Is this the world's most famous bus stop? The BTS Army thinks so. – Photos: GISELE SOO/The Star

One of the best places to celebrate nature is in Gangwon-do, a former province in South Korea that is now recognised as a state.

Located on the northeastern part of the country and surrounded by mountains, Gangwon is actually in the Korean Demilitarised Zone or the DMZ, where the border of the South and North Korea lies.

The state is home to one of the country’s most beloved mountains, the Seoraksan Mountain, the first Unesco Biosphere Reserve in South Korea. In winter, the peak is covered in snow, which is how the mountain got its name: “Seorak” means “snowy peak” in Korean.

Recently, the Gangwon state government embarked on a mission to empower locals to create a greener future. The month-long initiative that began on Sept 22 also included the Gangwon Forestry Exhibition, aimed at preserving the state’s natural wonders. A group of journalists from Malaysia, together with AirAsia, were there to check out the exhibition, as well as some of the popular tourist attractions in Gangwon.

The exhibition featured a series of photographs that showcased the livelihoods of the people in Gangwon, as well as the evolution of forests there. In the mid-1950s after the Korean War, many locals depended on the natural resources found in jungles to sustain their lives, like gathering fuelwood, for example. This led to the deforestation of the mountainous area, where barren lands now abound.

Organisers hope that with this initiative, individuals, corporations and organisations will understand sustainability issues better, and become more mindful of how certain things are done in the future.

Other programmes include activities and educational events that promote the safeguarding of forests not just in Gangwon but around the world, too.

As a tourist-friendly state, Gangwon for sure has many other things to check out, and several fun areas to explore. This scenic state has been featured in various popular K-dramas and movies, so it is not unusual to see set-jetting tourists (people who travel around the world to visit filming locations for movies, TV shows and music videos) posing every now and then at a particular place.

For many, Gangwon is known as the filming location of world-famous TV dramas like Winter Sonata, Autumn In My Heart and Descendants Of The Sun. One of BTS’s most iconic photos was also taken at a beach in this state.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games was held in this state, too, specifically in the city of Pyeongchang.

The region’s spectacular landscape, cultures and attractions offer visitors an experience to remember. From delectable local eats to unique traditions, filming sites and recreational fun, there are a great many things to discover in Gangwon.

Here are just a few of the things tourists can do in the state, especially during autumn.

Nature and adventure

For thrill seekers, the port city of Donghae is where you want to be, or at least, from where you can start your outdoor adventures.

One of the attractions found here is Mureung Byeolyucheonji, a former limestone mine. When the mine was no longer in use, the place was abandoned for many years, which then caused nature to partially “reclaim” the area with new foliage and better soil. (If you go during late spring, the fields will be covered in lavender flowers!)

Today, Mureung Byeolyucheonji is a theme park of sorts, featuring a handful of thrilling rides like the Sky Glider, Alpine Coaster and Rollercoaster Zip Line, as well as a luge ride, where you get to zoom about on a track around the Chongokho Lake.

The Sky Glider “carries” four passengers, and gives one the chance to “fly” across the emerald green lake. The Alpine Coaster, meanwhile, is where passengers get into a sled that’s set on an above-ground track, and coast through the woods for a thrilling experience.

Lastly, the Rollercoaster Zip Line is similar to the Alpine Coaster, where you move through the woods, except for this one you are suspended on a zip line.

Needless to say, some of these rides are not really for faint-hearted folks (or people with certain medical problems) or those with a chronic fear of heights. So, if you’re not keen on doing them, head over instead to the Stone Cruncher Gallery which houses items used in the quarry. The belt conveyor used to transport the mining materials can be found here, as well as some notes and information on the history of the place.

Try some cement ice-cream at Mureung Byeolyucheonji.

A “must-try” item at this place is the “cement” ice-cream at the Mukho Cafe. Obviously, you would not be eating cement, but instead a cement-looking creamy dessert (it’s grey in colour) that is served with a toasted marshmallow.

When you’re done with the theme park, head over to Gangneung, where you will find Ojukheon House. Located 45km from Donghae, this place offers a different kind of excitement, especially for history lovers.

Go on a tour with a local guide at Ojukheon House, the former residence of two prominent people in Korean culture – Sinsaimdang, a painter, and her son Yi I, a scholar and politician.

This is also where tourists get a chance to don the hanbok, the Korean traditional costume, and then roam around in the hanok (traditional Korean house or courtyard), taking photos of yourself with the costume.

Tourists can also check out the Arirang Museum, nestled in the mountains of Jeongseon, some 85km from Gangneung. It would take about an hour to drive from Gangneung to Jeongseon, depending on the traffic.

