![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ruta-Seul-danyang.png?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION: HOW TO GET AROUND<\/b><\/span> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs soon as you arrive at the bus or train station, you\u2019ll start to realize that it\u2019s not going to be a walk in the park\u2026 Unlike in Seoul, local buses only have signs in Korean, and the information boards with their schedules and routes won\u2019t be much help \ud83d\ude13\ud83d\ude13<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To make matters worse, there are no ATMs with the \u201cGlobal\u201d logo (the only ones that accept foreign credit cards), so you have to carry a lot of cash or exchange currency at one of their NH banks on the main street of the town at a pretty bad exchange rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately, there is a fantastic tourist office (located opposite the bus station, across the bridge) where they also speak English \u263a\ufe0f and where they will provide you with an indispensable document: the bus guide to tourist sites.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Guia](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4368-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWell... how do we translate this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the top of each section, you will find the departure points for the buses: the \u201cDanuri Center Terminal\u201d is the bus station itself; the \u201cTourist Hotel\u201d is the Edelweiss Hotel at the other end of the city, following the main road west (it is a huge building and impossible to miss). Regarding the latter, buses do NOT depart from the hotel but from the regular bus stops nearby; the hotel is only a reference point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The times in the left column indicate when the bus departs, and those on the right indicate the return time at the FINAL destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHAT TO SEE IN DANYANG: THE TOUR<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLet's get right to the point: What is there to see in Danyang? Well, there are plenty of things to do, with something for everyone\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Danyang.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGosu Cave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The city's main attraction is this enormous cave, located on the outskirts of town, a 10-minute walk from the Tourist Information Office. Admission costs 11,000 won (very expensive by Korean standards), but it's worth the price because it's very, very deep, with many chambers and plenty of interesting spots to take photos.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Gosu](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4422-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWarning: There are a lot of stairs (you spend the entire tour going up and down), and the cave is extensive; it\u2019s not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility issues. What was really cool, though, was that with your admission ticket, they gave you some great gloves\u2014the kind that stick to your hands\u2014so you could move around easily and hold on to all those damp stalagmites\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_7119.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is the official website\u2026 but it's in Korean, oh well\u2026: http:\/\/www.gosucave.co.kr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLet's go for a bike ride<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the cave in Danyang itself, there isn't much else to do except rent a bike and ride along the wonderful bike path that runs along the river.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"IMG_4423\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4423-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis is the \u201ceasy\u201d route\u2014you don\u2019t have to leave the city to do it (since Danyang is situated along the river), and it\u2019s completely flat. Along the way, you\u2019ll come across all kinds of curious sights, like this fearsome scarecrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC01050.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you're looking for a more challenging route that's longer, here's another one\u2014it's outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Ruta-en-bici.png?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWoraksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGetting to this national park from Danyang is quite a challenge... it's only 30 km away, but with my level of Korean, it's a world away...<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let's get started<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You arrive at the bus station and ask for a ticket to Bokpyeongni. It's a junction between a main road (Route 36) and a secondary road that leads to the park. They won't know about this at the ticket office, so it's best to take a map with you or ask the tourist office to write it down in Korean and show it to the ticket clerk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get off at the Bokpyeongni stop, where there\u2019s a huge bridge (you\u2019ll need to tell the bus driver\u2014either show him the word \u201cbridge\u201d in Korean or ask him to stop at the Worak Youth Hostel). You\u2019ve now arrived at the bridge. Next, you\u2019ll need to hitchhike the 5\u20136 km to the park entrance. I have to say that every time I hitchhiked in Korea, I always got a ride quickly \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And once in the park, there are several routes to choose from to climb its highest mountain, Yeonbong.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4426-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe most direct and difficult route is veeeery steep, and it will take you about two and a half to three hours to reach the summit. There isn't even a false flat. The entire path is quite impassable except for the final part (stairs)... but hey, we made it \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"IMG_4425\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4425-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nEven though I complain a lot, the trail is really beautiful, with temples and statues scattered here and there; you can also enjoy the sight of Koreans who are passionate about hiking: all of them perfectly equipped with state-of-the-art clothing, footwear, and accessories, and as tough as Marines. There were countless elderly women who left me in the dust, climbing like rockets, while I panted like a dog and made my way up at a snail\u2019s pace\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC00994.