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Top 6 Places to see Cherry Blossom in South-Korea
Spring is creeping in, which means it’s time for cherry blossoms! This beautiful flower is the national flower of Japan, but you can spot them in China, Taiwan and Korea as well, among other places. In this post we’ll focus on Korea and will walk you through the six best places for witnessing these wonderful spring flowers in Korea. We’ll also give you tips for things do in these places.
1. Yeouido Park, Seoul
Yeouido Spring Flower Festival: April 7th – 12th, 2018
Yeouido Park, located alongside the Han River, is one of the best and most popular spots to celebrate the beginning of spring! The Spring Flower Festival is the biggest spring festival in Seoul and the Yunjunro Street is lined up with blooming cherry trees for up to 6 km, so there are plenty of spots for admiring the scenery.
At Yeouido Park you should…
Have a picnic! Yeouido Park is an excellent picnic spot: the park is packed with vendors selling delicious foods and you can even order fried chicken or pizza to enjoy on the spot! A warm spring day spent at Yeouido Park with friends is something you will never forget.
2. Seokchon Lake, Seoul
Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival: April 5th – 13th, 2018
Seokchon Lake is another very popular spot for admiring cherry blossoms. The combination of cherry blossoms surrounding the lake and the Magic Island in the center of the lake make the area feel like straight out of a fairytale! Seokchon Cherry Blossom Festival includes a concert and a firework show, so this one is a must visit.
At Seokchon Lake you should…
Visit the Lotte World amusement park! The amusement park consists of the world’s largest indoor theme park and an outdoor amusement park on the Magic Island. A visit to the amusement park is a perfect way to end a fun spring day.
3. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace is a beautiful attraction during any season, but spring turns it into a whole new level. The palace area does not have as many cherry trees as the other places on this list, yet the combination of pink flowers and traditional buildings make the palace look extremely charming.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace you should…
Wear a hanbok and walk around the palace! Spring is an excellent season to try out the Korean traditional dress and take pictures. You can find hanbok rental stores nearby the palace and as a bonus, everyone wearing a Korean traditional dress will get into the Gyeongbokgung Palace for free!
4. Jinhae, Gyeongnam
Jinhae Gunhangje Festival: April 1st – 10th, 2018
Jinhae, located near Busan, hosts the oldest and biggest cherry blossom festival in Korea. The city has one of the biggest concentration of cherry blossom trees in the world and the blooming flowers on hundreds of thousands of cherry trees turn the scenery into a pastel dream. Jinhae Gunhangjae Festival is definitely worth visiting even from Seoul.
At Jinhae you should…
Visit the famous picture spots! Jinhae is the best place to see cherry blossoms in Korea so it is no wonder some of the most iconic cherry blossom picture spots are also located there. The two especially famous cherry blossom photoshoot spots are Romance Bridge and Gyeonghwa Station. Romance Bridge is located at Yeojwacheon stream where the stream and the surrounding paths are decorated with various kind of objects. Gyeonghwa Station is an abandoned train station which has later become famous for its cherry blossom scenery and a train that has been left on the track for pictures. Just make sure not to visit these famous spots on the weekends!
5. Gyeongpodae Pavilion, Gangneung, Gangwondo
Gyeongpodae Cherry Blossom Festival: April 6th – 12th, 2018
Gyeongpodae Cherry Blossom Festival takes place at the center of Gyeongpodae Pavilion, the 6th regional cultural treasure of Korea. Next to the pavilion a 4.3km path around the Gyeongpoho lake is lined with pink blooming trees. Gangneung city was also one of the venues for Winter Olympic 2018.
At Gangneung you should…
Wake up early and see the sunrise on the beach! Since Gangneung city is located on the east coast of Korea, it is an excellent location to admire the sun rising on the horizon while enjoying the refreshing sea breeze. Although the temperature is not yet enough for sunbathing and swimming in the sea, Gyeongpo Beach is also an excellent getaway for a hot summer day!
6. Jeju Island
Jeju’s King Cherry Blossom Festival: March 31st – April 9th, 2018
Jeju Island is a perfect place for all of those who want to enjoy the spring atmosphere early. Located on the south of Korea, this island is a popular holiday spot and famous for many of its specialties. You can celebrate Jeju’s King Cherry Blossom Festival at various location throughout the island. One of the most popular spots to see the cherry blossom is Noksanro where pink cherry blossoms are accompanied with bright yellow canola flowers.
At Jeju Island you should…
Enjoy the specialties of the island! If you have traveled as far as Jeju Island, you might as well take full advantage of its unique food culture. Some of the most unique dishes are Jeju Black Pork and Seaweed and Sea Urchin Soup. At Jeju Island you must also try its famous tangerines, pamper yourself with skin care containing rich volcanic clay and hike Hallasan, Koreas highest mountain.
Experience the stunning cherry blossoms for yourself by studying abroad in Korea next spring!
Find out more about studying abroad in Korea
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This post was written by our intern, Jenni.
