Ganghwado Island (강화도)

4.5Km 2023-03-24

Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-7500

Ganghwado Island, off the west coast, is the fifth largest island in Korea. The island was connected to the mainland in 1970 with the construction of the Ganghwagyo Bridge. Another larger bridge, Ganghwadaegyo Bridge, was built in 1997, making it easier than ever to travel to Ganghwado Island from Seoul and Incheon areas. The island is home to Chamseongdan Altar on top of Manisan Mountain on the southern coast. This is said to be where Dangun Wanggeom offered sacrificial rites to the heavens. Another important item of note on Ganghwado Island is the collection of stone dolmens, a UNESCO-recognized world heritage.

Ganghwado Island has many famous local products, including the medicinally effective Ganghwa ginseng and hwamunseok, a mat woven with flower patterns. Hwamunseok is famous also as a representative traditional Korean product for its intricate handwork and designs.

Ganghwa Ginseng Center (강화 인삼센터)

4.9Km 2021-05-07

335, Ganghwa-daero, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-10-9314-3348

The cultivation of Ganghwa ginseng began during the era of King Gojong (A.D. 1232) of the Goryeo dynasty. In 1920, Ganghwado Island was designated a special district for ginseng cultivation. At the onset of the Korean War (1950-1953), the people of Gaeseong, the birthplace of ginseng cultivation, took refuge on Ganghwado Island and began to cultivate ginseng on a large scale, which was the beginning of the production of the famous 6-year-old root of ginseng.

Ganghwado Island has the optimal environment for ginseng cultivation with clay soil, sandy loam, and a cool climate condition influenced by coastal winds. The thick root of Ganghwa ginseng does not have any inside cavity or white interior. This is how Ganghwa became a leading producer of the 6-year-old root, which has a high rate of red ginseng extract, cheonji.

Ganghwa Ginseng Center handles quality ginseng guaranteed in its cultivation, processing, and distribution, owing to the utmost care exerted to provide safe and reliable products.

Golden Grass (옛날에금잔디)

5.1Km 2024-12-23

18-1 , Ganghwaseo-ro 225beon-gil, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-10-6216-5598

Geumjandi on Ganghwado Island, Gyeonggi-do, is an 80-year-old traditional hanok with red clay walls, timber rafters and beams and a wooden porch. The yard includes a garden with flowers and pine trees, there is a fireplace and cauldron, and a well which adds to the charm. Both the anchae and the sarangchae have guestrooms, and the hanok is an ideal place for outdoor weddings or first birthday parties: a marquee, sound equipment and barbecue facilities are available to hire. Pets are welcome.

Ganghwa Seonwonsa Temple Site (강화 선원사지)

5.6Km 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.

Oepo-ri Kkotgejip (외포리꽃게집)

5.9Km 2024-03-20

1206 Jungang-ro, Naega-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon

Oepo-ri Kkotgejip is a restaurant dedicated to traditional blue crab delicacies, including kkotge tang (spicy blue crab stew), kkotge jjim (steamed blue crab), and ganjang gejang (soy sauce marinated crab). Positioned near Oepo-ri Quay, en route to Seongmodo Island, the restaurant provides a delectable experience of blue crab dishes complemented by a stunning sea view. Visitors can also take pleasure in the scenic Korean coastal landscape, explore the salted seafood market, and observe the fishing boats in the vicinity.

Hwamunseok Cultural Center (강화화문석문화관)

6.1Km 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 Nadeul-gil Course 2] Homeland Fortification Trail ([강화 나들길 제2코스] 호국돈대길)

7.1Km 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)

7.2Km 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)

7.4Km 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.

Seongmodo Island (석모도)

8.3Km 2021-05-28

9, Samsanbuk-ro, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon
+82-32-934-7500

Seongmodo Island, located 1.2 kilometers west of Ganghwado Island, is a popular destination for families and those looking for relaxation. The island has various mountains as well as a 41.8 kilometer coastal road.

Ganghwado Island (강화도) - Area information - Korea travel information