Taebaek Guwau Village (Alpine Botanical Garden) (태백 구와우마을(고원자생식물원))

13.4 Km 18505 2021-05-14

38-33, Guwau-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-553-9707

Guwau Village is located below Pijae Hill (also called Samsuryeong) at the entrance to Maebongsan Mountain. The village got its name because its topography resembles the scenery of nine cows peacefully lying around. The Alpine Botanical Garden is located 800-900 meters above sea level and protects the endangered alpine plant species from disappearing.

The botanical garden also offers visitors an opportunity to conveniently observe some rare flowers and plants. In August, when the sunflowers are in full bloom, the Taebaek Sunflower Festival is held at Guwau Village. In addition to celebrating the area’s wide array of colorful flowers, the festival also has a variety of attractions such as a drawing exhibition, a photo exhibition, and an environmental sculpture exhibition using repurposed materials.

Taebaek Sunflower Festival (태백 해바라기축제)

13.5 Km 32940 2022-08-31

38-20, Guwau-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-33-553-9707

The Taebaek Sunflower Festival takes place in Guwau Village, celebrating the area’s wide array of colorful wildflowers and endless field of sunflowers (the largest sunflower patch in Korea). The festival takes place in an area of 661,157 ㎡ filled with 300 species of wild flowers along with a sunflower field walking path. The festival offers hands-on program with wild flowers.

Dutasan Mountain (두타산)

15.2 Km 28195 2021-04-05

533, Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do & Samcheok-si, Jeongseon-gun
+82-33-534-7306

Standing at 1,357 meters above sea level, Dutasan Mountain is surrounded by famous natural landmarks: Mureunggyegok Valley to the north, Gocheongyegok Valley to the east, Taebaeksan Mountain range to the south, and Jungbongsan Mountain to the west. Moreover, situated along the 3.1 kilometer-long valley connecting Dutasan and Samhwasa Temple are such tourist attractions as Dutasanseong Fortress, Geumnamjeong Pavilion, Yongchupokpo Falls, Ssangpokpo Falls, Osipcheon Stream, and Cheoneunsa Temple.

Gangwon Yongchupokpo Falls (무릉계곡 용추폭포(강원))

15.3 Km 63743 2022-10-20

538, Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-534-7306

Located approximately 2.5 kilometers west of Samhwasa Temple, the entrance of Mureunggyegok Valley, Yongchupokpo Falls is a three-tiered waterfall in a shape of a pot that gets its waters from Cheongoksan Mountain (1,403.7 meters). Located 70 meters below Yongchupokpo Falls is Ssangpokpo Falls, where the water from Yongchupokpo Falls and Bakdalgyegok Valley meets to create a deep and beautiful base.

Samhwasa Temple (삼화사)

15.3 Km 22039 2020-03-27

584, Mureung-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-534-7661

Samhwasa Temple is located near the entrance of the Mureung Valley of Dutasan Mountain in the City of Donghae, Gangwon Province. The one-thousand year old, small but historical temple falls under the supervision of Woljeongsa Temple. It was originally named “Geukryeondae” when built by monk Jijangyulsa during the eleventh year of Queen Seonseok of the Silla Kingdom (AD 642). In 864 it was renamed Samgongam by the chief monk, and during the reign of King Taejo of the Goryeo dynasty, it changed to the current name, Samhwasa Temple.

The temple houses the main shrine (also called Yaksajeon), Jeokkwangjeon, Beomjonggak pavilion, Geukrakjeon shrine, Birojeon shrine, Chilseongdan shrine, and Muhyanggak pavilion. The temple is also home to national treasures No. 1277 (three story stone pagoda) and No. 1292 (steel sitting Buddha statue).

Samhwasa Temple operates a school teaching Buddhism and offers temple stay programs providing a beautiful, serene experience of temple life.

Mureunggyegok Valley (무릉계곡)

15.3 Km 89388 2020-07-13

538, Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-539-3700

Mureunggyegok Valley, between Dutasan Mountain and Cheongoksan Mountain, refers to a four-kilometer stretch from Hoamso Pond to Yongchupokpo Falls upstream. The waters of Mureunggyegok Valley flow over wide sheets of rock and into the cracks between them, forming large and particularly nice ponds along the path. Starting at Mureung Rock, a wide sheet of single rock on which hundreds can sit, the valley trail twists and turns as it passes Samhwasa Temple, Haksodae, Ongnyudong, and Seonnyeotang Ravine, all the way to Ssangpokpo and Yongchupokpo Falls, providing breathtaking scenery along the way. Also known as Arcadia, scholars and poets frequented the valley in times past, and the 5,000 square meters of Mureung Rock bears the inscribed names of some of these poets and their work. The valley offers a medley of curious-looking rocks and stones, and other odd scenery that attracts many tourists.

Mureunggyegok Valley Healing Campground (무릉계곡 힐링캠핑장)

15.4 Km 10553 2024-03-19

467 Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do

This campground is situated in Mureunggyegok Valley, nestled between Dutasan Mountain and Cheongoksan Mountain. The valley is renowned for its enigmatic rock formations and derives its name from the mythical paradise in the Chinese fable, “The Peach Blossom Land”. It's a place where one can immerse in the beauty of nature. The campground is accessible by car, just a 25-minute drive from KTX Mukho Station.

Miinpokpo Falls (삼척 미인폭포)

16.4 Km 30591 2023-09-26

77-162, Munuijae-ro, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-570-4062

Miinpokpo Falls, located near Taebaek-si, has various size waterfalls from small to large. There's a sad legend on why the waterfall got its name. There is a tomb of a beautiful woman near the waterfall, who jumped to her death after losing two husbands through early death. There's also a valley that's called the Grand Canyon of Korea nearby. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get to the fall from Yeoraesa Temple parking lot on foot through 300 meters of trekking.

Gulttukchon (굴뚝촌)

16.6 Km 29296 2024-03-19

253-6 Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
033-534-9199

This restaurant specializes in daenamu tongbap (steamed rice in bamboo tube) and other healthful dishes that exclusively use natural flavorings. The daenamu tongbap, notable for its complex flavor, is prepared with 12 types of grains filled into a bamboo tube before steaming. It is served alongside choices like bulgogi jeongol (bulgogi hot pot), ori jeongol (duck hot pot), and bullak jeongol (bulgogi and octopus hot pot). The menu also features gamja jeon (potato pancake) and ori gui (grilled duck). Additionally, the restaurant boasts a garden that is home to 180 varieties of wildflowers and herbs.

Hwangji Pond (황지연못)

17.2 Km 24148 2021-07-27

12, Hwangjiyeonmot-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-550-2828

Hwangji Pond, located in downtown Taebaek, is a source of the Nakdonggang River, flowing all the way to the Yeongnam Plain. The pond is divided into three sections: Sangji, with a diameter of 100 meters, Jungji and Haji. Although it is small in size, the pond supplies 5,000 tons of water a day.

Taebaek Guwau Village (Alpine Botanical Garden) (태백 구와우마을(고원자생식물원)) - Area information - Korea travel information