GIC Events
2014 March Jangseong Culture Tour Preview
- Name
- GIC
- Date
- 2014-02-14
- Views
- 1861 회
March 2014 GIC Culture Tour: Jangseong
▶ Date: March 22nd Saturday
▶ Participation Fee: 40,000won for GIC members / 50,000won for Non-GIC members
▶ Contact: Boram Lee (gictour@gic.or.kr)
Naejang-san National Park - Namchang Valley – Maple Water Festival – Lunch – Pilam Confucian School – Chukryeong-san Cypress Forest – Phytoncide Natural Soap Making Experience
March welcomes the Spring with warm optimism and brings back another exciting year of traveling with the GIC Culture Tour. To start the season off with renewed energy, this month the Tour explores the contours, the culture, and the aromas of Jangseong County.
Far in the north of Jangseong, at the very edge of Jeollanam-do, sits the majestic Naejang Mountain Park. Among the many superlative picturesque spots, Namchang Valley enchants visitors with its long winding landscape and gorge like formations leading deep in to the interior of the park. From the trail head, participants will trek along the boulder strewn path to a stately cypress forest surrounded by groves of “Goroswae” maple trees to learn about the spring tradition of harvesting “maple water.” Walking back down to the park entrance, participants can enjoy the yearly “Goroswae” festival and try this sweet, maple syrup scented, natural vitamin drink that is good for bones sore from the long winter.
Transferring by bus into the lowlands of the country, lunch will be at Jayeon Bapsang-- an award winning restaurant with a conscientious chef who insists on using the finest local ingredients and upholds time honored Korean preparations full of subtle flavors and the magic of fermentation. The meal is almost entirely vegetarian, all natural, and will be sure to surprise with its quality and intensity of flavor.
After lunch and only a short drive away, the tour next visits Pilam Confucian School. Founded in 1590 to honor the Neo-Confucian scholar Haseo Kim In Hu, this shrine/academy impresses with its multitude of 17th century extant structures, interconnected courtyards, and erudite atmosphere. Participants can enjoy a postprandial walk through the grounds while learning about the philosophy and history of this important institution.
To end the day, the tour moves to the Chukryeong Mountain Cypress Forest for an aromatheraputic soap making experience. This cypress forest was the life’s work of Im Jong Guk, a naturalist and teacher from Jeolla-do, who devastated by the ravages of the Korean War and colonialism, set out to reforest the denuded mountains. He planted trees throughout the county and is especially remembered for his towering cypress trees. Not only lovely to look at, cypresses are known to emit healthy phytoncides that help soothe and relax visitors. In this grain, participants will visit a wood workshop to make natural soap using oil extracted from the cypress trees. In this way, it will be possible to take home the freshness of nature for days to come!
Please come out this month for the first GIC Tour of the year and enjoy the essence of adventure: beautiful nature, profound history, and fragrant food and fun!
