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

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

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

13.5Km    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.

Dutasan Mountain (두타산)

Dutasan Mountain (두타산)

15.2Km    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))

Gangwon Yongchupokpo Falls (무릉계곡 용추폭포(강원))

15.2Km    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.

Mureunggyegok Valley Healing Campground (무릉계곡 힐링캠핑장)

Mureunggyegok Valley Healing Campground (무릉계곡 힐링캠핑장)

15.3Km    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.

Donghae Mureung Health Forest (동해무릉건강숲)

Donghae Mureung Health Forest (동해무릉건강숲)

15.4Km    2025-10-23

455 Samhwa-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-530-2391

Situated at the entrance of Mureung Valley, this environmental disease prevention and management center is directly run by Donghae city. Environmental diseases are those that develop due to environmental factors, such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. This center, spanning approx. 24,000 square meters, consists of an eco-friendly healing lodging, a themed experience center, a health consultation room, a thermal therapy room, and a natural health food restaurant. The accommodation facility, built with eco-friendly materials such as red clay and Hinoki cypress, offers healthy accommodations as well.
The themed experience center is a jjimjilbang (Korean sauna) created using natural materials, such as stones, soil, and salt. The White Sericite Room emits far-infrared rays and natural anions; the Red Clay Room is good for detoxification; and the Salt Cave's nano salt particles help cleanse one's respiratory system. These sauna rooms aid in improving environmental disease symptoms. The thermal therapy room features heated capsule-like beds that promote blood circulation. In addition, a resident nurse provides free health consultations based on visitors' basic examination results. You can participate in various programs without staying overnight, such as handcrafting using eco-friendly materials, themed experiences, health consultations, and a natural health food experience. In summer, don't forget to visit Oseonnyeotang, a nature-friendly bath filled with water from Mureung Valley.

Miinpokpo Falls (삼척 미인폭포)

16.4Km    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)

Gulttukchon (굴뚝촌)

16.6Km    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.

Murung Byeolyucheonji (무릉별유천지)

Murung Byeolyucheonji (무릉별유천지)

16.6Km    2025-07-18

97 Igi-ro, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do

Mureung Byeolyucheonji was initially a limestone mine that opened in 1968. After 40 years of service as a mine, today it serves as a tourist attraction that boasts beautiful emerald lake and diverse activities. Mureung Byeolyucheonji gets its name from the rock-carved engravings in Mureunggyegok Valley and has the meaning "the place with the best view under the sky, a utopia away from the world." The attraction lives up to its name thanks to the beautiful surrounding mountain scenery pit lakes. Visitors can also enjoy the view from a different angle through diverse rides, such as the Sky Glider, Alpine Coaster, and more.

Hwangji Jayu Market(황지 자유시장)

Hwangji Jayu Market(황지 자유시장)

17.2Km    2025-10-23

14 Sijangan 2-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do

Established in 1971, Hwangji Jayu Market is a traditional market with over 50 years of history and roughly 170 vendors. It welcomes customers with a wide selection of goods and high-quality local specialties, including Danggui (Korean angelica) and Cheongung (Cnidium) from the highlands of Taebaek, various mushrooms, fresh and savory fish from the nearby East Sea, fruits, miscellaneous goods, clothing, shoes, and other manufactured products. Conveniently located in central Taebaek and just a two-minute walk from Hwangji Pond, a main local attraction, the market is beloved by both residents and tourists, and continues to thrive as a bustling local hub.

Hwangji Pond (황지연못)

Hwangji Pond (황지연못)

17.3Km    2024-12-23

12 Hwangjiyeonmot-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do

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.