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Chungcheongnam-do

Chungcheongnam-do (충청남도) tends to fly under the radar of most travellers, and that's unfortunate. Some of the best nature within striking distance of Seoul is here. Gorgeous Daecheon Beach is popular, especially during the Boryeong Mud Festival, while those preferring solitude can hop on a ferry to one of the nearby islands. To the north is Taeanhaean National Marine Park, dotted with more islands, beaches and 150km of trails that flit in and out of coastline.

In terms of big-city experiences, Daejeon, the capital manqué, offers the province's best urban diversions, while Sejong, the country's administrative centre, doesn't yet have much to draw tourists. More interesting are the small towns: Gongju and Buyeo were once capitals of the ancient Baekje dynasty, and have retained a surprising number of old fortresses, tombs and relics.

Explore Chungcheongnam-do

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Chungcheongnam-do.

  • Fortress

    Gongsan-seong

    This stunning hilltop fortress is a reminder of a time when Gongju (then called Ungjin) was Baekje’s capital. After entering through the grand stone…

  • National Park

    Gyeryongsan National Park

    One of Korea's smallest parks, Gyeryongsan means ‘Rooster Dragon Mountain’ because locals thought the mountain resembled a dragon with a rooster’s head…

  • Fortress

    Busosan-seong

    This mountain fortress covers the forested hill of Buso-san (106m) and once shielded the Baekje capital of Sabi within its walls. Structures such as the…

  • Beach

    Mallipo Beach

    Though Mallipo is seeing more and more development every year, it's still a fine stretch of sand, a gentle crescent bookended by piney headlands. It's a…

  • Pond

    Gungnamji Pond

    In July, this pond explodes with colour as thousands of lotus flowers bloom. The Buyeo SeoDong Lotus Festival that month also transforms the surrounding…

  • Museum

    Gongju National Museum

    This excellent museum exhibits treasures discovered in the tomb of King Muryeong, including the distinctive gold diadem ornaments that you’ll see images…

  • Temple

    Donghak-sa

    Donghak-sa is noteworthy for being one of Korea's few nunneries. Just before the temple, look for the trail that leads you on an easy one-hour trek up to…

  • Temple

    Magok-sa

    Magok-sa has had its buildings restored and reconstructed through the years, but unlike most temples, its extant buildings are being allowed to age…

  • Gardens

    Cheollipo Arboretum

    The Cheollipo Arboretum is among Asia's top botanical institutions, with a collection of more than 13,000 species from over 60 countries, laid out with…

  • Beach

    Daecheon Beach

    This popular strip of almost golden-hued sand runs for 3.5km and is about 100m wide during low tide. The main hub of activity is at its southern end, near…

  • Museum

    Buyeo National Museum

    This museum houses one of the best collections of Baekje artefacts, and has extensive English captions, making it a good place to get a primer on pre…

  • Beach

    Kkotji Beach

    Of the many beaches on Anmyeondo, one of the best is Kkotji Beach (꽃지해수욕장), a gentle 3.2km-long stretch that’s a glorious 300m wide at low tide and…

  • Temple

    Gap-sa

    Gap-sa's main hall contains three gleaming Buddha statues, while a smaller shrine houses three shamanist deities – Chilseong, Sansin and Dokseong.

  • Beach

    Jinneomeo Beach

    Of the many island beaches, this is the cleanest one with striking ocean views, the least amount of trash and a half dozen nearby pensions.

  • Archaeological Site

    Tomb of King Muryeong

    The tomb of King Muryeong, the 25th Baekje king, was discovered – miraculously intact and completely by accident – in 1971. The tomb and the six others in…

  • Archaeological Site

    Baekje Royal Tombs

    Buyeo has seven royal tombs, dating from AD 538 to 660. They're sealed for protection, but there's a re-creation of the most impressive one, which is…

  • Temple

    Samchung-sa

    This modest shrine inside Busosan-seong commemorates three Baekje officials. Seong Chun, a royal adviser, died in prison after angering the king. Heung Su…

  • Temple

    Goran-sa

    This tiny temple at the bottom of a cliff is reached via stone stairs from Busosan-seong. Behind it is a spring that provided the favourite drinking water…

  • Cultural Centre

    Baekje Cultural Land

    This 'historical theme park' imagines what the Baekje palace and attendant village might have looked like, with structures you can enter (and plenty of…

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