Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

3.1 Km 12516 2022-09-19

222, Seonwonsaji-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-8234

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site was first discovered in 1976 during a surface examination around Ganghwado Island undertaken by the Ganghwado Island Academic Research Team of Dongguk University. The site was designated as Historic Site No. 259 in 1977. Seonwonsa Temple was built by General Choi Wu in 1245 (the 32nd year of King Gojong’s reign during the Goryeo dynasty), which was right after the transfer of the capital to Ganghwado during resistance against the Mongolian invasion.

The temple was meant to be a spiritual mainstay in fighting against Mongolia. It used to be one of the two largest temples in Korea along with Songgwangsa Temple. However, the temple was completely destroyed during the early Joseon era, leaving only the site itself. The famous wood blocks of Palman Daejanggyeong (the Tripitaka Koreana), currently housed in Haeinsa Temple at Hapcheon, are said to have been originally stored in Seonwonsa Temple. It is believed that the carved wood blocks were taken from Seonwonsa to Heungcheonsa Temple during the Joseon era and again moved to Haeinsa Temple during the reign of Sejo.

Located on a mountain slope, the presumed location of the building site extends 250 meters from south to north and 170 meters from east to west.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 2] Homeland Fortification Trail ([강화 나들길 제2코스] 호국돈대길)

3.3 Km 23046 2021-08-11

24, Cheonghadong-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-1906

The Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Trails are a collection of walking paths along the coast of Ganghwa Island that connect the watchtowers and and walls of Ganghwasanseong Fortress, as well as royal tombs and other historically significant sites from the Goryeo dynasty that dot the island.

[Ganghwa Nadeul-gil Course 2] Homeland Fortification Trail
Course 2 stretches over a 17 kilometer area between Gapgotdon Watchtower and Chojijin Fort. This trail showcases the history of the island and the changes that happened before and after the opening of the port. The course follows a coastal road that is particularly beautiful in spring and fall.

Gapgotdon Watchtower (갑곶돈대)

3.4 Km 20624 2021-01-18

18, Haeandong-ro 1366beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7077

Gapgotdon Watchtower was built to protect the Ganghwa Straits from invasion when the Goryeo Kingdom moved their capital to Ganghwado Island. The fortified area served as a highly strategic location for the Goryeo Kingdom, and had endured multiple invasions by the Mongolian troops between 1232 and 1270.

The watchtower was fortified in the Joseon dynasty by King Sukjong in 1679 and had once fallen during the French campaign against Korea in 1866. In 1977, the site was restored to its original form. The cannons exhibited at the current site were made during the Joseon dynasty to attack outside invaders from sea.

Yeonmijeong Pavilion (연미정)

3.8 Km 29558 2022-08-30

242, Wolgot-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-3124

Yeonmijeong Pavilion is Incheon's Tangible Cultural Asset No. 24 (designated on March 1, 1995).

While the exact date of construction is unknown, the pavilion was greatly damaged and then rebuilt afterwards due to the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, the Byeongja Chinese Invasion in 1636, and the Korean War on June 25, 1950.

The name Yeonmi comes from the swallow tail-shape of Imjingang River and Yeomhagang River ('yeon' means swallow and ‘mi’ means a tail). As the pavilion stands on top of Wolgotdondae, visitors can see Paju-si, Gimpo-si, Gaepung-gun in Hwanghae-do (North Korea) at a glance.

Goryeosan Mountain (고려산)

4.2 Km 32422 2020-04-27

Gocheon-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-3515

Goryeosan Mountain, once referred to as Oryeonsan, is a mountain rich in folklore. Legend has it that in the year 416 (during the reign of King Jangsu of Goguryeo), a Buddhist monk named Cheonchukguk climbed Goryeosan Mountain and found Oryeonji Pond where the five-colored lotus flowers bloomed. The monk picked the lotus flower petals and blew them into the air. He then built a temple where each of the petals had landed, naming the temples according to their corresponding color: Jeokseoksa Temple, formerly Jeokryeonsa Temple (red lotus), Baengnyeonsa Temple (white lotus), Cheongryeonsa Temple (blue lotus), Hwangryeonsa Temple (yellow lotus), and Heungnyeonsa Temple (black lotus).

