I am not talking about one or two rows of azaleas in the park, but something really massive. A mountain full of blooming azaleas that turn the entire site an eye feasting one.

Located in Bucheon, a city at the outskirt of Seoul, this place is perfect for half-day-outing, especially during the first 3 weeks in April due to its famous azalea bloom. The Wonmi Mountain (원미산) will be covered with hundreds and thousands of brightly coloured azaleas in full bloom this time every year. You may want to pack your own picnic bag and spend your entire morning there appreciating the beauty of mother earth.

I especially enjoyed my morning at Wonmi mountain. You’ll see adorable elementary school kids hiking up the stairs with their teachers, and ajummas sharing sweet potatoes and a cup of coffee under the trees. The better air, the bright pink flowers, and the relaxed vibe there at the park are all so wonderful.

I’ll totally list it as one of the not touristy things to do in Seoul! It is true that the cherry blossom waits for no one, but always remember you have an alternative. The azaleas never disappoint.

Writer’s Note: Aside admiring the bloom, there’s an annual Wonmisan Azalea Festival where visitors can participate in various activities. It is usually held on the 2nd week of April.  If picnic is your kind of activity, there’s a huge convenient storeto get some snacks at the Bucheon Sports Complex Station. Alternatively, you can pack your own food before departing from Seoul. Azalea flowers last about 3 weeks to a month. However, it is best to visit the place before the 3rd weekend of April to avoid disappointment. Please wear comfortable shoes as you’ll need to walk uphill quite a bit to reach the park.

Contact Details:

Wonmi Mountain Azalea Hill
482, Sosa-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
원미산 진달래동산
경기도 부천시 소사로 482 (춘의동)

Direction:

The Wonmi Mountain Azalea Hill can be accessed from anywhere in Seoul.
1. Get on subway line No. 7 and alight at Bucheon Sports Complex Station (부천 종합운동장역), then exit from Exit No. 2. Continue walking straight and you’ll find a stadium on your right-hand side. 

2. Walk into the compound of the stadium, until you see the above slope on your way up. You’ll be able to find a notice board with Korean wordings that read “진달래동산 가는길” (circled in red in the picture above). Follow the direction indicated: go up the slope.

3. Once you climbed up the slope, you’ll be able to see the blooming azaleas on the hills. Follow the crowd and continue to walk uphill, towards the mountain.

4. You should be able to see the staircase leading upward. Climb up these stairs and you’ll reach the entrance of the Wonmi Mountain Azalea Hill soon!

Maps

If you’re currently located in Korea, please use the Naver Map below to navigate: 

2018.2.24 | 지도 크게 보기 ©  NAVER Corp.

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As I sit down to sort out the pictures and start writing about it, I realised how alluring these red beauties are. They managed to keep me thinking about them all the while. The swaying movement of the wild poppies in the wind was a mesmerising sight. It was so magical that I can just sit there and watch them all day long.

The splendorous sight of wild poppies could be found at Sangdong Lake Park, a regular neighbourhood park located at Gyeonggi-do, Bucheon City, some 45 minutes train rides from where I stay in Seoul. It is not a huge park, but you would see families and couples setting up tents, bringing out beautiful picnic utensils and enjoy their day here on any fine late-spring days.

The flower shrubs nearby the lake, which was the place where we got these photos are filled up with thousands of wild poppies. It is quite a sight and has also become one of the favourite location for model shooting or even pre-wedding shoot. We see at least 5 different groups taking photos at the same location. It is a popular weekend hideout for locals, and I see no tourists yet so if you are looking for some real South Korean experience,  a picnic outing to Sangdong Lake Park next late-spring could be on your to-do list.

You’ll find two major clusters of flower shrubs here at the park in late May. One of them is filled with blooming wild poppies. It comprises several clusters of the beautiful red flowers and are usually very crowded.

The other one was the magical barley field located beside the poppy cluster–the least crowded one is the location where we got most of the photos. The setting sun shines on the field, creates a mystical, soft, light and airy feel to the picture.

