Gwangseongbo Fortress (광성보)

6.7Km 2022-07-25

27, Haeandong-ro 466beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7070

Gwangseongbo Fortress’s outer wall from the Goryeo era was mended in 1618. The fortress was built in 1656 and the outpost was constructed in 1679. It was completely remodeled into a masonry castle with gates in 1745. During Sinmiyangyo (the American invasion in 1871), Gwangseongbo was the fiercest battle ground in Ganghwa. On April 24, 1871, a fleet with 1,230 American naval forces led by Rear Admiral John Rodgers landed on Ganghwado Island to demand the opening of Korea's ports and commerce. The armed forces attacked Chojijin Fortress and Deokjinjin Camp, then marched to Gwangseongbo Fortress, where they engaged in close combat with the warriors of Joseon. Although General Eo Jae-yeon and the other warriors were poorly equipped with far inferior weapons, they bravely fought to the death against the invading forces.

The battlefield ruins of the fortress and the gate towers such as Anhaeru, Gwangseongdon, Sondolmokdon, and Yongdudon were repaired in 1977. The twin tombs of General Eo Jae-Yeon and his brother Eo Jae-seon, along with the anonymous tombs of warriors who died on the battlefield were also honorably arranged at the same time. Furthermore, a stone monument commemorating the restoration of Ganghwa Battlefield was erected on Yongdudondae Post.

In 1988, an extensive rest area was created toward the shore for visitors’ convenience. Gwangseongbo Fortress is presently designated as Historical Relic No. 227. A religious service known as Gwangseongje is held annually to commemorate the patriotic spirits of General Eo Jae-yeon and other unnamed warriors. This service takes place at 11 a.m. on every April 24th of the lunar calendar.

Yeonmijeong Pavilion (연미정)

6.7Km 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.

Maeheon 1935 (매헌1935)

6.7Km 2025-10-23

25 Sinmun-gil, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Maeheon 1935 is a restaurant in Gangwha-gun, Incheon that serves Korean dishes. The restaurant uses a renovated hanok built in 1935, and has a garden that blooms with plum blossoms. It is also located to many representative attractions of Ganghwa. The restaurant is characterized by serving a neat Korean food table for each person. Its representative menu items consist of bibimbap, hanu yukjeon (beef pancake), beef bulgogi, and more, made with fresh local ingredients that are produced in Ganghwa.

Shin Arirang (신아리랑)

6.7Km 2024-02-26

4-3 Ganghwa-daero 409beon-gil, Ganghwa-eup, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Shin Arirang is a restaurant specializing in jeotguk galbi (salted shrimp and galbi soup), a local food from Ganghwa-gun. Jeotguk galbi is made by boiling pork galbi, pork bones, and vegetables with salted shrimp, offering a savory and rich flavor. Conveniently located near Ganghwa-gun Office, it is easily accessible and popular among locals.

Yongheunggung Palace (용흥궁)

6.8Km 2022-07-27

16-1, Dongmunan-gil 21beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-3515

Yongheunggung Palace is where King Cheoljong (r. 1849-1863) used to live before his ascension to throne. The chief of Ganghwa County, Jeong Gi-se, enlarged the original residence and named it Yongheunggung (meaning palace of the rising dragon) in the 4th year of King Cheoljong’s reign. Its architectural features include a paljak (traditional Korean half-hipped roof) and supporting columns rendered in Jusimpo style, the column brackets placed only on top of the columns. The palace was built in the tradition of dwelling houses such as the Yeongyeongdang and Nakseonjae houses in Changdeokgung Palace, so the palace buildings give off a simple and plain atmosphere. Within the precincts of the palace are a memorial stone and a monument house indicating that the palace used to be the old home of King Cheoljong.

Goryeogung Palace Site (고려궁지)

6.9Km 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 8] Bird Watching Trail ([강화 나들길 제8코스] 철새 보러 가는 길)

7.0Km 2022-11-11

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 8] Bird Watching Trail
Course 8 stretches over a 17.2 kilometer area between Chojijin Fort and Bunoridondae Fortification. Set along the southern coast of Ganghwado Island, this trail showcases the island's natural beauty and history. It is especially popular in summer when the cool ocean breeze blows and in winter when the migratory birds settle in the mud flats.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 7] Setting Sun Trail ([강화 나들길 제7코스] 낙조보러 가는 길)

7.0Km 2022-12-29

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 7] Setting Sun Trail
Course 7 stretches over a 20.8-kilometer-long loop from Hwado Parking Lot to Mud Flat Research Center and back. The trail leads through a tunnel of green leaves before opening out onto the mud flat. The mud flat is one of the world's top five mud flats and presents a beautiful view of the ocean and mountains. Bird-watchers will love the chance to see migratory birds fly through each winter.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 6] Birthplace of Hwanam Trail ([강화 나들길 제6코스] 화남생가 가는 길)

7.0Km 2022-08-18

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 6] Birthplace of Hwanam Trail
Course 6 stretches over an 18.8 kilometer area between Ganghwa Bus Terminal and Gwangseongbo Reservoir. The trail passes through fields and forests. Hwanam's hometown is so beautiful, people often say all the flowers that grow in the world can be found here.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 5] Gobigogae Pass Trail ([강화 나들길 제5코스] 고비고개길)

7.0Km 2021-02-23

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 5] Gobigogae Pass Trail
Course 5 stretches over a 20.2 kilometer section between Ganghwa Bus Terminal and Oepo Passenger Terminal. This trail is a restoration of the path crossing the low mountain, walked on by past generations when visiting Ganghwa Market.

Gwangseongbo Fortress (광성보) - Area information - Korea travel information