Korean Travel Online - Yeosu's Top 10 Attractions

After successfully hosting the 2012 World Expo, Yeosu has seen a rise in its tourist numbers. In 2013, the city has accomplished its goal of having 10 million tourists in a year.

According to Yeosu City's official site, yeosu.go.kr, the popular tourist sites based on the actual number of tourists who visited the location are: 

Odongdo Island

Expo Marine Park

Aqua Planet

Hyangilam Temple

Maritime Fisheries and Science Museum

Heunguksa Temple

Ocean Resort Water Park

Geumodo Island

Jinnamgwan 

Marine Rail Bike

For city tours, click here.
For a list of other attractions in Yeousu, click here.

Yeosu Aqua Planet at Expo Marine Park:

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

Also located within a walking distance from the expo site is Odongdo Island. To get to the island, you just have to walk along the breakwater that connects the mainland to Odongdo.

View from Odongdo

Jinnamgwan

Big-O at Expo Marine Park

Accommodation:                                                                                                                            

For something luxurious, you can stay at MVL Hotel, which is located right next to the expo site.

Otherwise, if you prefer a more downtown location, you can stay at one of the many accommodation options near Yeosu City Hall such as Benikea Hotel Yeosu or Narsha Hotel.

Nothing beats a hot soak in the tub while enjoying the ocean view and the sunrise.
View from Benikea Hotel Yeosu

Korean Travel Online - Suncheon Bay Garden Expo and Jangdae Park's Lights Festival

In case you don't know about the Suncheon Bay Garden Expo yet, here are a few articles to read:
International Garden Exposition Suncheon Bay Korea 2013 Preview
Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013
Explore Jeolla-do With an Expo ticket!Popular Yeosu Expo Facilities Reopen for Suncheon Garden Expo 2013
Suncheon City Starts City Tour Bus for Expo Visitors

Getting to Suncheon is easy. Taking the KTX (from Seoul Station approx 3.5 hrs; 40,200 won) or Saemaeul Train (from Yongsan Station approx 4.5 hrs; 36,100 won) is probably the most convenient. You can either book tickets in advance through korail.com or buy train tickets at the station on the day of your trip.

Once you arrive at Suncheon Station, you can easily find a place to stay. Across the station, you can immediately spot a number of motels. If motels aren't your thing, how about a guesthouse? Danim Guesthouse is located right across the street from the station, beside Paris Baguette.

Before you head out to the garden expo, make sure to put on sunblock, bring sunglasses, water, wear comfortable shoes. It would take more or less 3 hours to explore the vastness of the garden, more than 3 hours if you want to head out to the wetlands from the expo. If you want to avoid the summer heat, consider doing a late afternoon or night visit to the garden instead. The garden is open until 21:00 from June 1 to August 31, 2013.

There is a shuttle bus that takes you right in front of the expo's east gate. From Suncheon Station, you'll see bus #200. The bus goes around in a loop, costs 1,100 (or 1,000 for transportation cards; and yes, T-money works here).

Once you arrive at the expo, get a map (highly recommended). The English version might not be displayed so you have to ask for it.

There are themed gardens and a World Garden Zone featuring gardens inspired by different countries:

Thai-inspired garden

Rock garden

Lake garden

Dutch garden

Italian garden inspired by the Medici Villa Gardens

Spanish garden, inspired by orange trees planted in groves to form a small garden

British garden dedicated to the beauty of Victorian gardens

German garden modeled after Karl Forster's sunken garden in Potsdam

Italian garden

 The Bridge of Dreams is made out of recycled containers. Inside the bridge are about 140,000 paintings and written messages from children around the world. The bridge, which stands above Dongcheon Stream, conveys the spatial message of the garden, which dreams of coexistence between humans and nature

 Korean Traditional Garden uses Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon, and Soswaewon Garden in Damyang as motifs. 

Beautiful tranquil waterfall inside the Korean garden

From about 8:30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun until Oct 27, 2013), Jangdae Park (located close to Suncheon Station) lights up for the Haneulbit (Sky Light) Festival. To go there, all you have to do is take a 10-min walk to the park by walking along Dongcheon Stream.

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