These are some of my favourite shoots against this background. Photos are taken by Ke Chean.

Other than the usual soft and girly photographs, we also tried some non-mainstream theme. It turned out quite ghostly, but I love it!

There are more interesting photos coming up for sure, but now what we can do is to wait as the photographer is currently very, very busy with his work.

Here are some other pictures of the beautiful poppies I took.

Frankly speaking the golden timing before sunset at this place is to-die-for. I love the place so much that I didn’t want to go home that soon but it was getting quite chilly at dusk so we had to leave. One more tip here: If you are planning to go picnic at the park, and if you are extremely picky about the food you eat, you may want to pack your own as there is only one convenient store at the park. You can find pre-packed lunchbox, instant cup noodles, snacks, drinks and ice-cream at the convenient store. Otherwise, just order anything you like to the park if you speak fair amount of Korean!

I hope you like this little local hideout I introduce here in the post and hopefully I will see you here next spring, perhaps end of May?

p.s. Please do remember poppies are only available in late spring (Late May) so if you really want to see the flowers, come according to the season^^

Directions

Sangdong Lake Park
15, Jomaru-ro 85beon-gil, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
상동호수공원, 경기도 부천시 원미구 조마루로 15 (상동)

Come out from Sangdong Station (상동역) exit no.4, then walk straight for about 5-8 minutes to reach the park entrance.

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It feels surreal walking around the park. Since I am a sucker for everything nostalgic, I just had to check this place out. I can’t really explain the feeling when I first step into the park. It feels like stepping into a time-frozen zone. Those scenes are somewhat identical to the mobile amusement park my parents used to bring me to when I was a kid.

Yongma Land is located at Jungnang-Gu, Mangu-Dong. It was opened in 1980, with essential amusement park rides like Merry-go-round, Viking, Bumper car and etc. Back then, it was one of the hottest hangouts for young couples and families. However, when Lotte World opens in 1989, people lost interest in this humble, neighbourhood amusement park. The park has officially ceased operation in 2011. Though it is no longer operating as an amusement park, the old-school and unique dilapidated atmosphere continue to attract visitors from a niche market such as photographers, as well as professionals in the video production industries.

The park is open to visitors at an entrance fee of KRW5,000 per person. The “profit” earned will be used to maintain a certain level of dilapidation in the park. The lights of the merry-go-round could be turned on at a standard charge of KRW 25,000 for about 10 minutes. However, if you’re lucky, the owner or the park keeper might switch it on for you for free. Personally, I feel it is a unique venue for wedding /pre-wedding photos in Korea.

If you are familiar with the entertainment industry in South Korea, you might come across with various productions with Yongma Land as filming location. Singer IU, as well as Crayon Pop’s music video “Bar Bar Bar” (빠빠빠), are two ideal examples.

So I was there at the park someday in the late autumn last year for another outdoor photo shoot with Azri, Neoh, and Toh Hui. It was my second time working with these young and talented photographers. And speaking about the location, it is really a hidden gem — and an instant mood-setter. I was able to quickly get into the mood despite the chilly weather that day. And so here comes the outcome of the photo shoot. I love it better than my first photo shoot at Haneul Park the week earlier. What do you think?

Lost in Wonderland

The main “attraction” of the park was the merry-go-round. All things seemed to be left untouched there for at least 20 years or so. Super nostalgic, super old school. Time doesn’t seem to pass here, and I actually felt like Alice in the wonderland. It is surreal and strange, yet a little whimsical. Anyway, here are some of the pictures taken that day.

And, of course, some of the behind-the-scenes, candid shoot. You can tell I was really enjoying the whole session, despite the gloomy weather.

Abandoned Water Park

We discovered an abandoned Water Park/ swimming pool right beside Yongma Land. However, the place turned out to be a private property, which is not included in the KRW 5,000 that you just paid for the park. We weren’t aware of that and went straight to the site and eventually got scolded by the site keeper for trespassing, despite the fact that the place was not fenced up, or was there anyone to stop us from entering the property at first. ; (

Anyway, here are some of the photos taken at the swimming pool. Since it is private property, I do not encourage anyone to trespass or damage the building. It is always advisable to contact them through proper channel before the actual filming day to avoid disappointment.

