Take a trip on Korea’s only two-tier train
(Published April 17, 2012)

[Gyeonggi’s masterpiece tour course (1)] Train tour on the ITX-Cheongchun
A popular tour of Nami Island and Semiwon Garden and a rail bike experience

The tour course consists of an excursion to a land of memories and to a land of mystery. There are advantages and disadvantages of touring by personal car and by public transportation. Among the spring tours, I would like to recommend the ITX-Cheongchun, a high-speed train on the Gyeongchun Line. <Opinion of Edit>

◇ ITX-Cheongchun two-tier train offers a unique travel experience. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

Last weekend, I took a trip on the ITX-Cheongchun train along the Gyeongchun Line. I took the ‘Rail Bike Train Travel to the Dreamland of Nami Island, Semiwon Garden, and Yangpyeong on the ITX-Cheongchun Train,’ package, which has been jointly developed by the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization and KORAIL. I have visited Nami Island before, but not the other places. Since the launch of the tour package, 41 tourists have taken the tour.

Some tourists are wearing yellow name cards on their chests like elementary students. There were old couples and young couples with little children. A middle-aged woman with two grown daughters, a large family with a gray-haired senior citizen and a little girl… The faces of the young couples look as affectionate as sunlight in spring.

◇ A mother tries to restrain her child who is running about so she will not miss any of the beautiful scenery. ⓒ G-News Plus / Park Gwan-sik

Shortly after the high-speed ITX-Cheongchun departed at 9:45, KORAIL tour guide Choi Won-ju explained our tour schedule.

The ITX-Cheongchun runs along the Gyeongchun Line. It is like a younger brother of the KTX, and is Korea’s only double-decker train. You should feel proud to be one of the few people to have taken this wonderful new train. This train can run at high speeds, but the route is short, so it travels relatively slowly. Around the mid-section of this route, it will speed up. If you feel dizzy, you are advised to go down to the first deck.”

◇ This little train, which is one of Nami’s main attractions, stops at several stations along the railroad. ⓒ G-News Plus / Park Gwan-sik

The panoramic views from this two-tier train are spectacular. Time will fly as you enjoy the views, and you will soon arrive at Gapyeong Station.

As soon as we boarded a transfer bus, Choi Won-ju asked all the tourists to greet each other to break the ice before starting to introduce the sites.

“All you husbands who are sitting quietly without smiling! Smile! During today’s tour, we will see each other often, so greet the people who are sitting nearest to you. Hello, everybody! Glad to meet you!”

Thanks to the guide, the mood inside the bus becomes friendly, and the tourists arrive at Nami Wharf within ten minutes. From then on, it is free time for tourists. Nami Island appears to have been upgraded in the last ten years. As many tourists visit this island, increasing the facilities and upgrading the tourist attractions was understandable.

◇ The statue titled ‘Breast-Feeding Mother’ positioned on the tree-lined path of the Meta Square grabs the attention of pedestrians. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

From the entrance to Nami Island, the scenic view of the island is impressive. The access road to the best view of Nami is crowded with people. On the way, there are many things to see. If you want to try an old-style lunch box for your meal, you’ll have to hurry.

Particularly, you will notice there are many foreigners. Most of them are Asians, with Thais forming the majority. They are visiting Korea to experience Hallyu (Korean cultural wave) during their own Songkran Festival (April 13-15), a water festival held on Thailand’s Lunar New Year’s Day.

A guide of the Nami Tourist Information Center said, “We did not expect this many Thais. I think that approximately 10,000 people will be admitted today. A new cruise ship which can accommodate 300 passengers has been acquired recently, so we don’t have to wait as long as before.”

◇ Watching young people jumping on the tree-lined street of Meta Square to take pictures is quite refreshing. ⓒ G-News Plus / Park Gwan-sik

The tree-lined boulevard of Meta Square, where the actors Bae Yong-jun and Choi Ji-u once walked in the TV drama Winter Sonata, reminds one of Thailand. Nobody expected that Winter Sonata would attract this many tourists.

◇ Girls enjoy the amazing scene. Their eyes are mysteriously beautiful. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

The tourists hurriedly left Nami due to the lack of time, and headed towards Semiwon Garden in Yangsu-ri, Gapyeong County. Semiwon is a garden of water and flowers. Tourists can see bright lotus flowers on hot summer days. There are many things to see at this garden: a pot-shaped fountain; Hangang Cheongjoeng Altar; Gwanrandae, where tourists can see two rivers merge at Dumulmeori; Monet’s Garden; Yusanggoksu, with its beautiful traditional Korean garden; a fountain created by renovating a water gauge; and Pungidae, which indicates wind direction.

Even though there are no lotus flowers yet, there’s a feast of spring flowers and the beautiful Han River scenery of Yangsu-ri, which resembles a beautiful water painting. A middle-aged woman with her family is picking mugwort with her daughter, while squatting by the river bank. Jun-young, a 5-year-old child from Seongnam City, is running around freely. Mothers look like they’re having a good time as well. All the tourists become part of the scene in Semiwon.

◇ Tourists riding on the Yangpyeong Rail Bike along the river. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

After enjoying the flowers at Semiwon for an hour, the tourists move on to the boarding platform of the Yangpyeong Rail Bike. Riding a rail bike on a round trip of 6.4km along old railroads offers another fantastic tour experience. Touring Nami and Semiwon is static and serene, but riding a rail bike is dynamic because you have to keep pedaling to get up to 15 to 20km/h. The Jeongseon, Mungyeong, and Gokseong Seomjin rivers operate rail bikes, but in the metropolitan area, Yangpyeong County is the only place that operates rail bikes.

Fresh breezes along the riverside provide refreshing air to tourists. Pedaling cooperatively with two or four people in unison to move forward reminds people of the importance of family and loved ones. This experience can be a bit strenuous for people who don’t generally exercise on a daily basis, but it’s worth trying. Experiencing the thrill of passing through a dark tunnel is such great fun. Maybe for that reason, the faces of the people who complete the tour look confident, as if they have achieved something.

After finishing a rail bike ride, tourists take the Mugunghwa Train bound for Cheongnyangni at the nearby Yongmun Station. It might have been a fun journey, but a pleasing sensation of fatigue will soon overtake your whole body. Luckily, I was able to find a seat and arrive at the destination comfortably.

◇ A girl is enjoying her freedom at Semiwon Garden. ⓒ G-News Plus / Park Gwan-sik

To reserve a place on this tour package, call 1544-4590 or visit the homepage (www.korailtour.com).

The tour starts at 9:20am at Cheongnyangni Station every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets cost KRW 55,000 for adults and KRW 45,000 for children.

ⓒ G-News Plus / Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201204171943317055C049&s_code=C049