Suanbo, in Suanbo-myeon, is around 21 kms. south of Chungju's urban area, near the south border of Chungju-shi. It's not a large town but it's packed full with restaurants and hotels. It also features a ski area and a number of hot spring oncheons. Some of the hotels have bathhouses with spring water, or even piped into hotel room baths.

Buses Local buses from Chungju (Bus No. 246 - catch it in front of the Chungju Intercity Bus Terminal) terminate in Suanbo, and Chungju city buses going to Mireuk or Songgye pass through here. Local buses have two stops along the main street. The Suanbo Intercity Bus Terminal, at the north end of town, is now closed down. Long-distance buses stop along the main street near the Suanbo Royal Hotel. Tickets can be purchased at the Suanbo Join Market at the end of the block. Suanbo is along Highway 3 and buses from Mungyeong/Jeomchon/Sangju/Andong going north often stop there. A local bus from Goesan terminates at the terminal several times daily. Buses from the Seoul area often stop at Suanbo on their way to Songgye, Jeomchon, etc.

[edit] Tourist bureaus

This small town has three tourist bureaus - one is a block south of the intercity bus terminal near the concert shell. The second is on the third floor of the Hi-Spa. It is now (10/09) temporarily or permanently closed. The third is near the south end of main street, near the south bus stop. Unfortunately most or all of the tourist bureau employes now speak only Korean, or very limited English.

Suanbo is a small place with large buildings - it's about four blocks across.

[edit] Suanbo restaurants

[edit] Five-day market

This market is held on days ending with 1 or 6. It's in the middle of town, on streets leading off the one where the buses run.

[edit] Hot spring spas

Some of the oncheon baths:

• Hi-spa is along the main street. This costs 6000 won adult admission and is the only publicly-owned hot spring resort in Korea. It's a very comfortable place to hang out in.
• Suanbo Park is high up on the hill a ways above the town. It costs 10,000 won admission but one can get a discount coupon from the tourist bureau. This applies to several other spa hotels as well. Featured here are outdoor baths for each gender.
• Suanbo Sangnok Hotel has a bath for which a coupon is available.
• Likewise, the Daelim Hotel has coupons available for its bath. Ask at a tourist bureau. At the Daelim, the oncheon is "sebisu" to hotel guests.

[edit] Hiking around Suanbo

• Climb up the hill to the east of town - you can get up to a big gazebo high up there...
• There's lots of hiking in Woraksan National Park - you can get there via [Chungju]] city buses, or by intercity buses from Dong Seoul Intercity Bus Terminal.
• Cheobpusan trail system has a number of branches which lead up to Cheobpu Mountain (698 meters). One starts from the Ilyang youth hostel. From here the trail follows a long ridge up. There's a junction before long - take the right fork up the ridge, even though the other one looks better-traveled. After 2.8 kms. from the YH the trail reaches 581 bong. From this peak it's 3.5 kms. to Cheobpusan. Another trailhead starts near the Dogmeat restaurant on the Suanbo bypass, not far from Multang Park, site of the concert shell. From here climb steeply up to reach the trail from the YH. It's 2 kms from the bottom to 581 bong. From Cheobpusan the trail continues down to the Central Police Academy. Another comes down at Gugringsannimjonsapumjilgwanniwan, whatever that is, after 3.5 kms. Keep in mind that these hiking distances are all as the crow flies and the walking isn't gentle.