Beat the Summer Heat in Cool Donghae!

Here is a great way to escape the summer heat! Gangwon-do is one of the most popular summer holiday destinations. Why not take a trip to the scenic spots in Donghae, where you can easily cool off? From the Cheongok Golden Bat Cave preserving primeval mystery to the iconic Donghae Sea, and the thrilling marine suspension bridge over the sea at Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock, a famous sunrise spot!

Along the way

1. 1
   Cheongok Golden Bat Cave

   천곡황금박쥐동굴

   Located in Donghae-si, Cheongok Golden Bat Cave is a horizontal limestone cave with a total length of 1,510 meters, estimated to have formed 400 to 500 million years ago. It is the only cave in Korea located right in the city center. Boasting the nation's longest ceiling dissolution rill, curtain stalactites, travertine terraces, and stalactite waterfalls alongside rare stones, it holds high academic value and primeval mystery. Inside, there are over 20 types of secondary speleothems including stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars, making it an ideal open-air classroom for earth sciences. In addition, an exhibition hall and an audiovisual room are available to help visitors understand the birth of the universe and the overall cave ecosystem.MoreLess

   

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2. 2
   Mukho Lighthouse

   묵호 등대

   Mukho Lighthouse was developed into an ocean culture space in 2007 to offer attractions and a relaxing rest area for both locals and tourists, becoming a popular destination. It also features colorful LED lighting to present a beautiful night view. Deungdaeoreum-gil, leading from opposite the Mukho Fish Market, is part of Nongoldam-gil going up to Mukho Lighthouse; its alleyways are decorated with poems written by residents and charming murals. Built as a settlement for sailors and workers from cement and anthracite factories, the street preserves the joys and sorrows of the lives of Mukho people.MoreLess

   

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3. 3

   Nongoldam-gil

   논골담길

   Nongoldam-gil is an emotional storytelling village that preserves the history of Mukho Port (opened in 1941) and the life stories of its residents. It took its current shape through the 2010 Senior Living Culture Transmission Project 'Mukho Lighthouse Conversation Village: Nongoldam-gil,' organized by the Donghae Cultural Center, with the active participation of local senior citizens and artists.MoreLess

   

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4. 4
   Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock

   추암 촛대바위

   A celebrated spot in Donghae-si, Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock is an awe-inspiring place where uniquely shaped underwater rocks create stunning scenery against the backdrop of the sea. The candlestick-like, exquisitely formed rocks soar toward the sky in an impressive spectacle. The sea surrounding the candlestick rock and the surrounding rock formations changes constantly: on rough days, white foamy waves evoke the image of an ascending dragon, while on calm days, the water feels like a deep, serene lake. The sunrise here is widely renowned, attracting many travelers and photographers. It is said that the Joseon scholar Song Si-yeol was so captivated by the view that he could hardly pull himself away. The sunrise at Chotdaebawi Rock and Hyeongjebawi Rock is also famous for frequently appearing in the background of South Korea's national anthem video.MoreLess

   

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5. 5

   Chuam Suspension Bridge

   추암 출렁다리

   Newly opened in June 2019 at Chuam Beach, home to the famous sunrise spot Chuam Chotdaebawi Rock, this 72-meter-long marine suspension bridge is the only suspension bridge in Korea built over the sea.MoreLess

   

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6. 6
   Mureung Valley

   무릉계곡

   Set against the backdrop of Dutasan and Cheongoksan Mountains, Mureung Valley extends about 4 km upstream from Hoamso to Yongchu Falls. Featuring broad rock floors and large pools where water gathers between the stones, the valley offers striking scenery starting from Mureungbanseok Rock, which can seat hundreds of people. The breathtaking landscapes continue past Samhwasa Temple, Haksodae, Ongnyudong, and Seonnyeotang, leading up to Ssangpok Falls and Yongchu Falls. Also known as Mureungdowon (Peach Blossom Spring), this was where Yi Seung-hyu lived during the Goryeo Dynasty while writing 'Jewang Ungi' (Songs of Emperors and Kings), and it was named by Kim Hyo-won, the magistrate of Samcheok during the reign of King Seonjo of Joseon. Packed with picturesque rock formations, it feels like reaching an immortal realm. Inscriptions by Yang Sa-eon (one of the four master calligraphers of the early Joseon Dynasty) and poems by numerous poets and calligraphers, including Kim Si-seup, are carved into the vast Mureungbanseok Rock (approx. 5,000 m²).MoreLess

   

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7. 7

   Donghae Mureung Health Forest

   동해무릉건강숲

   Donghae Mureung Health Forest is the Gangwon Regional Environmental Disease Prevention Center designed to educate about and prevent increasingly prevalent environmental illnesses. It features eco-friendly healing accommodations that can host around 100 guests per day, themed experience rooms, a main auditorium, a natural health food restaurant, a children's health experience hall, and health consultation rooms, all blessed with the optimal natural setting of Mureung Valley.MoreLess

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