Arirang is actually a Korean folk song that has been around for 600 years. The traditional song holds a special place in Korean society, as it is said to convey the emotions of the people.

The museum has been displaying research items and data related to Arirang since 2016. Visitors can opt for a guided tour, where they will be regaled with stories of the old song, or just go on your own. Besides that, there’s also a hanok outside the museum, which gives tourists a glimpse of how locals lived in the past.

For something that’s not “local”, you can check out Legoland Korea, where you can find more than 40 interactive rides and themed-attractions.

The 280,000sq m amusement park, the largest in Asia, opened its doors on Children’s Day last year – celebrated on May 5 annually in South Korea – on the Hajung island of Chuncheon, the capital city of Gangwon.

Another leisure activity to check out in Chuncheon is the Samaksan Mountain Lake Cable Car. At 3.61km long, it is the country’s longest cable car ride and moves across the Samaksan Mountain as well as the Uiamho Lake. At the top of the Samaksan Mountain, visitors will get a wonderful panoramic view of the mountain range and beyond. According to the official Gangwon website, the mountain range takes up about 80% of the land in the state, making it an ideal nature escape for explorers.

Visitors can also experience canoeing along the Mullegil Trail in Chuncheon.

A trip to Chuncheon, especially up in the mountains, is incomplete without going for a canoe ride. The Chuncheon Mulle-Gil Canoe is just a short distance from the Samaksan cable car. Paddle along the calm waters of the lake and just enjoy the sweeping vista of the mountains and coastlines.

Time to chill

One of the best things about holidaying in South Korea is that there is always an abundance of coffee shops in any city, and Gangwon is no different.

There are some 30 coffee shops along Gangneung Coffee Street, a stretch facing Anmok beach that is dedicated to cafes, where almost each shop roasts its own beans. People come here not only for the coffee and food, but also for the view.

The street hosts the annual Gangneung Coffee Festival, a time when coffee lovers from all over come together to join in the caffeine-filled merriment. This festival is usually held sometime in October, and has been around since 2009 as part of the state government’s effort to transform Gangneung into a “coffee city”.

The next must-visit spot is the “BTS Bus Stop” at Jumunjin Beach, about 20 minutes from Gangneung Coffee Street. This is an essential pit stop for Hallyu fans, especially fans of the world-famous Kpop group BTS, or the “Army”. The bus stop was featured on the group’s album cover, You Never Walk Alone, and fans have been thronging this spot since the album came out in 2017. It can get quite crowded here, and you will likely see a queue of people waiting to take photos, even on weekdays.

If you’re not really keen on standing in the queue to take pictures, then just do your own thing at the beach. Jumunjin – which means pine tree in the Korean language – is a nice place for swimming as the water is clear and the sand is super soft.

There’s a pine tree forest nearby, too, if you prefer to spend time doing a bit of easy trekking.

To get to the beach you would need to take a train and stop at Gangneung Station, or a bus to the Jumunjin Express bus terminal. From either stop, hop on the local bus that will take you straight to the beach.

If you’re interested in another BTS set location, head to Maengbang Beach in Samcheok, where the group did photoshoots for their Butter album. It may not be as famous as the bus stop at Jumunjin Beach yet, but that may change in a matter of months.

Food and festivals

The endless adventure in Gangwon also includes dining experiences.

If you’re looking for something that’s traditional and authentically local, do check out Gangneung Jungang Market. This is a 43-year-old market that consists of two parts – the traditional market and a wet market.

The Gangneung Jungang Market not only sells local food, it also doubles as a wet market.

Previously only mainly frequented by locals, today curious tourists from all over also travel here to hunt for delicious Korean fare. There are stalls selling a variety of local favourites, such as hotteok (a pancake with sweet fillings), baenni dakgangjeong (sweet-and-sour fried chicken), kimchi dumplings, kimchi savoury roll, and of course, the tteokbokki (spicy Korean rice cakes).

For festival-goers, summer and autumn are the best times to visit Donghae, the fourth largest city in the state. The city will be buzzing with festivals like the Donghae Mureung Festival, for instance, which is a four-day harvest celebration filled with various activities like traditional craft-making and games, as well as local music performances.

Whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter, Gangwon has lots to offer all kinds of travellers.Travel notes

To get to Gangwon from Malaysia, you would need to first fly to either Seoul or Busan. AirAsia is set to fly to Seoul 12 times weekly in November and December, and three times weekly to Busan during the same peak season months. The flight to Seoul or Busan from Kuala Lumpur is just under seven hours (six hours and 50 minutes for Seoul; six hours and 30 minutes for Busan).

From Seoul or Busan, you can get on a train to Gangwon – a four-hour journey, approximately – or take a bus. Alternatively, you can also drive, provided you have an international driver’s licence.