Korean traditional arts and culture thrive. The city is home to the Korea Soriter Arts Center, Pyeongtaekho Arts Center, Ji Young Hee Gugak Center and Korea’s first Sound Chair. There are also a variety of attractions and amenities around the 24-square-kilometer artificial lake including a wooden waterside deck, water jet fountains and individual facilities for enjoying marine leisure sports.
※ 159, Pyeongtaekho-gil Hyeondeok-myeon, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-8024-8687, Pyeongtaekho Tourist Information Center)
www.pyeongtaek.go.kr/tour

10. With Nature, Art and Rest: Pocheon Art Valley
A former quarry, where granite had been collected for over 30 years starting from the 1960s, was reborn as an eco-friendly arts and culture complex. Within a vast land area of 150,000 square meters, there are a variety of facilities for experiences and viewing such as the Sanmaru Performance Hall, Cheonjuho Lake, a Sculpture Park, the Educational Exhibition Center, and the Astronomical Science Museum. Performances are held from April to October on weekends, and creative experiential programs are also offered.
※ 234, Art valley-ro Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do (031-538-3483~5)
artvalley.pocheon.go.kr