Chuncheon

Chuncheon has always been one of this writer’s favorite weekend getaways. Nestled in the rugged snow-capped peaks of the province of Gangwon-do, this warm and inviting provincial capital is a land of mountains, lakes and rivers. A mere hour and a half from Seoul (by either bus or train), it gives world-weary Seoulites a place to escape the urban jungle for a day or two, rejuvenate amidst beautiful scenery and - perhaps above all else - eat good food before returning once again to the daily grind.

 I always love to escape from my daily routine for a day and enjoy the natural beauty of this place. This time with my International friends to enjoy the beauty of this part of Korea just after the finish of the Seoul town meeting on 23 August,2012. 

In the winter, there’s perhaps nothing more romantic than taking the train from Seoul’s Cheongnyangni Station east into the mountains of north-central Korea. Chuncheon sits on a large lake, as you’ll no doubt notice as your train pulls into Chuncheon Station.

 Sure, nowadays, there are much more glitzier ways to get from Point A to Point B. But Cheongnyangni Station, located in the northeast part of Seoul, gives you a chance to experience train travel like it used to be just a decade ago. Yes, it’s a bit dingy compared to the glass and steel of Seoul and Yongsan stations, and don’t bother looking for the Starbucks. It’s a humble station headed to humble mountain towns in the Korean interior. And in its simplicity is its charm. 

It’s best to take an early morning train, preferably around dawn. The train will chug along the Bukhangang River, amidst splendid mountain scenery. In the early morning hours, the river and reservoirs (resulting from large dams) are shrouded in fog - a beautiful sight indeed. 

In addition to mountains, however, the town was blessed with fast flowing rivers, a blessing that did not go unnoticed by civil engineers, who - starting in the 1960s - proceeded to build some of Asia’s largest damns and hydroelectric plants in the area. This turned Chuncheon from a mountain railway junction to a city of lakes. Today, the town is surrounded by Uiam Lake to the west, Chuncheon Lake to the north and, further east, the massive Soyang Lake, which is so large to almost qualify as an inland sea. Home to numerous resort islands, including Namiseom, Jungdo (of which there are actually two) and Wido, the lakes provide visitors with tons of water sport activities in the summer months, and beautiful vistas in the winter months. Downtown Chuncheon, which sits on Lake Uiam, is a relatively large provincial capital and a major educational center, with several universities. It’s a pleasant enough place to walk around, and although by Korean standards, it’s relatively new, it does have a few historical sites of interest, including a number of Korean War memorials and two old Catholic churches founded by Irish missionaries in the mid-20th century. 

 Although it is favorite place of winter but no matter which season you visit it, you will found a charm and love. We had an MT here, probably the Last gathering of Seoul international students gathering of this session as everybody is goanna be busy at the end of summer vacations. 

 we had nice travel in train and book a resort, having much fun, gossips, sharing experience at Seoul and Korea. Many of my International friends drink a lot in night and start dancing and playing. We spend a night and full day and made new and interesting memories.