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDon't come back later than 7:30 p.m. or you won't find any buses to take you back to Danyang... and one last piece of advice: bring mosquito repellent. Lots of it. Seriously...<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sobaeksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt's much easier to get here. There's a direct bus marked with the number one in the guide above, which drops you off almost next to the Park Information Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The climb up Birobong Peak, which dominates the park, is long (7 km) but infinitely easier than the previous one (about 3 hours to the top); I would almost say they even lay down a carpet for you to climb on \ud83d\ude1c<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4424-768x1024.jpg?resize=768%2C1024\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt's a good way to spend a morning, but it won't take your breath away... especially when you reach the top and can't see anything because of the fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to See in Danyang: The Must-See Guin-sa Temple<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAnyone interested in taking a meditation course or simply learning about Buddhist culture can take a bus (again, consult the guide above) to this enormous temple surrounded by mountains, flowers, and nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It serves as the administrative and spiritual center of the Cheontae sect of Korean Buddhism, to which more than 140 branch temples belong. It was founded in 1945 by Grand Master Sangwol Wongak, initially beginning as a humble, hand-built thatched hut\u2026 and from there, the complex grew and grew until it could accommodate up to 10,000 monks and\/or visitors at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"que](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_4428-768x576.jpg?resize=768%2C576\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt is nestled in a narrow, steep valley in the Sobaek Mountains. Due to the lack of horizontal space, its more than 50 buildings were built upward, so yes, once again you\u2019ll have to go up and down nonstop\u2026 but it\u2019s well worth it, because it\u2019s maintained with meticulous care, and the various buildings were constructed to blend harmoniously with the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/999millas.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC01016.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough everything is very well maintained, it almost seems more like a school than one of those mystical Buddhist temples you find in Japan or Myanmar. It seems a little... \u201cbureaucratic\u201d... but hey, unlike me, avoid accidentally wandering into the monks' dormitories and everything will be fine \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You'd think that, like any good Buddhist monastery, they'd offer you a free lunch, but either I arrived late, or I got lost among the buildings, and\/or I didn't quite figure out where they were serving it (as usual, no one here spoke English). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If someone asked me what to see in Danyang, the first thing I'd say is to visit this complex\u2014it really is a wonderful experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information: http:\/\/english.visitkorea.or.kr\/enu\/ATR\/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1634462<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you liked this post, let me know by leaving a comment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWell... how do we translate this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the top of each section, you will find the departure points for the buses: the \u201cDanuri Center Terminal\u201d is the bus station itself; the \u201cTourist Hotel\u201d is the Edelweiss Hotel at the other end of the city, following the main road west (it is a huge building and impossible to miss). Regarding the latter, buses do NOT depart from the hotel but from the regular bus stops nearby; the hotel is only a reference point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The times in the left column indicate when the bus departs, and those on the right indicate the return time at the FINAL destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WHAT TO SEE IN DANYANG: THE TOUR<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLet's get right to the point: What is there to see in Danyang? Well, there are plenty of things to do, with something for everyone\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGosu Cave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The city's main attraction is this enormous cave, located on the outskirts of town, a 10-minute walk from the Tourist Information Office. Admission costs 11,000 won (very expensive by Korean standards), but it's worth the price because it's very, very deep, with many chambers and plenty of interesting spots to take photos.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWarning: There are a lot of stairs (you spend the entire tour going up and down), and the cave is extensive; it\u2019s not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility issues. What was really cool, though, was that with your admission ticket, they gave you some great gloves\u2014the kind that stick to your hands\u2014so you could move around easily and hold on to all those damp stalagmites\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis is the official website\u2026 but it's in Korean, oh well\u2026: http:\/\/www.gosucave.co.kr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nLet's go for a bike ride<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the cave in Danyang itself, there isn't much else to do except rent a bike and ride along the wonderful bike path that runs along the river.