Persistent, pristine Pyeongchang
Korea Herald
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| View of Samyang Ranch [Lee Joo-hee/The Korea Herald] |
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province — Nestled inside the clouds of mountains in Gangwon Province is Pyeongchang, a popular destination for vacationers all year round.
During summer, it is the place to soak in the waters of gorges or challenge the heat along East Coast beaches.
In winter, of course, it is the place to be for all avid skiers and snow boarders seeking to spend all their free time swishing down the slopes.
Pyeongchang, not contented with being the best winter holiday destination in the country, is also famous for its unrelenting efforts to host the Winter Olympics. The city has failed twice in bids to host the 2010 and 2014 games, but that doesn’t seem to discourage them. Gangwon Province is trying yet again to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, this time with more ambitious and systematic preparations.
One of the notable projects in this effort is a grand resort being constructed in Daegwallyeong-myeon, spanning some 4.9 square kilometers. Dubbing itself — what else — the “Alps of Asia,” hence the name Alpensia, the resort began its test-run last month and partially opened for business earlier this month. The Alpensia Resort, complete with various winter sports facilities, demonstrates Gangwon’s great ambition to win its next Olympic bid.
But look past the over-run tourist spots of Pyeongchang and you will find other pleasant destinations — places that, at any time of the year, remain relatively undisturbed and unchanged despite all the grandiose development projects around them.
The long and winding fir-tree road that takes you to serene Woljeongsa Temple is exactly the same as it was 365 days ago (something quite surprising for a country that is continuously changing something, or anything).
Sending off the sticky summer season, Pyeongchang is now ready for the chiller days of autumn and winter.
There are several festivals to be held in the region, including the Pyeongchang Hyoseok Culture Festival next month to commemorate the late great author Lee Hyo-seok, as well as the Odaesan Buddhist Culture Festival in early October.
Alpensia Pyeongchang
Five years ago, it was a vast spread of potato fields. In their place stands one of the grandest resorts in the country. The entire project is handled by Gangwondo Development Corporation.
While only parts have been opened for business, you can immediately sense the amount of money that has been poured into this place at first glance.
Alpensia is divided into three main complexes including Alpensia Troon Estate, Alphensia Town and Sports Park.
All the facilities are located at a site that is 700 meters above the sea level, which is usually said to be the “most appropriate height for a person’s biorhythm,” according to Gangwon officials. For this reason, many facilities take on the number 700 in their names.
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Alpensia Troon Estate is by far the most extravagant accommodation, complete with a private 27-hole Alpensia golf course. Only members can enter the premises.
Each house — ranging from a tiny 287 square meters to a slightly bigger 552 square meters — overlooks the fairways of the golf course. Sales of the houses have begun while the overall construction of the complex is yet to be completed.
Once a member (undoubtedly costing an arm and a leg), one can enjoy high-class treatment and service, not only at the resort but also at 60 selected Troon golf courses around the world.
Alpensia Town, in the meantime, is where the more public accommodations are, including the five star InterContinental Alpensia hotels and Holiday Inn condominiums, along with the Water Park, Concert Hall and a shopping street. All rooms are available for membership purchase, but they can be used by non-members as well.
The Sports Park of Alpensia is probably its selling point (hopefully, for the IOC).
It has been designed to cater to international demands that would befit the venue for the Winter Olympics. The main stadium can hold up to 16,000 spectators. It is complete with a ski jump tower, cross-country and biathlon ranges, an ice-ridge climbing course, and mountain bike courses. Paragliding facilities will also be constructed in the complex. There is also Alpensia 700 Golf Club.
Of them, the most impressive is the ski jump tower that stands as high as a 30-story apartment building. The hit movie “Take-Off” was filmed here. Stand above the dizzyingly steep slope of the jump tower and you will immediately feel the respect for all those brave ski jumpers. For more information on Alpensia Pyeongchang, call (033) 339-9000 or visit www.alpensia.com
Samyang Ranch
Samyang Ranch is one of three popular ranches of Daegwallyeong, along with the Daegwallyeong sheep farm and Hanil Ranch.
Standing some 850 to 1,470 meters above the sea level, the ranch overlooks the East Sea and large carpets of fresh green fields to the west. The size of the farm is about 7.5 times bigger than Yeouido in Seoul.
The farm was originally meant for raising beef cattle and dairy cows, but it also has sheep and ostrich for tourism purposes.
Whether by walking or taking a sightseeing bus, take your time spending hours just watching the green fields peaked by gigantic white wind turbines.
The entrance fee is 7,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for children. More information can be found at (033) 335-5044~5 or at www.samyangranch.co.kr
Woljeongsa temple
Woljeongsa is located inside the National Park of Mount Odae or Odaesan. It stands before Manweol peak and faces the Geumgangyeon stream.
The best part about going to Woljeongsa temple is probably walking the 800-meter road arched by 1,700 tall fir trees. Some are more than 500 years old.
Take a walk along the road, perhaps barefoot, listening to the trickles of Geumgangyeon and smelling the fresh yet musky fir trees, and indeed, time will seem like it has stopped here.
The temple has been through a lot throughout history, including two large fires that occurred in 1377 and during the Korean War in 1950. The temple that stands now is a reproduction of the original.
A famous treasure belonging to Woljeongsa is Palgak Gucheung Seoktap, or octagonal nine-story stone tower. Designated National Treasure No. 48, it represents the early Goryeo period and its extravagant aristocratic Buddhism.
More information is available at www.woljeongsa.org
What to eat
Pyeongchang beef is unrivaled in the country. But Pyeongchang is also famous for hwangtae, dried Alaskan pollack. When driving around Daegwallyeong, it is easy to spot Alaskan pollack being sun dried in rows hung over the wooden airers.
Located in downtown area, Hwangtae Hoegwan (033-335-5795) has a diverse menu using hwangtae. Hwangtae bulgogi is highly recommended. They also have hwangtae naengmyeon (cold noodles) and hwangtae matguksu (warm noodles).
More information on traveling Pyeongchang can be reached by calling Pyeongchang County office at (033) 330-2399 or visiting www.happy700.or.kr
(angiely@heraldm.com)
By Lee Joo-hee
2009.08.29
