[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 1] Simdo History & Culture Trail ([강화 나들길 제1코스] 심도역사문화길)

998.0M 2022-09-27

24, Cheonghadong-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-1906

The Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trails are a collection of walking paths along the coast of Ganghwa Island that connect the watchtowers and and walls of Ganghwasanseong Fortress, as well as royal tombs and other historically significant sites from the Goryeo dynasty that dot the island.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 1] Simdo History & Culture Trail
Course 1 stretches over an 18-kilometer area between Ganghwa Bus Terminal and Gapgot Fortification. The trail includes sites such as Yongheunggung Palace, Ganghwahyanggyo Local Confucian School and an Anglican church. The course is an easy walk, with plenty of areas to stop and explore, as well as restaurants and convenience facilities for an enjoyable stroll.

Goryeogung Palace Site (고려궁지)

1.2Km 2021-06-01

394, Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7078

Goryeogung Palace Site on Ganghwado Island is the site of the royal palace where the people of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392) resisted the Mongolian invasion for 39 years. In the 19th year of his reign, King Gojong moved the capital to Ganghwa on account of its natural and strategic advantages. During the Byeongjahoran (Chinese invasion of Korea) in 1637, the palace was lost by force to the Qing dynasty of China. Later, Joseon Dynasty palace building and Ganghwa Yusubu (Ganghwa governor’s office) buildings existed in the Goryeo palace site but were destroyed by the French army during the Byeonginyangyo (French Campaign against Korea). Nowadays, the only structures that remain are the Dongheon main office (built in 1638) and Ibangcheong administration office (built in 1654). The palace and its subsidiary buildings were restored in 1977. It has historical lessons of the spirit of independence and overcoming national crisis.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 2] Homeland Fortification Trail ([강화 나들길 제2코스] 호국돈대길)

2.3Km 2021-08-11

24, Cheonghadong-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-1906

The Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trails are a collection of walking paths along the coast of Ganghwa Island that connect the watchtowers and and walls of Ganghwasanseong Fortress, as well as royal tombs and other historically significant sites from the Goryeo dynasty that dot the island.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 2] Homeland Fortification Trail
Course 2 stretches over a 17 kilometer area between Gapgotdon Watchtower and Chojijin Fort. This trail showcases the history of the island and the changes that happened before and after the opening of the port. The course follows a coastal road that is particularly beautiful in spring and fall.

Gapgotdon Watchtower (갑곶돈대)

2.4Km 2021-01-18

18, Haeandong-ro 1366beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7077

Gapgotdon Watchtower was built to protect the Ganghwa Straits from invasion when the Goryeo Kingdom moved their capital to Ganghwado Island. The fortified area served as a highly strategic location for the Goryeo Kingdom, and had endured multiple invasions by the Mongolian troops between 1232 and 1270.

The watchtower was fortified in the Joseon dynasty by King Sukjong in 1679 and had once fallen during the French campaign against Korea in 1866. In 1977, the site was restored to its original form. The cannons exhibited at the current site were made during the Joseon dynasty to attack outside invaders from sea.

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

2.6Km 2022-09-19

222, Seonwonsaji-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-8234

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site was first discovered in 1976 during a surface examination around Ganghwado Island undertaken by the Ganghwado Island Academic Research Team of Dongguk University. The site was designated as Historic Site No. 259 in 1977. Seonwonsa Temple was built by General Choi Wu in 1245 (the 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign during the Goryeo dynasty), which was right after the transfer of the capital to Ganghwado during resistance against the Mongolian invasion.

The temple was meant to be a spiritual mainstay in fighting against Mongolia. It used to be one of the two largest temples in Korea along with Songgwangsa Temple. However, the temple was completely destroyed during the early Joseon era, leaving only the site itself. The famous wood blocks of Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), currently housed in Haeinsa Temple at Hapcheon, are said to have been originally stored in Seonwonsa Temple. It is believed that the carved wood blocks were taken from Seonwonsa to Heungcheonsa Temple during the Joseon era and again moved to Haeinsa Temple during the reign of Sejo.

Located on a mountain slope, the presumed location of the building site extends 250 meters from south to north and 170 meters from east to west.

Yeonmijeong Pavilion (연미정)

3.6Km 2022-08-30

242, Wolgot-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-3124

Yeonmijeong Pavilion is Incheon's Tangible Cultural Asset No. 24 (designated on March 1, 1995).

While the exact date of construction is unknown, the pavilion was greatly damaged and then rebuilt afterwards due to the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, the Byeongja Chinese Invasion in 1636, and the Korean War on June 25, 1950.

The name Yeonmi comes from the swallow tail-shape of Imjingang River and Yeomhagang River ('yeon' means swallow and ‘mi’ means a tail). As the pavilion stands on top of Wolgotdondae, visitors can see Paju-si, Gimpo-si, Gaepung-gun in Hwanghae-do (North Korea) at a glance.

Gimpo Munsusanseong Fortress (김포 문수산성)

4.4Km 2022-12-20

Ponae-ri, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-980-2485

Munsusanseong Fortress was built on Munsusan Mountain in 1694, during the 20th year of the reign of King Sukjong, the 19th king of the Joseon dynasty. The fortress as designed to defend Gwanghwado Island from marine invasion. At the time, the fortress had north, west, and south gates, but they were destroyed in a fire during the Byeong-in Yangyo (1866). The north gate was restoryed in 1995 and the south gate in 2002. The fortress walls span 6 kilometers in length, 4 kilometers of which remain unrestored. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, the top of the fortress commands a spectacular view spanning from North Korea to the Hangang River inlet, and from Samgaksan Mountain to the sea off Incheon in the distance. It is often referred to as the Geumgangsan Mountain of Gimpo as it boasts superb scenery throughout all four seasons. The mountain is home to Munsusa Temple, established during the reign of Silla King Jinseong.

Gimpo International Sculpture Park (김포국제조각공원)

6.0Km 2025-03-22

38, Yonggang-ro 13beon-gil, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-984-5167

Gimpo Sculpture Park is situated in a large forest and is decorated with 30 sculptures: 14 by international artists and 16 by Korean artists. Since the site is located near the DMZ, the only divided country in the world, each sculpture expresses the overarching theme of unification. A favorite spot for weekend picnicking families and couples on dates, the park is expected to be included in a large tourist complex in the near future along with nearby Reports Park and the youth training center.

Dolmen in Bugeun-ri [UNESCO World Heritage] (강화 고인돌 유적 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

6.0Km 2023-11-10

Bugeun-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-3624

Dolmen in Bugeun-ri is a dolmen site in Ganghwa that was designated as a Historic Site for its historical value representing the funeral customs of the Bronze Age. The main stone used to create the tomb is 710 centimeters long, 550 centimeters wide, and 260 centimeters high. The dolmen is an example of the northern dolmen customs, serving as a subject of further research in the field of ancient history. The Dolmen in Bugeun-ri is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage along with other significant dolmen sites.

Ganghwa History Museum (강화역사박물관)

6.2Km 2021-08-13

994-19, Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-7887

Ganghwa History Museum opened in 2010 with aims to exhibit, preserve and educate visitors about the history and culture of Ganghwa from prehistoric ages to modern times based on artifacts from the area.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 1] Simdo History & Culture Trail ([강화 나들길 제1코스] 심도역사문화길) - Area information - Korea travel information