Danyang, South Korea: A Journey Through Garlic, Legends, and Scenic Wonders
Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do
Danyang, North Chungcheong Province, is known as the home of garlic. A visit to the Danyang Gu-gyeong Market is a must to taste Danyang's specialties made with garlic, from garlic dumplings to garlic fried chicken!
Among the Eight Scenic Wonders of Danyang, Dodam Sambong Peaks is a popular spot for photographers, thanks to the stunning scenery created by the sunset.
Don't miss Ondalsanseong Fortress, which tells the love story of the Fool Ondal and Princess Pyeonggang, and Gosu Cave, where you can feel the mystery of ancient times.
01 Seokmun (Stone Gate)
If you walk upstream from Dodam Sambong Peaks, you'll see stairs leading to an observatory. Climb up this path for about 300m, and you'll find a rainbow-shaped stone pillar – this is Danyang Seokmun.
Seokmun is a strangely shaped rock formation where two large stone pillars are crossed by another rock, forming a natural gate. Its beauty is so outstanding that it is hard to believe it is the work of nature, and you can see another landscape within the landscape. The cool scenery of the Namhan River fills the rounded Seokmun. Conversely, the scenery of Seokmun viewed from a boat along the open Namhan River is also excellent. Because of this spectacle, Seokmun is called the Second of the Eight Scenic Wonders of Danyang.
To the left of Seokmun is a stone cave, and inside the cave is a jade field said to have been cultivated by a god. Legend has it that an old woman named Mago, who came down from heaven to fetch water, lost her hairpin and dug up the soil with her hands to find it, creating 99 fields of rice paddies. The surrounding scenery was so beautiful that she lived there for the rest of her life, farming the fields, which were called 'Seonin Okdap' because they were farmed by immortals.
02 Dodam Sambong Peaks
Dodam Sambong Peaks is where Jeong Do-jeon, who contributed to the founding of the Joseon Dynasty, spent his childhood. It is said that he was so captivated by the beauty of Dodam Sambong Peaks that he named his pen name Sambong. You can see the scenery of Dodam Sambong Peaks that was loved by Toegye Yi Hwang, Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, and Danwon Kim Hong-do with your own eyes. The Sambong Story Hall, located in the amusement park, exhibits Danyang's attractions as an archive. If you board a Hwangpo sailboat, you can pass through Seokmun and cross over to Dodam Garden on the other side. Dodam Garden is famous for its yellow cosmos plantation. You can fully feel the beauty of nature along with the scenery of Dodam Sambong Peaks.
I'm going to share stories about various travel destinations and restaurants I visited while traveling around the country, categorized by region.
Hope you enjoy it!!
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