[Jo Yongjun's Journey Manli] Bicycle Trip Catching Spring on Two Wheels

Along the Seomjin River, Enjoying the Scent of Spring at Leisure
Yeongju Bicycle Tour: Choose and Ride as You Like
Gyeongpo Lake Bicycle Path Where Nature and History Blend
Cheonsuman Bicycle Path Amid Unique Scenery of Ganjeokji

Resting at Traditional Houses in Museom Village, Yeongju, While Biking

A bicycle taking a short break with the sea as its friend

Spring is the season that softens the world. It gently melts the hard ice and lifts the buds of flowers that winter’s cold had tightly hidden away.

It’s time to stretch off the deep sleep and awaken the travel desires tucked away during the cold. The perfect travel for the quietly arriving spring, pushing away the severe cold, is a bicycle trip. How about riding on two wheels, cutting through the fresh breeze, and fully experiencing the spring when all things come back to life? Here are some great cycling destinations to enjoy the gentle spring breeze. These are places where the stress accumulated over winter will instantly vanish.

# A spring light journey to Museom Village, Yeongju Bicycle Path

A bicycle riding on a quiet rural road in Yeongju

The Yeongju Bicycle Path is diverse with four sections. The 3rd and 4th sections, about 14.5 km, leading from the city center along the waterway to Museom Village, are especially beautiful. Renting a bike at Yeongju City Bicycle Park and riding along the Seocheon River that runs through the city, you will encounter landmarks such as the Joseon Dynasty’s Uiguk Jeminnu, and Sampanseo Old House, known as the birthplace of Jeong Do-jeon. Along the bike path, simple villages and tree-lined dedicated bicycle decks continue, and occasionally, the silver sandy riverbanks sparkle. After about an hour and a half, you reach Museom Village (a National Folk Cultural Property). The village, embraced by gentle waterways, has over 30 traditional houses including the 350-year-old Manjukjae Old House (Gyeongbuk Folk Cultural Property). Exploring the village corners by bike immerses you in a tranquil atmosphere. Yeongju City Bicycle Park is open year-round (no holidays), and the public bicycle rental station inside the park offers free rentals of children’s and adult bicycles, tandem bikes, and electric bikes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (usable until 5:30 p.m.) (closed on major holidays).

Yeongju Buseoksa Temple

No trip to Yeongju is complete without visiting Buseoksa Temple. The Sobaeksan mountain ridge viewed from in front of Muryangsujeon Hall (a National Treasure), which is architecturally perfected with its bulging pillars, is breathtaking. Sosu Seowon Confucian Academy (a Historic Site), Korea’s first state-licensed seowon, is neatly nestled in nature. Yeongjuho Yongmaru Park offers an open view of the lake scenery harmonized with Yongmi Bridge and Yongdu Bridge. After sunset, when the lights come on, it shows off a splendid appearance.

# On a spring day scattered with the scent of plum blossoms, Gwangyang Seomjingang Bicycle Path

Gwangyang Maehwa Village, a popular spring flower viewing spot

The Seomjingang Bicycle Path, stretching from Imsil in Jeonbuk to Gwangyang in Jeonnam along the Seomjin River, is the most naturally beautiful course among the national cross-country bicycle paths. Flowers bloom everywhere, making it a popular spring cycling destination. Among them, the approximately 20 km section from Gwangyang Maehwa Village to Baealdo Riverside Park is perfect for riding at this time when spring begins. It passes through Maehwa Village, where plum blossoms?the heralds of spring?are everywhere, the scenic Suwoljeong Pavilion, Mangdeok Port where the Seomjin River meets the sea, and the historically significant Jeong Byeonguk House (a Registered Cultural Property), which preserves the posthumous works of poet Yun Dong-ju. There are free bicycle rental stations at Maehwa Village and at the entrance of the driver’s license test center near Gwangyang-eup, so you can enjoy even a partial section lightly. The rental stations operate from March 1 to November 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and public holidays except weekends). At Seomjingangkkeutdeul Village, which the Seomjingang Bicycle Path passes through, general bicycles, children’s bicycles, and family bicycles are also available for free rental (reservation required, closed on Mondays).

Bicycle path along the Seomjin Riverbank

After cycling along the Seomjin River, head to Gwangyang’s old downtown for cultural and artistic exploration. The Insori Park, a complex cultural space born from urban regeneration projects, is a hot spot in Gwangyang. Old hanok houses have been transformed into art shops, cafes, and accommodations, while abandoned grain warehouses have been remodeled into galleries, offering a unique experience. Linking the Jeonnam Provincial Museum of Art, built on the site of the old Gwangyang Station, and the Gwangyang Art Warehouse, remodeled from a closed warehouse, completes the perfect itinerary.

