[One Day Walk] Walking Along the Windy Embankment... Ganghwa Nadeulgil Course 16

The nickname of Course 16 on Ganghwa Nadeulgil is 'West Sea Golden Field Path.' It is a trail along the western coast of Ganghwa Island, walking through the vast rice paddies of Mangwol Plain. The total length is 13.5 km, taking about 4 hours. Starting from Changhu Passenger Terminal, the route passes Mangwol Fortress, Gyeryong Fortress, Hwangcheong-ri Village (Yongdure Village), Deoksan Forest Bathing Area, and reaches Oepo Passenger Terminal and the nearby Mangyang Fortress. Since half of the course is a seawall path facing the sea, the wind is strong; in summer, it provides a refreshing green breeze to cool down, but in winter, it can be quite cold, so it is advisable to dress warmly.

Leaving the starting point at Changhu Passenger Terminal and beginning to walk along the embankment, the Mangwol Plain unfolds. This plain was created through reclamation projects carried out since the late Goryeo period and is the largest single plain among the reclaimed plains of Ganghwa Island. The village here is also the largest and oldest among those built on reclaimed plains. Especially since the village is located in the middle of the field, it faces the moon first, which is why it is named Mangwol-dong (Moon Viewing Village).

The next places to encounter are two fortresses. A fortress (dondae) is a post installed in border or coastal areas within a territory to monitor enemy movements or prepare for attacks. These are some of the fortresses built during the reign of King Sukjong of the Joseon Dynasty when coastal defense facilities around Ganghwa were reinforced. The first fortress encountered, Mangwol Fortress, was constructed using rectangular stones measuring 40 to 120 cm, with dimensions of 38 m in width, 18 m in length, and 2.5 m in height.

The next fortress, Gyeryong Fortress, is built with rectangular granite blocks, measuring 30 m in length, 20 m in width, and 3 to 5 m in height. Among the 48 fortresses, Gyeryong Fortress is special because its exact construction date is known. An inscription on the lower part of the stone wall states that it was built in 'April of the 18th year of Kangxi' by the Eoyeong Army of Gunwi, Gyeongsang Province during the Qing Dynasty. Thanks to this, it is the only one among the 54 fortresses in the Ganghwa area whose construction date is clearly known.

Leaving the seaside path and heading inland, you reach Hwangcheong-ri Village, also called Yongdure Village. Yongdure refers to a traditional water-lifting device used to pump water from low areas to higher rice paddies or fields. There is a legend that clear water has flowed here since ancient times, producing many great figures. After passing through Deoksan Forest Bathing Area and arriving at Oepo Passenger Terminal, today's course ends. Near Mangyang Fortress nearby, there is also the Sambyeolcho Anti-Mongol Uprising Monument. After the end of the Mongol invasions, when the decision was made to return the capital to Gaegyeong, this monument was erected in 1993 to honor the Sambyeolcho forces who resisted the Mongol army until the end in Ganghwa Island, Jindo, and Jeju Island.