Chuncheon (춘천시) is a city in Gangwon-do. The population as of 2004 was 255,563, including:
- 254,323 Koreans and
- 1,240 non-Koreans.
Chuncheon is famous for its dak-galbi, available in restaurants all over town. The city's notable claim to fame is being the filming location for the staggeringly popular Korean drama, Winter Sonata. There's an impressively large dam, and several islands to explore, including Jung-do with recreation facilities, like windsurfing, bicycling and camping.
[edit] Education
There are two large universities in Chuncheon: Kangwon National University and Hallym University.
[edit] Shopping and restaurants
[edit] Shopping
Myeongdong Street in downtown Chuncheon.
Chuncheon has a Myeongdong Street, similar in appearance to Myeongdong in Seoul, only smaller. Myeongdong Street has a number of brand-name clothing boutiques and a few Western fast food restaurants, such as McDonald's and KFC. There is also a Primus Cinema, which shows six movies at a time. Myeongdong Street abuts Department Store Street (백화점길), which has a Dongseo Department Store and which intersects with a newer part of the Myeongdong area. Below the area is an underground shopping center with several Korean and donkkaseu restaurants. One end of Myeongdong touches Central Market (중앙시장), an indoor-outdoor market off of Jungangno, with the usual market wares: clothing, produce, bedding, and food. This section of town---Myeongdong, Central Market, and the underground mall---is accessible by virtually all local buses, and is a 2,500 won taxi ride from the bus terminal.
There is an E-Mart directly next to the bus terminal which has, besides the usual department store wares, a grocery store. For more information on grocery shopping, see supermarkets in Chuncheon.
Touching Myeongdong Street is Dak-galbi Street, with scores of restaurants devoted to the local specialty dak-galbi. Such restaurants can be found all throughout the city, although this particular area features many hofs, noraebang, and stores, adding to its popularity.
The Ice Trees of Chuncheon
[edit] Restaurants and Bars
[edit] Restaurants
For Korean fare, see Korean Restaurants in Chuncheon.
As the average Korean, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants are in abundance throughout Korea and are easy for foreigners to find, the following restaurants reflect a sampling of restaurants considered to be either popular or are western-friendly choices and other ethnic foods.
[edit] Tourism
[edit] Accommodation
A large number of hotels are located a few blocks north of the intercity bus terminal. Some less-expensive yeogwans are near the downtown area.
Prices may be jacked up considerably during holidays and weekends.
[edit] Museums
- National Museum [1]is on the east side of town.
- Museum of Animation is across the river.
- National University Museum [2]
- Central Museum of Gangwon
- Gangwon Police Museum
- Hyeonam Folk Museum
- Hallym University Museum
- Jung-do Island in Ulam Lake.
- Gongjicheon Sculpture Park [3] in the Southwest part of town. Lots of sculptures of the sort usually found in Korean parks, children hugging and such.
- Ethiopian war memorial is adjacent - it's a big spire in honor of Ethiopian troops who fought in the Korean War. They had 112 fatalities and 536 who were wounded in battle in the Hwacheon-Cheorwon area. And there's a tourist bureau at the west end of Sculpture Park, just north of the memorial.
- Provincial Arboretum [4]
[edit] Soyang Dam and Ferries
End of the road at Soyang Dam
See Chuncheon boats for ferry schedules and information.
City buses 11, 12 and 12-1 go to the dam from Chuncheon. You can catch them near the intercity bus station - head north to the first stoplight, cross that street then go west a few meters to the first bus stop. They run a couple times an hour.
Here, on the way to the boat docks you'll find about 20 little eating places. Strangely they all sell the same things: Shellfish, twigim and corn. In summer you can buy bottled water for 1,000 won. One place did sell a few boiled sweet potatoes and another had some fried grasshoppers. If you prefer to eat anything else, then eat before you arrive. Or, there are about three places at the bus stop at Yanggu Pier with food - first place on the left serves an excellent potato pancake for 5,000 won.
There are public rest rooms on the hill before you drop down to the boat docks. Consider using these before going down, to save yourself a long climb back up.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Getting there
- Air. Seoul and Incheon are the nearest airports
- Bus. Buses reach Chuncheon from all major cities in the country.
- Train. The Geongchunseon.
- Highway. Drive Expressway rte 55 from the south, Highway 45 from Seoul and various roads over the mountains from the east.
- Subway. Chuncheon does not have a subway system of its own. However, by 2009, an extension of the Seoul subway will connect it to Seoul, Chungcheongnam-do, and the neighboring Gyeonggi-do.
[edit] Local transport
The city is fairly well covered by buses, which cost 950 won for local trips. Also, transportation between major points in the city can be done conveniently by taxi, with fares between 3,000 and 4,000 won.
[edit] External Links