# Beautiful Gangneung Gyeongpo Lake, a bicycle ride around

A traveler running along the Gyeongpoho Lake Trail

In Gangneung City, Gangwon Province, there is a bicycle path where nature and history blend. It is the Gyeongpo Lake Trail, about 4.3 km, running along a calm lake and the sturdy Baekdudaegan mountain range. The trail consists of a walking path and a dedicated bicycle road around Gyeongpodae Pavilion and Gyeongpo Lake (a Scenic Site). It is flat and safe, with many bicycle rental shops, making it suitable for all ages. There are many spots perfect for taking memorable photos, including pine forests, the blue lake, and various sculptures. Pause for a moment to park your bike and climb Gyeongpodae, loved by poets and scholars, to gaze quietly over the lake. If time and stamina allow, try riding the Gangneung Gyeongpo Lake Oxygen Trail, selected as a local government premium bicycle path, covering the section from Gyeongpo Beach to Yeongok Beach. The bike road near Yeongok Beach runs between windbreak forests, allowing for a refreshing ride under a green tunnel. Gyeongpo Lake is open year-round (no holidays) with no entrance fee. Bicycle rental shops are clustered near Sky Bay Hotel Gyeongpo, with typical fees of 5,000 KRW for single bikes, 10,000 KRW for tandem and electric bikes, and 30,000 KRW for family bikes (per hour).

A cyclist traveling under Gyeongpodae Pavilion

Near Gyeongpo Lake is the Gyeongpo Ecological Retention Pond, famous for its Metasequoia road. Crossing the bridge here leads to Seongyojang House in Gangneung (a National Folk Cultural Property), a well-preserved Joseon Dynasty nobleman’s residence. Ojukheon in Gangneung (a Treasure), where Shin Saimdang and Yulgok Yi I were born, houses Munsungsa Shrine with Yi I’s portrait, Eoje-gak with Yulgok’s relics, the Yulgok Memorial Hall, the Yulgok Character Education Center which recreates Shin Saimdang’s ‘Chochungdo’ (Insect Painting) through media art, and the Gangneung Currency Exhibition Hall, which offers an easy-to-understand history of currency.

# Along Seosan A and B District Embankments ~ Seosan Cheonsuman Bicycle Path

Cheonsuman Bicycle Path Stretching Almost in a Straight Line

The Seosan Cheonsuman Bicycle Path stretches from Woncheong-ri, Nam-myeon, Taean-gun, Chungnam, passing through Seosan A and B District Embankments, to Namdang Port in Hongseong-gun. Completing the round trip takes about 3 to 4 hours, but you don’t have to ride the entire course. You can set your own start, end, and turnaround points along the path and start riding. The Cheonsuman Bicycle Path has many attractive features. Most of the route runs along the sea on flat terrain, allowing for a lively ride. The vast Cheonsuman and Seosan reclaimed land landscapes unfold along the way, offering wide-open views perfect for cycling. There are plenty of rest areas for cyclists along the route, adding to its appeal. Ganwoldo Island, located at the midpoint of the course, is ranked as the 3rd scenic spot among Seosan’s nine views, famous for its sunset harmonizing with Ganwoldam Hermitage. This path has low bicycle traffic but overlaps with the Korea Trail’s West Coast Trail 64 course. It is recommended to use it with caution for pedestrian safety.

Cheonsuman Bicycle Path

Near the Cheonsuman Bicycle Path is Seosan Birdland, a space to observe the bird ecosystem inhabiting the major migratory bird habitats of Cheonsuman and Seosan reclaimed land. Seosan Haemieupseong Fortress (a Historic Site) was the headquarters of the Chungcheong Province Military Commander during the Joseon Dynasty and is the best-preserved fortress town in Korea. Don’t miss the ‘Smile of Baekje,’ discovered after nearly 1,500 years hidden in the forest, and the Seosan Yonghyeon-ri Rock-carved Buddha Triad (a National Treasure).

# Spring outing cycling along the waterways, Siheung Greenway

Greenway, the representative bicycle path of Siheung City

The Greenway is Siheung City’s representative bicycle path. It stretches about 7.5 km from Gaetgol Ecological Park to Mulwang Lake, which even amateur cyclists can complete leisurely within an hour. The starting point of the Greenway is Gaetgol Ecological Park. Before starting your bike trip, visit the park’s main attractions: the shaking observatory and the old Sorae Salt Warehouse (a Gyeonggi Registered Cultural Property). Around the park, there is a winding inner bay tidal flat where seawater snakes through like a serpent. Riding the Greenway, you will reach Gwankokji Pond, where Kang Huimaeng, a Joseon Dynasty scholar and writer, first cultivated lotus flowers in Korea. Hojobeol is land reclaimed from the sea to create rice paddies to relieve the suffering of starving people. The walking path around the final destination, Mulwang Lake, prohibits bicycle traffic. Siheung City Public Bicycle Rental Stations (Wolgok Station and Jeongwang Station) offer free bicycle rentals from March to November. At Gaetgol Ecological Park, electric cars, multi-passenger bicycles, and water bicycles are also available for rent (paid).

Siheung Oido Red Lighthouse

After your bicycle trip, move to Oido to learn about Siheung’s cultural heritage and Neolithic lifestyle. The Siheung Oido Museum operates permanent exhibition rooms and a children’s experience room. Oido Prehistoric Site Park features an observatory, shell mound exhibition hall, and prehistoric experience village. The nearby Red Lighthouse is the most iconic spot in Oido.