That’s all for now. I am still waiting for Azri for the last batch of pictures at Yongma Land ; D I really had a wonderful time exploring the park. If you figured Gangnam district is too mainstream and want somewhere off the beaten path, this dilapidated amusement park is perhaps where you should head to on your next trip to Seoul.

Reminder: Once again I wish to gently remind any unauthorized use of portraits is prohibited. None of these pictures above may be reused in any form or by any means, without written permission from the photographers/ owner of the portrait. I am committed to protecting my intellectual property and will aggressively enforce my rights to the fullest extent of the law. 

Directions:

Yongma Land 용마랜드
Mangu-Dong, Jungnang-Gu, Seoul.

Address in Korean: 용마공원 놀이동산, 서울시 중랑구 망우동

Nearest Station: Mangu [Read: Mang-woo] Station 망우역 Exit No.1

**There is no public transport to reach the park. It is a 10-15 minutes by foot from the station. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, it is best to hail a cab from Mangu Station, which cost about KRW 3,500 per single trip. I came across a blog with very clear directions, you might check out the awesome pictures and the directions on the blog here.

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Full bloom starts every October. These adaptable Eulalia grass creates a dreamy, shimmering, golden background for your pictures. It is certainly one of the best spots for a photo shoot (especially couple or wedding photo shoot) in South Korea.

The park was a landfill some 20 years back. It continues to accumulate mountains of garbages until the Seoul government eventually decided to turn this place into an ecological park. After a huge revamp, some 30,000 butterflies have been released to the park. More thorough explanations about the park are available at Visit Seoul and Discovering Korea, two blogs that I follow.

And so we went to the park for some late autumn outdoor photo shooting. Pictures below are by Ke Chean Neoh, Azri Idzuandi and Toh Hui Yii, three very talented engineer cum photographers.

I rarely post my own pictures on the blog. But I really like the outcome of this late autumn series at Haneul Park. Well, it has been sometime since I last pose in front of cameras. It feels strange, at the same time, kinda familiar as well. It reminds me of the days when I was in university, working with my friends from the photography society.

The below pictures were taken at the entrance/exit of the Eulalia field somewhere nearby the public washroom when the night starts falling at 5pm. One of the trees is decorated with these bling bling ornaments made of glass, adding a little whimsy touch to the park.

Reminder: Once again I wish to gently remind any unauthorized use of portraits is prohibited. None of these pictures above may be reused in any form or by any means, without written permission from the owner of the portrait. I am committed to protect my intellectual property and will aggressively enforce my rights to the fullest extent of the law. 

Directions:

Haneul Park (Sky Park) 하늘공원
95, Haneul Gongwon-ro Mapo-Gu, Seoul.
Address in Korean: 서울시 마포구 하늘공원로 95

Nearest Subway Station: World Cup Stadium Station. 월드컵 경기장역
**I figured there is no public transport to reach the park from the nearest station. It is a 10-15 minutes by foot from the station. So get your Google/ Naver/ Daum map app ready, and perhaps enable your mobile data roaming and start exploring!

Introduction: Petite France

Petite France is a cute and romantic village full of French elements. If you like the literature “The Little Prince” (Le Petit Prince), I bet you’ll like the place as some of the drawings in the village are illustrated in the story. To add more fun to your trip, you may want to pick up a canvas fabric at the entrance when you purchase your ticket. There are totally of 8 different stamps hiding in the village, you can get 2 Petite France postcards from the tourist information counter if you managed to collect all the stamps; )

Public Transportation to Petite France

According to Visit Korea, there are several buses that travel to Petite France from different directions.

From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal or Sang Bong Bus Terminal: Take the intercity bus to Cheongpyeong.
From Cheongpyeong Terminal: take a local bus bound for Goseong-ri (고성리)
From Cheongpyeong Terminal: take Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France *bus runs 7 times a day, from 830am to 530pm.

