Spring is finally here! Spring is such a beautiful season with cherry blossoms bloom everywhere and turn the city into pink. The cherry blossoms bloom for just one to two weeks each year so you'd better hurry to enjoy the pale-pink flowers. Cherry blossoms bloom when the weather gets warmer, usually in Seoul they bloom around mid April. However, in a city called Jinhae, about four to five hours bus ride from Seoul, they usually bloom in the beginning of April because Jinhae is warmer than Seoul. Jinhae is the home for the biggest cherry blossom festival in South Korea.
Jinhae Gunhangje Festival (진해군항제)
The best two spots to enjoy the festival : Yeojwacheon Stream and Gyeonghwa Station
> Period : 04-01-2017 ~ 04-10-2017 (changeable each year)
> Address : Tongsin-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
경상남도 창원시 진해구 통신동 (click here for map)
> Phone : +82-55-225-4086 > Admission Fee : Free!
> Direction :
-Bus-
From Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Jinhae. (Book the bus here: https://txbuse.t-money.co.kr/ , the fare for round trip is around 52,200 won (4-5hours travel/one way)
From Jinhae Intercity Bus Terminal, go 30m straight and turn right onto Jungwondong-ro Road.
Go 350m straight, and stay left at the fork.
Go 230m to arrive at the festival venue.
-City Bus-
Jinhae ↔ Changwon: 150, 751, 752
Jinhae ↔ Masan: 160, 162, 760
Jinhae Line: 301, 302, 303, 305, 306, 309, 315
Korail www.letskorail.com (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) / +82-1544-7788 1.
Yeojwacheon Stream (여좌천-벚꽃명소)
One of the best area to enjoy cherry blossoms is Yeojwacheon stream. Yeojwacheon stream is home to Romance Bridge, a short bridge made famous by the Korean TV drama “Romance”. You can enjoy the flowers for about 1km long.
> Address : Yeojwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
경상남도 창원시 진해구 여좌동 (여좌동)
> Direction :
From Jinhae Bus terminal, you can walk for about 15 minutes
OR
take city bus number 760 for about 9 minutes at the bus stop accros the Jinhae Bus Termina, called Inedongjongjeom Bus Stop (6330064) - Get off at JinhaeYeok Bus Stop (519804)
2. Yeojwacheon Starlight Festival
Still at the Yeojwacheon stream, in the evening there is a light festival along the stream and the area is illuminated with ornamental lights, creating a romantic ambience.
3. Gyeonghwa Station
Gyeonghwa station is a small railway station in which the railway services in and out of Gyeonghwa Station have been discontinued as of February 2015. In April, rows of cherry trees bloom along the 800 meter-long railway extending from the station all the way to Sehwa Girls’ High School. This railway station is probably the main spot for taking photos of the cherry blossoms. The area is often featured in Korean movies and dramas such as the film Boy Goes to Heaven (2005) and the drama Spring Waltz (2006).
> Address : Gyeonghwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
경상남도 창원시 진해구 진해대로 648 (경화동) 일대
> Phone : +82-55-225-3691
The So-called Fresh Strawberry Milk (생딸기우유)
Seems this "fresh" strawberry milk is not only popular in Seoul but also outside Seoul. It is a bit pricy but worth to try!
