Jeonnam Province Selects Four Recommended Tourist Destinations Including Gurye Arboretum
Jeonnam Province has selected four regional forest trails that are ideal for walking as its recommended tourist destinations for May.
The Metasequoia Road in Damyang was created in 1972. Now, more than 50 years later, both sides of the 8.5-kilometer road are lined with about 2,000 towering trees, each reaching up to 20 meters in height, creating a green tunnel. In May, the fresh greenery is at its peak, making a simple walk along the trail a truly healing experience.
This spot is also famous as a driving route and is always popular among walkers as a photo hotspot. The area is dotted with small art galleries, cafes, and bicycle rental shops.
The Gurye Arboretum is the first public arboretum in Jeonnam Province. It features 13 themed gardens, including the Azalea Garden, Spring Fragrance Garden, and Shade Garden, as well as a greenhouse and a seed learning center, all set among a variety of spring flowers and trees. Visitors can enjoy unique experiences by walking along themed trails lined with flowers and trees that bloom and fade with the seasons.
Experiential programs such as observing frog eggs and making leaf boats with a forest kindergarten instructor are especially popular among children and students of all ages.
The Mudeungsan Cypress Natural Recreation Forest in Hwasun is filled with lush 40-year-old cypress and cedar trees. Here, visitors can breathe in refreshing phytoncides released from the vast forest and relieve the fatigue of daily life.
The site is equipped with various facilities for family gatherings, as well as retreats, seminars, and training sessions for schools, companies, and other groups, including log cabins, a sledding slope, and a water playground. Accommodation reservations can be made through the Korea Forest Service's integrated reservation site, 'Supnadel e'.
The Jangseong Healing Forest was cultivated for over 20 years by independence activist Lim Jongguk on Chukryeongsan Mountain, which had been devastated by the Korean War. Today, it is recognized as the largest artificial forest in Korea.
The 'Healing Forest Trail' offers gentle slopes, making it easy to explore the forest. There are six themed trails, including the Forest Scent Trail, Oxygen Trail, and Health Trail. In addition, visitors can participate in forest healing programs such as cypress bracelet making, Nordic walking, and forest yoga at the National Jangseong Forest Center, operated by the Korea Forest Service.
Shim Woojung, head of the Tourism Division at Jeonnam Province, said, "The forest trails of Jeonnam are filled with lush trees and flowers, offering healing for the eyes and soul just by walking. I hope visitors will soothe their tired bodies and minds while enjoying the fresh greenery of May on Jeonnam's beautiful walking trails."
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