Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

13.2 Km 12516 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.

Gwangseongbo Fortress (광성보)

13.3 Km 35069 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.

Gimpo Hamsang Park (김포함상공원)

13.7 Km 4809 2023-08-08

110-36, Daemyeonghang 1-ro, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-987-4097

Gimpo Hamsang Park is the first battleship themed park in the Seoul metropolitan area. With LST battleship on display, there are many things to see and experience at the park. Visitors can learn various information about the lives and duties of naval officers as well as enjoy a panoramic view of the West Sea.

Deokpojin Museum of Education (덕포진교육박물관)

13.7 Km 29662 2021-02-26

90, Deokpojin-ro 103beon-gil, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-989-8580

Deokpojin Museum of Education was established by Kim Dong-seon, an elementary school teacher, for his wife, Lee In-suk who lost her eye sight due to an accident while she was also an elementary school teacher. He decided to build the museum to cheer up his wife who was deeply depressed with the fact that she could no longer teach students. Through the husband's will to give his wife opportunities to teach children again, his dream to create hands-on educational programs not available in the ordinary school education system became a reality as well. The museum was finally opened in 1996 with materials collected by the couple, comprised of a music class taught with her pump organ and Mr. Kim's collection of various school materials such as a book wrapper, a nature textbook from 1960, nickel silver lunch boxes and more. These collections attracts many visitors, from kindergarteners to university students and even family visitors.

Daemyeonghang Fishery Market (대명항수산물직판장)

13.9 Km 4771 2024-02-26

109 Daemyeonghang 1-ro, Daegot-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do

Daemyeonghang Fishery Market specializes in selling only natural, freshly caught seafood, brought directly by local fishermen. In spring, the market offers shaggy sea raven filled with roe and webfoot octopus. Summer brings a selection of sea bass and flatfish, while autumn features an abundance of blue crabs. Continuously attracting visitors seeking the freshest seafood, the market also includes a dedicated section for salted and dried seafood products.

Gimpo Daemyeong Port (김포 대명항)

13.9 Km 64867 2023-02-02

109, Daemyeonghang 1-ro, Daegot-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do

The piercing smell of salt, the energy of freshly caught fish, fishing boats returning from far out at sea, and people walking in and out of the fish market and raw fish restaurants - these are the scenes of Daemyeong Port in Daegot-myeon, Gimpo where the fresh vigor of life is vividly alive. It is located just 30 minutes from Gimpo Airport by car so it is close to Seoul. Fishermen and owners of fishing boats personally run raw fish restaurants so the prices of raw fish are about 20% cheaper here than at other ports, according to the people of Daemyeong Port. Raw fish restaurants that you first encounter at the entrance of the port have tanks filled with freshly caught fish, and fishing nets spread out here and there vividly show the unique characteristics of a port. As it is the only port on the coast of Ganghwado Island, you are able to fully enjoy the beautiful seascape. The port is also receiving a great deal of attention both locally and nationwide thanks to the Daemyeong Type 2 Fishery Harbor project and the Pungeoje Festival. In 2001, Daemyeong Port was selected as one of the "7 Winter Seas recommended by the Korea Tourism Organization" for its beautiful seascape and flavors of a traditional port. Facing Ganghwado across Ganghwa Strait, Daemyeong Port is not as busy with tourists as Sorae Port or Yeonan Pier and boasts quiet and affectionate scenes of a fishing village. Nearby lies Deokpojin Fort, which is a historical site where our ancestors in the late Joseon Dynasty fought against foreign forces.

Susan Park (수산공원)

14.3 Km 0 2023-08-08

52, Daemyeonghang 1-ro, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-985-6672

Located in Daemyeongpo-gu in Gimpo, the large leisure cafe also operates a sushi restaurant, kid's cafe and monsterium. Open all year round, fresh sushi is available starting at 11:00 AM. With a large parking lot, it is convenient for visitors to come by car.

Ganghwa Seoksumun Gate (강화 석수문)

14.7 Km 13635 2020-02-06

Gukhwa-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-4571

Seoksumun is a floodgate on the Dongnakcheon Stream, which flows through the town of Ganghwa-eup. The floodgate was built in 1711 (37th year of King Sukjong’s reign during the Joseon Period) and it is connected to the inner walls of the Ganghwasanseong Fortress. It is an arched structure with a design of three rainbows coming together. Made of granite, the floodgate measures 18.2 meters in length and 2.7 meters in x_height, while the arches are 1.7 meters tall, and 3 meters wide.

Yagam Hongyeomcheon Tourist Hotel (약암홍염천관광호텔)

14.8 Km 10486 2020-04-15

965-7, Yagam-ro, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-989-7000

Yagam Hongyeomcheon Tourist Hotel in Gimpo offers 71 guest rooms and a variety of amenities, including the Mammoth Tub, able to accommodate over 1,000 guests at once. Being near the city, many tourists from Seoul and Incheon come to relax during the weekends. The Hongyeomocheon waters are famous for healing the eye disease of Joseon dynasty King Cheol-Jong. The water come from 460 meters underground. It is clear, clean, and contains great iron minerals and the salt content is one tenth of the ocean water. The water color turns red after about ten minutes of exposure to the air.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 8] Bird Watching Trail ([강화 나들길 제8코스] 철새 보러 가는 길)

14.9 Km 23896 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 Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지) - Area information - Korea travel information