“Dumulmeori”, which literally means “the head of two waters”, refers to the starting point of both the Bukhangang River and the Namhangang River. It is a great place for a day trip since it is not very far from Seoul. For cycling enthusiasts, you may want to check this place out, for its established bicycle trails along the spectacular landscape.

Important Notice: Please note that I have stopped updating all South Korea-related content published before 2020 on this blog. You may find all updated South Korea travel content at my dedicated, new travel site here: www.thecalmchronicle.com 

The journey from Seoul to  Yangsuri was like travelling via a time machine. I boarded the subway train from the hustle and bustle of Seoul and alight right at the doorstep of peace and tranquillity. 90 minutes away from Seoul and now we get peace of mind!.

Itinerary:

The below picture is the outline of the trip, from departing to the last stop at Sumilwon cafe. Once you reach Yangsu station, you basically walk/cycle to all the spots below. Think of it as a trip by public transportation and foot. We took the subway from our home in Seoul and took Jungang Line (Jade blue line) to Yangsu Station.  It is a whole 4.5 KM walking trail throughout the trip, but I am pretty sure it is doable. Be sure to wear a pair of good walking shoes before embarking on your journey.

I’ve also mapped the places out here on the Google map below. Both the blue route and purple route will bring you to the same places listed above. If you like to take more photos of the beautiful lotus farm, it is best to take the blue route as it guarantees you endless lotus farm along the way, especially during summer when lotus is in season.

We set off from Seoul relatively late. Photographers who want to catch the magical moment of the first sunlight will have to wake up early. The scenery was said to be particularly magnificent at dawn. Since the sun was already high up by the time we arrived, we decided to head directly for lunch.

Transportation: 

I figured the subway is the best way of transport to Yangsuri. Basically, travel from any subway station in Seoul, and transfer to Jungang Line 중앙선 (the only Jade Green colour line) and alight at Yangsu Station (양수역) then complete the course by bicycle/foot or cab.

1. Lunch: Korean Traditional Full Course @ Yeon-pat 연밭

Lunch was taken at this famous matjib called Yeon-bat (연밭) that serves traditional Korean full course meal since 1981. “연밭” means lotus fields in English. During the lotus blossom season, visitors are able to enjoy their sumptuous meal by the lotus field admiring the beauty of the lotus flower.

Lotus fields are everywhere here in Dumulmeori, hence lotus roots, lotus seeds — basically everything lotus are the specialities here. We ordered the “Lotus Field Course” 연밭정식 [read: Yeon-bat Jeong Sik], which cost KRW 15,000 per person. It includes steamed Pollack and lotus leaf glutinous rice. The meal was served with homemade red wine, followed by the steamed glutinous rice in lotus leaf, then a huge portion of pollack. A wide variety of the side dishes is the highlight of the meal. I love the steam glutinous rice. The lotus leaf left a nice fragrance on the rice and it matches well with the fish.

Since this is a very famous restaurant, we waited for more than an hour to finally get a seat for our meal. Moral of the story? Please make reservations before your visit to avoid endless waiting.

Address:
Yeon-Pat Lotus Leaf Korean Full Course Meal 연밭 
Gyeonggi-do, Yangpyeong-gun, Yangseo-Myeon, Yongdamni, 514.
Tel: 031-772-6064
Operating Hours: 11am-9pm
Korean Version of the Address: 경기도 양평군 양서면 용담리 514

2. Saemiwon 세미원

Saemiwon Garden 洗美苑 is one of the popular attractions here in Dumulmeori. Visitors are able to visit the beautiful water fountain made of Hagari (Korean pottery jars), and also walk through two extremely huge lotus fields with white and pink lotus flowers respectively. There are also different species of lotus flowers planted in Saemiwon, an ideal place for some flora and fauna photography.

Since the exit of Saemiwon is directly linked to the walkway towards Dumulmeori, if you are visiting this place, I suggest you arrange your visit to Dumulmeori right after Saemiwon.