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis is the \u201ceasy\u201d route\u2014you don\u2019t have to leave the city to do it (since Danyang is situated along the river), and it\u2019s completely flat. Along the way, you\u2019ll come across all kinds of curious sights, like this fearsome scarecrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you're looking for a more challenging route that's longer, here's another one\u2014it's outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWoraksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nGetting to this national park from Danyang is quite a challenge... it's only 30 km away, but with my level of Korean, it's a world away...<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let's get started<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You arrive at the bus station and ask for a ticket to Bokpyeongni. It's a junction between a main road (Route 36) and a secondary road that leads to the park. They won't know about this at the ticket office, so it's best to take a map with you or ask the tourist office to write it down in Korean and show it to the ticket clerk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get off at the Bokpyeongni stop, where there\u2019s a huge bridge (you\u2019ll need to tell the bus driver\u2014either show him the word \u201cbridge\u201d in Korean or ask him to stop at the Worak Youth Hostel). You\u2019ve now arrived at the bridge. Next, you\u2019ll need to hitchhike the 5\u20136 km to the park entrance. I have to say that every time I hitchhiked in Korea, I always got a ride quickly \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And once in the park, there are several routes to choose from to climb its highest mountain, Yeonbong.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe most direct and difficult route is veeeery steep, and it will take you about two and a half to three hours to reach the summit. There isn't even a false flat. The entire path is quite impassable except for the final part (stairs)... but hey, we made it \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nEven though I complain a lot, the trail is really beautiful, with temples and statues scattered here and there; you can also enjoy the sight of Koreans who are passionate about hiking: all of them perfectly equipped with state-of-the-art clothing, footwear, and accessories, and as tough as Marines. There were countless elderly women who left me in the dust, climbing like rockets, while I panted like a dog and made my way up at a snail\u2019s pace\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDon't come back later than 7:30 p.m. or you won't find any buses to take you back to Danyang... and one last piece of advice: bring mosquito repellent. Lots of it. Seriously...<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sobaeksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt's much easier to get here. There's a direct bus marked with the number one in the guide above, which drops you off almost next to the Park Information Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The climb up Birobong Peak, which dominates the park, is long (7 km) but infinitely easier than the previous one (about 3 hours to the top); I would almost say they even lay down a carpet for you to climb on \ud83d\ude1c<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt's a good way to spend a morning, but it won't take your breath away... especially when you reach the top and can't see anything because of the fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What to See in Danyang: The Must-See Guin-sa Temple<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAnyone interested in taking a meditation course or simply learning about Buddhist culture can take a bus (again, consult the guide above) to this enormous temple surrounded by mountains, flowers, and nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It serves as the administrative and spiritual center of the Cheontae sect of Korean Buddhism, to which more than 140 branch temples belong. It was founded in 1945 by Grand Master Sangwol Wongak, initially beginning as a humble, hand-built thatched hut\u2026 and from there, the complex grew and grew until it could accommodate up to 10,000 monks and\/or visitors at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIt is nestled in a narrow, steep valley in the Sobaek Mountains. Due to the lack of horizontal space, its more than 50 buildings were built upward, so yes, once again you\u2019ll have to go up and down nonstop\u2026 but it\u2019s well worth it, because it\u2019s maintained with meticulous care, and the various buildings were constructed to blend harmoniously with the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough everything is very well maintained, it almost seems more like a school than one of those mystical Buddhist temples you find in Japan or Myanmar. It seems a little... \u201cbureaucratic\u201d... but hey, unlike me, avoid accidentally wandering into the monks' dormitories and everything will be fine \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You'd think that, like any good Buddhist monastery, they'd offer you a free lunch, but either I arrived late, or I got lost among the buildings, and\/or I didn't quite figure out where they were serving it (as usual, no one here spoke English). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If someone asked me what to see in Danyang, the first thing I'd say is to visit this complex\u2014it really is a wonderful experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more information: http:\/\/english.visitkorea.or.kr\/enu\/ATR\/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1634462<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you liked this post, let me know by leaving a comment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nGosu Cave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The city's main attraction is this enormous cave, located on the outskirts of town, a 10-minute walk from the Tourist Information Office. Admission costs 11,000 won (very expensive by Korean standards), but it's worth the price because it's very, very deep, with many chambers and plenty of interesting spots to take photos.