Korea Trip | Anmyeondo Island in Full Bloom with Begonia Flowers
Korea Trip | Anmyeondo Island in Full Bloom with Begonia Flowers
Begonia flowers bloom along the coast, giving it the beautiful name "Kkotji," meaning "flower land." The picturesque Kkotji Beach, with its shallow and clear waters, is a popular summer retreat.
Legend has it that since ancient times, beautiful begonia flowers have bloomed along the white sandy beach, hence the name Kkotji.
👉 Taean County's Kkotji Beach boasts a 5km-long white sandy beach and attractions like Grandpa Rock and Grandma Rock, offering picturesque scenery all year round. These two giant rocks, majestic and spectacular under the sunset, are one of Taean's famous landmarks.
There's a legend about Grandpa Rock and Grandma Rock. It is said that in the mid-9th century, when Jang Bogo was stationed in Cheonghaejin, a general named Seung-eon was sent to Anmyeondo Island as a commander. The general had a beautiful wife, and they had a deep affection for each other. People around them envied and were jealous of their love, so the general built a house on two rocky islands in the sea and lived there with his wife. During this time, the general went on a distant expedition and did not return. His wife, longing for him and waiting for him, turned into a rock. Later, another rock appeared next to the wife's rock, and people called these two rocks "Grandma and Grandpa Rocks."
👉 Kkotji Beach Coast Park (꽃지해안공원)
Kkotji Beach Coast Park is a theme park built around Anmyeondo Island's largest beach, Kkotji Beach. It was built for the Anmyeondo Island International Flower Expo held in 2002 and opened as a coastal park after the expo. It consists of several themed gardens, decorated with beautiful flowers throughout the seasons.
The Four Seasons Garden, covering an area of about 60,000 pyeong (approx. 198,347 square meters), allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. There's also a wildflower exhibition hall, various flower and herb gardens, a rose garden, and other outdoor gardens, creating a harmonious coastal park with the beautiful seaside and an ideal place for relaxation.
The park is equipped with picnic areas, fishing areas, benches, flatbeds, pergolas, snowmen, and other resting facilities, as well as sports facilities such as basketball courts, mini soccer fields, volleyball courts, soccer fields, and beach volleyball courts. There are also restrooms, cooking areas, showers, and drinking fountains.
👉 Anmyeonam Temple (안면암)
Anmyeonam Temple is a branch temple of Geumsansa Temple, belonging to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Although the temple doesn't have a long history, it's a must-visit place for almost every tourist visiting Taean. The reason becomes clear when you see the sea view in front of the temple.
👉 Anmyeondo Arboretum (안면도 수목원)
Anmyeondo Arboretum is located opposite the Anmyeondo Natural Recreation Forest. Built in a place rich with the scent of grass, Anmyeondo Arboretum offers a quiet and mystical experience within the forest. It covers a total area of 42 hectares, of which 15 hectares are intensively developed. It houses 374 species of plants, including flowering trees, maple trees, and willow trees.
👉 Anmyeondo Jurassic Park (안면도쥬라기공원)
Here, you can find various sculptures of dinosaurs, airplanes, whales, trains, and more. You can also observe various plants such as lilies, butterfly bush, and water hyacinths. In addition, there are ancillary facilities such as dinosaur-shaped slides, making it a great place for family outings with children.