|
Destinations Gwangju |
|
Gwangju
is the largest city in Jeolla-do. The major tourist attraction in
Gwangju is Mt. Mudeungsan Provincial Park, and major cultural
festivals include the Gwangju Kimchi Festival and Gwangju Biennale.
Gwangju Gossaumnori (Korean traditional game) has been designated as
intangible cultural assets.
Tourist Sites
Leisure/Sports
-
Gwangju National Museum
Address : San
83-3 Maegok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju-si
Description :
Gwangju
National Museum collects and preserves the cultural relics from
Jeollanam-do. The exhibits are divided in 7 areas according to the
time periods and type. The Prehistoric Hall displays the stone tools
from the Paleolithic Age, Neolithic Age, Bronze Age, and other
relics from the early Iron Age. Samguk Hall displays many
earthenware and ironware from the Large Onggwan in the Jeolla-do
area. The Buddhist Art Hall exhibits cultural Items related to
Buddhism, the Painting Hall exhibits work of artists of the Honam
district from the Joseon and modern periods. Jeolla-do is the
birthplace of Korean Pottery. If you want to see the transition
process from the Cheongja of Goryeo Period to Joseon Period's
Buncheongsagi and Baekja, head over to the Goryeo Pottery Exhibit
Hall. You can see the whole process of pottery manufacturing at one
time. You can also see pottery at the Joseon Buncheongsagi ㆍBaekja
Hall. Shinan Ocean Floor Relic Hall is an unusual exhibit hall. The
items on display are from a trading ship, which had been submerged
for 600 years in the Shinan Sea. They were excavated during 11
operations from 1976 to 1984. From this ship about 20,681 works of
pottery, metal items, stone items, wood items and glass items were
discovered. If you are interested in seeing items that had not been
seen for several centuries, this museum is the place for you.
Admission is free on the first Monday of every month, so be sure to
take advantage of this if you visit during the beginning of the
month.
Directions :
At Gwangju
Station or Express Bus Terminal, take the Bus No.16, No.19, No.26,
No.35, No.55 or No.114, and get off at Gwangju National Museum (10
minutes travel time).
Information :
1. Telephone:
062) 570-7000
2. Homepage: http://gwangju.museum.go.kr/intro.jsp (Kor)
3. Hours: Mar.-Oct.: 09:00-18:00
Nov.-Feb.: 09:00-17:00
4. Closed: every Monday, New Years
5. Ticket Prices:
ages 25-64: ￦400
ages 19-24 : ￦200
Under 18, over 65: free
6. Facilities: Parking Lot, Lecture Hall, Souvenir Corner
|
|
Back to the Top
 |
|
Recommended Sites
-
Mt. Mudeungsan
Provincial Park
Address : Hwasun-gun, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
Description :
Mt. Mudeungsan Provincial Park is a mountain at the edge of
Hwasun-gun, Damyang-gun and Gwangju, and it became provincial park
in 1972. It is also called Mt. Muaksan, Mt. Mujinaksan, or Mt.
Seoseoksan. Mt. Mudeungsan is 1,186m above sea level, and the top is
composed of three rock peaks called Cheonwongbong, Jiwongbong, and
Inwonbong, also known as “Jeongsang Three”. Mudeungsan does not have
a steep incline, so anyone can easily climb it, and it has beautiful
valleys flowing under it. A great diversity of rocks occupies the
Cheonwongbong peak, and because of this, it was once an object of
worship from the local people as a god’s mountain. Among the more
majestic of these rocks are the Seoseokdae, Gyubong, and Ipseokdae
rocks. At the base of the mountain, there are famous temples such as
Yaksa-am, Jeungsimsa, and Wonhyosa Temple. Mt. Mudeungsan is also
known for its beauty for all seasons of the year – in the fall, the
autumn leaves of Gyubongam is especially beautiful, and Eoksae grass
of Baekma ridge becomes spectacular. In the winter, snow and ice on
the mountains create exquisite scenery as well. Below the mountain,
there is a variety of recreational and convenience facilities to
make your tour more pleasurable. The Gwangju National Museum is one
of these, a building in a traditional Korean style, with exhibition
spaces and a wide artifacts preservation facility. It has displays
of treasures found from the sea of Sinan, such as artifacts of
China’s Song and Won Dynasties, also artifacts from Honam province
during Seonsa, Baekje, and Silla periods, and paintings from the
Joseon Period – a total of about 2,000 of artifacts
Directions :
From Gwangju Station, take city Bus No. 9, No. 17, No. 222, or
No. 333, and get off at Dochung bus stop. Transfer to Bus No. 777
and get off at Wonhyosa Temple bus stop.
