A World Where You Can Get in Touch with Nature: “If Tired, Escape”

Ecological Experience Restores Nature for Children and the Innocence of Childhood for Adults 

– Exhibiting a close affinity with nature, the arboretum and the ecological park allow visitors to enjoy comfort in the city. A view of the Morning Calm Arboretum. – GNewsPlus

We recommend five places which are not far away but can help you get in touch with nature. Children can take a free nature study course, observing animals and plants which they have seen only in the books; and adults will have a chance to revisit the innocence of their childhood. You can make a field trip to the mudflats and salt farm of Gaetgol Ecological Park. Dorasan Peace Park offers a glimpse of North Korea. Ihwawon on Jara Island abounds with subtropical plants. The Morning Calm Arboretum is famous as a popular filming location for movies and television dramas filmed. Migratory birds have recently returned to the Ansan Reeds Wetland Park. Join us as we explore these places which exemplify the natural environment of Gyeonggi Province.

Gaetgol Ecological Park

– In Gaetgol Ecological Park, the free ecological experience program “Gaetgol’s Natural Story” is offered while the sculpture park is another popular attraction. – GNewsPlus

Located in Janggok-dong of Shiheung City, Gyeonggi Province, Gaetgol Ecological Park is a pro-natural park where Gyeonggi’s sole inner-bay mudflat and traditional salt farm form a unique atmosphere. Here visitors can actually see salt plants like sea-blite and grasswort, and mudflat animals such as the red-foot sand crab and other varieties of small crabs. Moreover, a traditional salt farm has been reconstructed and offers visitors the opportunity to observe the bay salt production process and participate in a free salt-giving event.

In addition, the Tidewater Seaside Study School in the ecological park provides a free ecological study program to visiting groups. It currently operates a free class entitled “Gaetgol’s Natural Story” for kindergartners and elementary school students. The free class, which takes runs twice a day at 10:00am and 2:00pm, consists of a 30-minute lecture and 60-minute field trip. Gaetgol Ecological Park also has a reeds promenade and salt farm experience site. (Address: 724-10, Janggok-dong, Shiheung City, 031-310-3952)

Dorasan Peace Park

– In Dorasan Peace Park, the desire for the reunification and peace of the Korea Peninsula as well as the ecology of the DMZ can be experienced in a glance. – G NewsPlus

Planning for Dorasan Peace Park began in 2002 upon the completion of Dorasan Station, and the park opened in September of 2008. Of particular note, the Forest of Reunification has been cultivated with donations of money and trees from the peace-loving citizens of Gyeonggi Province. Dorasan Peace Park will establish itself not only as an educational site where the importance of peace and ecology is taught to youths through the DMZ experience, but also as a meeting place for peace-loving people. In Peace Park, one can see a 7246 square meter ecological pond in the shape of the Korean Peninsula, while the 627 square meter observation deck provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the natural environment of the DMZ. The 352 square meter exhibition hall offers 3D visions of the history of Dorasan as well as materials pertaining to the natural environment of the DMZ. In short, the main facilities of the Peace Park include the ecological pond in the shape of the Korean Peninsula, the observation deck, the promenade and resting area as well as the exhibition hall with displays on the history Dorasan and the natural elements of the DMZ and the Forest of Reunification. (Address: Nosangri, Jandan-myun, Paju City, Gyeonggi Province, 031-953-4854)

Ihwawon on Jara Island

– Ihwawon on Jara Island abounds with subtropical plants, such as coffee and banana trees, that comprise an exotic environment. – GNewsPlus

In the first greenhouse, which contains subtropical plants and trees, 11,364 subtropical fruit trees representing 128 species, including banana and papaya, as well as 180 coffee trees have been cultivated and comprise an exotic environment. In the Nambu Arboretum, the second green house, 4420 trees of 31 species including 3450 green tea trees and 25 citron trees are growing; also found in the arboretum is the tea house – constructed in traditional form – in which visitors can enjoy green tea of Hadong, and the citron house where citrons of Goheung are served. Outside the arboretum, 2500 trees representing 50 species including palm trees, pine trees (bansong), winged euonymus, and other trees flourish, while the Korean-style garden, the wild ecological flower garden, are the Shady Resting Place serve to reflect the Orient¢®?s deep and elegant culture of natural ecology throughout the four seasons. (Address: 57-3, Daegokri, Gapyeong-eup, Gapyeong County, 031-591-0228)

Morning Calm Arboretum

– The Morning Calm Arboretum boasts spectacular morning scenery appropriate for a country known as the “Land of the Morning Calm.” – GNewsPlus

The Indian poet Togore once described Joseon as the “Land of Morning Calm.” Embodying this description, the Morning Calm Arboretum was named by Professor Han Sang-gyung of the Department of Horticulture in Samyuk University, who designed the arboretum in an effort to create a Korean-style garden that conveys the joys and sorrows of Korean history. Located at the base of Chukryung Mountain in Gapyeong County, the Morning Calm Arboretum is comprised of 20 beautiful gardens in a basin of 100,000 pyeong. It takes between 90 minutes to 2 hours to explore the theme gardens including Homeplace Garden, Herb Garden, Mugunghwa Hill, Eden Garden, Pond Garden, Korea Garden, and more. When the occasion calls for it, it is possible to tour the gardens in 30 minutes; however, viewers who do so will miss much of the beautiful scenery. It will likely take a day to immerse your feet into the valley water, enjoy friendly conversations on the wide lawn, and have a romantic dinner in the restaurant. Morning Calm Arboretum also offers an experiential education program for kindergartners and elementary school students twice a day in which participants learn how to observe nature and cultivate plants. (Address: Haenghyun-ri, Sang-myun, Gapyeong County, 1544-6703)

Ansan Reeds Wetland Park

– The Ansan Reeds Wetland Park was born with the return of migratory birds to once-dying Shihwa Lake. Here one can enjoy the picturesque scenery of reeds. – GNewsPlus

The Ansan Reeds Wetland Park is a large artificial wetland that was created to improve the quality of water that flows into Shihwa Lake by way of Banwolcheon, Donghwacheon, and Samhwacheon. On the extensive wetland of 1,037,500 square meters, reeds and aquatic plants with excellent natural purification abilities have been planted to remove noxious materials from wastewater. In the midst of the Reeds Wetland Park is the Environmental Ecological House, in front of which is an ecological pond that contains water purified by the wetland. Flourishing around the pond are irises, yellow bunchflowers, water lilies, mulsari, and loosestrifes. Inside the park, various trees from the central districts have been planted, while the wild flower road surrounded by wild plants and flowers and the promenade provide a view of the beauty of the wetland. Throughout the wetland, which abounds with reeds, migratory birds such as ducks, white herons, avocets, sheldrakes, and egrets can be found. (Address: 1031-8, Sadong, Sangrok-gu, Ansan City, 031-419-0504)