Around 130 dolmens are distributed along the foot of Goryeosan Mountain. Sirumisan Mountain, on the northern side of Goryeosan Mountain is said to have been the birthplace of General Yeongaesomun of the Goguryeo Kingdom.

Dolmen in Bugeun-ri [UNESCO World Heritage] (강화 고인돌 유적 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

5.0 Km 33678 2023-11-10

Bugeun-ri, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-933-3624

Dolmen in Bugeun-ri is a dolmen site in Ganghwa that was designated as a Historic Site for its historical value representing the funeral customs of the Bronze Age. The main stone used to create the tomb is 710 centimeters long, 550 centimeters wide, and 260 centimeters high. The dolmen is an example of the northern dolmen customs, serving as a subject of further research in the field of ancient history. The Dolmen in Bugeun-ri is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage along with other significant dolmen sites.

Ganghwa History Museum (강화역사박물관)

5.2 Km 45778 2021-08-13

994-19, Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-7887

Ganghwa History Museum opened in 2010 with aims to exhibit, preserve and educate visitors about the history and culture of Ganghwa from prehistoric ages to modern times based on artifacts from the area.

Gimpo Munsusanseong Fortress (김포 문수산성)

5.4 Km 8216 2022-12-20

Ponae-ri, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do
+82-31-980-2485

Munsusanseong Fortress was built on Munsusan Mountain in 1694, during the 20th year of the reign of King Sukjong, the 19th king of the Joseon dynasty. The fortress as designed to defend Gwanghwado Island from marine invasion. At the time, the fortress had north, west, and south gates, but they were destroyed in a fire during the Byeong-in Yangyo (1866). The north gate was restoryed in 1995 and the south gate in 2002. The fortress walls span 6 kilometers in length, 4 kilometers of which remain unrestored. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, the top of the fortress commands a spectacular view spanning from North Korea to the Hangang River inlet, and from Samgaksan Mountain to the sea off Incheon in the distance. It is often referred to as the Geumgangsan Mountain of Gimpo as it boasts superb scenery throughout all four seasons. The mountain is home to Munsusa Temple, established during the reign of Silla King Jinseong.

Hwamunseok Cultural Center (강화화문석문화관)

6.1 Km 22512 2021-11-11

413, Jangjeongyango-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-930-7060

Ganghwa Hwamunseok, Korea's only rush-weaving handicraft, is a cultural legacy inherited from the Goryeo period, and is a product that is exclusively produced in Ganghwa-gun. To preserve and develop its historic rush-weaving handicrafts, Ganghwa-gun constructed Hwamunseok Cultural Center at Yango-ri in Songhae-myeon, the craft's place of origin. Visitors to the cultural center will be able to view the individual features and transformations of Hwamunseok in addition to the past, present and future of rush-weaving handicrafts.

Ganghwa Armiae World (강화 아르미애월드)

6.4 Km 15201 2020-02-29

742-2, Jungang-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Ganghwa Armiae World is a theme park with Ganghwa mugwort as its theme. The mugwort of Ganghwado Island is widely known for its great medicinal effects. Armiae means “creating beauty through mugwort.” Armiae World provides its visitors with various opportunities to experience Ganghwa mugwort.

Mugwort Korean Beef Restaurant serves quality beef from cattle fed Ganghwa mugwort. The restaurant features a modern interior with beautiful views of the surrounding area. The Mugwort Experience Hall presents various mugwort-related experience programs such as a spa, foot bath, and sitz bath. The Agricultural Exhibition Hall provides a childrens' interactive experience about the value of farming, and the Onsaemiro Maze Park offers a history trip of Ganghwa greenhouses along the labyrinth. Other facilities include the Pottery Experience Hall, Ganghwa Agricultural Goods Sales Office, outdoor lawn square for events and picnics, and a processing plant for agricultural and indigenous products including mugwort.

Armiae World is located at the foot of Hyeolgusan Mountain, which is well-known for beautiful azalea flowers in the spring. Providing hands-on experiences in farming, Armiae World is emerging as a unique tourist attraction of Ganghwado Island.

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지) - Area information - Korea travel information