From Gwangju station, take regular bus no. 18, and go directly to
Wonhyosa bus stop. The bus, however, only comes once every 1 hr and
30 min.
Information :
- Inquiries: Administration Office, Tel: 062-525-9370 (Kor, Chi,
Jap, Eng)
-
Gwangju Art Street
Address : Gung-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju
Description :
Gwangju Art Street is a 300m long street where people can
experience and feel authentic Gwangju, aimed at developing Gwangju’s
tradition, exhibit its art works, promote and market them. The
street is located behind the Jungang Elementary School which is in
from of the Gwangju Dongbu Police Station. You can see authentic
Korean fine arts such as paintings, ceramics, writings, and
industrial arts just to name a few. Every Saturday, a flea market is
held here. It is nationally famous for its unique pieces of art.
Collectors from all over the nation gather to display their
collections, such as old calligraphy materials, old coins, stone
hairbrushes, china ware, wooden sculptures, folk drawings, old
books, ink, incents – items that were actually used by people in the
past. Part of the attraction is the stories the collectors tell of
their collections as well. One of a kind hand made artwork and
sometimes the artists themselves can be seen here. Enjoy the many
shows and exhibitions that act as the main attraction on this road.
Mudeung arts exhibit operates according to districts, and it
functions as a cultural festival event as well. The outdoor
exhibition was built in 1995, February, and it is open day and
night. You can see quality artworks such as paintings, sculptures
and other workds here. The large exhibition space has 32 booths, and
there are always planned exhibits, special exhibits going on, and
you can frequently see many valuable cultural treasures of the
region on display here, to the applause of the visitors. Every
Saturday, the Street of Fine Arts is blocked off from traffic, and
people gather to celebrate art and culture here.
Directions :
From Gwangju Station take bus no. 11, 17, 30, 222, or 333 to the
Docheong bus stop. 5 min-walk from the stop.
Information :
062-525-9370 (KOR/CHN/JPN/ENG)
-
May
18 Cemetery
Address : 34 Wunjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju-si
Description :
May 18 Cemetery, located in front of Mt. Mudeungsan, is the
symbol of freedom and democracy and is a graveyard of victims during
the contention for democracy in May 1980. It was at the graveyard in
Mangwol-dong that victims were carried and buried by handcarts and
garbage trucks at that time in 1980. In 1997 the cemetery was
exhumed and reburied at this cemetery. May 18th became a national
holiday of re-evaluating our desire for democracy. To enter the May
18 Cemetery, you need to pass the Democracy Gate, built in a
traditional Korean style. Passing the widely spread Plaza of
Democracy, you will reach the Commemoration Passage. Keep walking
and you will reach a round figure (4m high) of an enclosing hand.
This is the Memorial Tower, which symbolizes the resurrection of new
life. Under the tower there is a worship platform with burning
incense to show respect. Past the Memorial Tower, there are raised
works on the right and left. On the right there is an enshrinement
where pictures and monetary tablets are placed, and across from it
stands the Door of History showing the images of that day. You can
understand Korean history by viewing these materials. After viewing
this part of Korean history, it will be pleasant to take a walk and
enjoy the surroundings of the 5.18 Cemetery.
Directions :
At Gwangju Express Bus Terminal, take Bus No.25-2 (30 minute
ride). Buses are run every 40 minutes.
Information :
- Contact: Cemetery control office (062) 266-5187 (Kor)
- Visiting hours:
Mar. - Oct. 09:00-19:00/
Nov. - Feb. 09:00-17:00
- Admission Fee: Free of charge
- Parking lot: 300 spaces available
|
|
Back to the Top
|
|
|
|
Information provided by Korea National Tourism Organization. |
|
|
|