 3. Snack : Lotus Ice-cream

Lotus waffle, lotus tea, lotus set lunch. Lotus, lotus, LOTUS. It is all about lotus if we are talking about snacking here at Dumulmeori. Be sure to try out some of this lotus themed street food at the snack booths right after crossing the bridge from Saemiwon. We got ourselves this lotus ice cream in a lovely shade of pastel green. Never mind the taste of the ice cream, it was a pure delight having ice cream in the summer breeze. (Well, it wasn’t that bad. I just couldn’t taste the lotus from it. Rather, it is more like vanilla with a mild green tea flavour to me. )

Continue walking down the path with your ice cream and you’ll reach Dumulmeori in approximately 20 minutes?

4. Dumulmeori

Private owned Dumulmeori is a popular spot for local dramas, movies, commercials and wedding pictures. According to visitkorea.org, there should be an ancient style ferry on the water, but we did not see one. I guess it was under construction when we visited the place. There are also three 400-year-old Zelkova Trees that appear as one giant tree, adding to the rustic feel of Dumulmeori.

To be frank, the best pictures of the trip are all taken here at Dumulmeori. I love the beautiful landscape with water, hills and lotus fields. So be sure to bring your camera with you to Dumulmeori! If not, you can hire professional photographers here to take photos of you at the lotus field. That’ll cost you some money for sure. If you intend to self-take some portraits, here are 3 great photo spots for pictures:

 Photo spot 1 : By the lotus field

 Photo spot 2 : By the picturesque river

Photo Spot 3:  With the Dumulmeori picture Frame

5. Personalized Cartoon Sketches by the river

After long hours admiring the beautiful scenery, you can get cartoon sketch artists by the river to preserve your memory here at Dumulmeori. It is 30,000 for couples, and 10,000 each person for a piece of group sketch. It takes about 10-20 minutes to complete your personalized cartoon sketch.

6. Sumilwon Art Gallery + Cafe 수밀원

Sumilwon is an art gallery cum cafe by the river. Filled up with oil paintings and artworks, Sumilwon is a great place to cool off the summer heat. I love their outdoor seats facing the river — an excellent spot for people-watching. We ordered their red bean shaved ice and it was surprisingly good.

7. Tibits: Lotus Sausage

Feeling hungry by now? How about snacking on a lotus flavoured hotdog? Before we call it a day, we discovered a stall selling lotus sausage at Dumulmeori. This fried hotdog snack looks like any other typical street food you can get elsewhere. However, we were told powdered lotus is added in the process of making the crumb of the hotdog.

Seriously, I can’t really taste the difference between a Dumulmeori lotus sausage from the usual one I had in Seoul. Anyway, it was quite yummy.

This is how we ended our Dumulmeori day trip. With a hotdog. LOL I wish you had fun reading the blog. Let me know your experience visiting Dumulmeori down here in the comment box! Did you try any of their lotus-themed snacks? : D

It is half a month since my visit. It took me some time to finally update the day trip on Life n’ Style as it was a major picture galore after the trip and I was caught up in finals. However, I remember Dumulmeori being a lush and romantic, achingly beautiful getaway — especially for a day trip or weekend hideout.

It was a tour on foot and public transportations. A whole 5 to 7 kilometres by foot in a day, to and fro. Tiring enough but it was all worth the way. The more miles you put between yourself and the Yangsu Station, the better the scenery.

Yangsuri (양수리) is located in Gyeonggi Province. The place that we visited is called Dumulmeori (두물머리), which is located at the southern tip of Yangsuri. “Dumulmeori”, which literally means “the head of two waters”, refers to the starting point of both the Bukhangang River and the Namhangang River.

The scenery was said to be particularly spectacular at dawn here at Dumulmeori. However, my friends and I only made it there when it was totally bright and sunny. No miraculous pictures since we did not catch the misty look of Dumulmeori, but the outcome of the pictures is already satisfying. I think I’d like to go back at some point later in my life. ; )

This particular post will serve as an introductory. I will post about our itinerary, activities and foodie experience in the upcoming post. So here you go!