<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWarning: There are a lot of stairs (you spend the entire tour going up and down), and the cave is extensive; it\u2019s not suitable for people with claustrophobia or mobility issues. What was really cool, though, was that with your admission ticket, they gave you some great gloves\u2014the kind that stick to your hands\u2014so you could move around easily and hold on to all those damp stalagmites\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the official website\u2026 but it's in Korean, oh well\u2026: http:\/\/www.gosucave.co.kr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond the cave in Danyang itself, there isn't much else to do except rent a bike and ride along the wonderful bike path that runs along the river.<\/p>\n\n\n This is the \u201ceasy\u201d route\u2014you don\u2019t have to leave the city to do it (since Danyang is situated along the river), and it\u2019s completely flat. Along the way, you\u2019ll come across all kinds of curious sights, like this fearsome scarecrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you're looking for a more challenging route that's longer, here's another one\u2014it's outside the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting to this national park from Danyang is quite a challenge... it's only 30 km away, but with my level of Korean, it's a world away...<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let's get started<\/p>\n\n\n\n You arrive at the bus station and ask for a ticket to Bokpyeongni. It's a junction between a main road (Route 36) and a secondary road that leads to the park. They won't know about this at the ticket office, so it's best to take a map with you or ask the tourist office to write it down in Korean and show it to the ticket clerk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get off at the Bokpyeongni stop, where there\u2019s a huge bridge (you\u2019ll need to tell the bus driver\u2014either show him the word \u201cbridge\u201d in Korean or ask him to stop at the Worak Youth Hostel). You\u2019ve now arrived at the bridge. Next, you\u2019ll need to hitchhike the 5\u20136 km to the park entrance. I have to say that every time I hitchhiked in Korea, I always got a ride quickly \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n And once in the park, there are several routes to choose from to climb its highest mountain, Yeonbong.<\/p>\n\n\n The most direct and difficult route is veeeery steep, and it will take you about two and a half to three hours to reach the summit. There isn't even a false flat. The entire path is quite impassable except for the final part (stairs)... but hey, we made it \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n Even though I complain a lot, the trail is really beautiful, with temples and statues scattered here and there; you can also enjoy the sight of Koreans who are passionate about hiking: all of them perfectly equipped with state-of-the-art clothing, footwear, and accessories, and as tough as Marines. There were countless elderly women who left me in the dust, climbing like rockets, while I panted like a dog and made my way up at a snail\u2019s pace\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don't come back later than 7:30 p.m. or you won't find any buses to take you back to Danyang... and one last piece of advice: bring mosquito repellent. Lots of it. Seriously...<\/p>\n\n\n\n It's much easier to get here. There's a direct bus marked with the number one in the guide above, which drops you off almost next to the Park Information Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The climb up Birobong Peak, which dominates the park, is long (7 km) but infinitely easier than the previous one (about 3 hours to the top); I would almost say they even lay down a carpet for you to climb on \ud83d\ude1c<\/p>\n\n\n It's a good way to spend a morning, but it won't take your breath away... especially when you reach the top and can't see anything because of the fog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone interested in taking a meditation course or simply learning about Buddhist culture can take a bus (again, consult the guide above) to this enormous temple surrounded by mountains, flowers, and nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It serves as the administrative and spiritual center of the Cheontae sect of Korean Buddhism, to which more than 140 branch temples belong. It was founded in 1945 by Grand Master Sangwol Wongak, initially beginning as a humble, hand-built thatched hut\u2026 and from there, the complex grew and grew until it could accommodate up to 10,000 monks and\/or visitors at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n It is nestled in a narrow, steep valley in the Sobaek Mountains. Due to the lack of horizontal space, its more than 50 buildings were built upward, so yes, once again you\u2019ll have to go up and down nonstop\u2026 but it\u2019s well worth it, because it\u2019s maintained with meticulous care, and the various buildings were constructed to blend harmoniously with the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although everything is very well maintained, it almost seems more like a school than one of those mystical Buddhist temples you find in Japan or Myanmar. It seems a little... \u201cbureaucratic\u201d... but hey, unlike me, avoid accidentally wandering into the monks' dormitories and everything will be fine \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n\n\n\n You'd think that, like any good Buddhist monastery, they'd offer you a free lunch, but either I arrived late, or I got lost among the buildings, and\/or I didn't quite figure out where they were serving it (as usual, no one here spoke English). <\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone asked me what to see in Danyang, the first thing I'd say is to visit this complex\u2014it really is a wonderful experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information: http:\/\/english.visitkorea.or.kr\/enu\/ATR\/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1634462<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you liked this post, let me know by leaving a comment!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nLet's go for a bike ride<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWoraksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSobaeksan National Park <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhat to See in Danyang: The Must-See Guin-sa Temple<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n