Things to do in Sokcho-si

Seorak Beach

Ulsanbawi Rock

Ulsan Rock, located on the Seoraksan hiking route, consists of 6 granite peaks with a circumference of 4 kilometers. When you climb Ulsan Rock, you can see the scenery of Mt. Seorak and the scenery of the East Sea, Dharma Peak, and Hakshaping Reservoir. There are three legends about the origin of Ulsanam's name: one is that it is called "Ulsan" due to the appearance of a fence road (the Korean grammar is similar), another is said to be derived from the place name of Ulsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, and another is said to be the "Crying Mountain". "Kanjiization in Korean. The sound of rain and thunder in the sky seems like the whole mountain is crying, so it is also called Tianhou Mountain.

Sokcho City Museum

Sokcho City Museum and Refugee Folk Village showcase the unique regional culture of Sokcho City. Sokcho is sandwiched between Seoraksan Mountain and the East Sea. The life here is also a way of life that integrates mountains and seas. Under the influence of Abai Village, a refuge for North Korean refugees during the Korean War, the folk customs here are unique. Visitors can also experience seasonal ceremonies and events, North Korean cultural programming, and more.

Seorak Sunrise Park

Seorak Sunrise Park is not far from Sokcho Beach and is a good place to watch the sunrise of the East Sea. Every year on December 31st, Koreans who like to greet the sunrise and say goodbye to the old and welcome the new come from all directions to seize the favorable terrain to watch the sunrise. As the New Year's sun leaps above the horizon, the golden sun tints the azure waters red and the scene is spectacular. There are dozens of sculptures in a corner of Sunrise Park, which add a lot of color to the park. After watching the beautiful sunrise, you can browse the sculpture area, or stroll along the seaside promenade to savor the charm of the sea.

Cheonjin Beach

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park is a national park located in the northern part of South Korea, reachable in over 3 hours by express bus from Seoul.Seoraksanis known as the Snowy Mountain or Snowy Peak Mountain; because the snow remains unmelted for years, it is called Seorak. Seoraksanspans four cities and counties: Sokcho-si, Inje-gun, Goseong-gun, and Yangyang-gun. Centered on the 1,708 mDaecheongbong Peak, the eastern side (Sokcho-si, Goseong-gun, and Yangyang-gun) is called Outer Seorak, and the western side (Inje-gun) is Inner Seorak. Seoraksanfeatures strange rocks and twisted pines, forests with various tree species, large waterfalls, streams rushing through narrow valleys, mysterious ancient temples, and pure air. You can enjoy the fall foliage in fall or the white snow in winter; the scenery is pleasant all year round. Whether you choose to sightsee by cable car or opt for a hiking route along the valley to experience the stunning beauty of the cliffs, there are various routes for you to choose from, allowing you to appreciate different natural landscapes. Seoraksanhas four entrances, among which Sinheungsa Temple in Sokcho-si is relatively famous. The other three entrances are the Osaek area in Yangyang-gun, and Baekdamsa Temple and the Jangsudae area in Inje-gun. If you are not a professional hiker, it is generally recommended to visit the Outer Seorak area, starting from the Seorak-dong Visitor Center (the entrance with the "Sinheungsa Temple" gate), where there is an iconic Seorak bear sculpture at the entrance for photos. You can choose a half-day or one-day hiking itinerary, or simply stroll around the park, take photos, and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The Seorak-dong Visitor Center provides tour brochures in Chinese and English as well as hiking maps in Korean. Additionally, staff are on duty here long-term, so you can come here for an inquiry if you encounter any problems. If you want to take the cable car to the top ofGwon Geum Seong Fortress, remember to buy your cable car ticket first. Generally, if you go to buy tickets after 10:00 AM, you will likely only be able to get a cable car for after 12:00 PM. It is recommended to choose a cable car ticket for 1:00 PM or 2:00 PM, so you can hike a route first and then come back to take the cable car to visitGwon Geum Seong Fortress. SinceSeoraksanis very large, most tourists generally do not choose to climbDaecheongbong Peak. Most only walk around the Outer Seorak area, hiking nearSinheungsa Temple, taking the cable car to the top ofGwon Geum Seong Fortressto overlook the scenery, and then visiting Ulsanbawi Rock, Biryong Falls, Cheonbuldong Valley, and other places. If in South Seorak, tourists' destinations are generally Osaek Mineral Spring or Seonnyutang Falls; short-term tourists usually prefer to go to low-altitude areas. Therefore, a simple route with beautiful scenery along the way is recommended here: Sinheungsa Temple-Biryong Falls-Gwon Geum Seong Fortress-Biseondae--Ulsanbawi Rock, which basically takes one day. In addition, if you have time, you can also visit attractions such as Daeseung Falls,Geumganggul Cave, and Baekdamsa Temple. Introduction to main attractions: Sinheungsa Temple Sinheungsa Templeis very popular. There is a large bronze Buddha in the temple called the Unification Great Buddha, which is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world, standing 14.6 m tall. On the pedestal, there are 16 exquisite carvings of Arhats praying for unification. Local Koreans often come here to worship, entrusting their wishes for unification here. Biryong Falls Biryong Falls has a deafening sound, as if a giant dragon is leaping into the sky, hence the name. The path to Biryong Falls winds through pine forests and is suitable for strolling. There is a Biryong Bridge on the Ssangcheon stream downstream of Cheonbuldong Valley. After crossing the bridge and walking left for 30 minutes, you will reachYukdam Falls, which is connected by 6 waterfalls and deep pools. From there, walk up 300 m (approx. 20 minutes) to see Biryong Falls, which is over 150 feet long, nestled between narrow and steep valley cliffs. Gwon Geum Seong Fortress Gwon Geum Seong Fortressis located inSeoraksan Small Parkand is an ancient fortress ruin on a steep mountain. Legend has it that it was built by two generals named Gwon and Kim to avoid war, hence it is calledGwon Geum Seong Fortress. You can walk toGwon Geum Seong Fortressvia the Biryong Bridge on the valley to the left of the small park, but it requires walking for over 1 hour on a steep rocky road. You can also take the cable car, which is very convenient, and many tourists who come toSeoraksanlike to take it. There are more than 80 attractions at the heights ofGwon Geum Seong Fortress, such as flat rocks, Seulsadae, and Bangryeongdae, where you can overlook the entire East Sea and Sokcho-si. To the west, you can also enjoy various strange rock formations ofSeoraksan, such as the Dinosaur Ridge, Cheonhwadae, Madeungryeong, and Jeohangryeong. Biseondae Biseondaehas a relatively flat route that is easy to walk, and you can go straight up toSeoraksan'sDaecheongbong Peak. However, due to reasons such as forest fire prevention, the route afterBiseondaeis often under control. From the front ofBiseondae, you can see a huge rock lying on the mountain peak, and the middle of this rock has been artificially pierced to formGeumganggul Cave, with an iron ladder built to the top. It takes 30–40 minutes to walk fromBiseondaetoGeumganggul Cave. Ulsanbawi Rock Ulsanbawi Rockconsists of 6 granite peaks with a circumference of 4 km. Climbing Ulsanbawi Rock, you can see not onlyDaecheongbong Peakbut also the panoramic view of Outer Seorak. At Ulsanbawi Rock, which is 873 m above sea level, the surroundings are steep cliffs, which is quite spectacular. On the way to Ulsanbawi Rock, you can also see attractions such as the Heundeulbawi (Rocking Rock).

Cheongchoho Lake Park

설악산자생식물원

Sokcho Lighthouse

The Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory is located in Dongmyeong-dong, Sokcho City, Gangwon-do Province, South Korea. It was mainly designed for those who went out to fish. The observation deck allows tourists to climb. The observation deck is a white building with a romantic style. There is a telescope on the stage, which attracts many tourists to come and play. From the observation deck, you can see the scenery of Mt. Seorak, Donghae and Sokcho city. Overlooking the East China Sea, Sokcho Beach and Bird Island come into view; facing Seoraksan Mountain, you can enjoy the charming scenery of Daecheongbong and Ulsan Rock. While enjoying the slowly blowing sea breeze, you can overlook the endless blue sea and lush mountain peaks. , is a very romantic experience.

Bauzium Sculpture Museum