City: Gyeongsangnam-do
Top Things to do in Gyeongsangnam-do
Top 10 Things to do in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
South Gyeongsang Province (Korean: 경상남도, translit. Gyeongsangnam-do, Korean pronunciation: [kjʌŋ.saŋ.nam.do]) is a province in the southeast of South Korea. The provincial capital is at Changwon. It is adjacent to the major metropolitan center and port of Busan. There is UNESCO World Heritage Site Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple that houses the Tripitaka Koreana and attracts many tourists. Automobile and petrochemical factories are largely concentrated along the southern part of the province, extending from Ulsan through Busan, Changwon, and Jinju.
Restaurants in Gyeongsangnam-do
1. Haeinsa Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
The depository of Tripitaka Koreana, the famous collection of Buddhist texts on woodblocks.
Reviewed By gyanfernando - Exeter, United Kingdom
We were here as a group for an overnight temple stay.
The location is beautiful as is the temple and the Gardens. Temple stay rules are fairly strict. No smoking, no alcohol and the sexes are segregated at night (even married couples).
Food is basic and vegetarian. You eat what the monks eat but you can bring in your own snacks. Beware that there are no food outlets nearby.
Lights out at 9 pm and you sleep on thin mattresses on the floor.
The temple houses a unique copy of the "Tripitaka", a Buddhist text, carved on to wooden plates. These are not accessible to the public but may be glimpsed through the ventilation slats of the ancient building which houses them.
You can opt out of some activities but it is worth getting up at 3 am to watch the beating of the massive temple drum and take part in the chanting and meditation.
2. Yeojwacheon Stream
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By yipjcs88 - Hong Kong, China
The best time to visit is late March/ early April when the cherry blossoms flourish. Take the subway to Sasang station and then the long distance bus to Jinhae. From the bus station, walk to Yeojwacheon. It has a long stream with numerous crossing Bridges. There is not much water in the stream so one can walk close to the stream. Avoid going there on the weekends or April 1 when the crowds are huge. The decorative lights come on at around 7 pm and the place is stunning. Leave by 8 pm to walk back to the Jinhae bus station to catch the last bus. One should see the cherry blossoms in the afternoon and then continue on to see them at night, to gain the full experience of the excitement. There are big crowds during the cherry blossom period (late March to early April) but the place is quite orderly (the visitors have good manners and do not push around).
3. Jinjuseong
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By HotEarth - Melbourne, Australia
I was quite taken up by this attraction for it is well kept and beautiful! The commanding view over the meadering river was just magnificient!
KRW 2000 for the entrance fee is well worth paying for the historical attractions and the museum within this old fortress.
Tip: The Busan to Jinju express bus runs almost every 15 minutes, from Busan Seobu Bus Terminal (above. the Sasang Subway Station) to the Intercity Bus Terminal in Jinju. The fortress is within walking distance, west of this station on the northern shoreline of the river.
4. Dongpirang Wall Painting Village
Overall Ratings
4 based on 156 reviews
Reviewed By jennie21021984 - Sheffield, United Kingdom
The mural village is located on and around a hill not too far from the passenger ferry terminal. It's well signposted and a relatively easy walk up the hill - if you suffer with leg or back problems I would t recommend it though- it's pretty steep.
I went on a day when it was really hot and really busy so moving around was a bit difficult! There's a few different routes you can take around the murals- I'm not sure I got to see them all as the signposting once you're actually up there is a little vague.
It's full of cafes and there are a few gift shops too. A short but pretty diversion!
5. Boriam Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By marsha1122 - Malaysia
It is a very popular place in namhae. We reach there around noon time, the place very crowded. We spend 3 hours hike around the temple, we met lot if hikers, they are super friendly. The view from the temple soooo amazing. A place worth to visit.
6. Tongdosa Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By JoanaLola - Iowa City, Iowa
The Tongdosa temple is one of the most beautiful temples we have ever visited (and we have been all over the world). The history is astounding, since it was the only, or one of the only, temples that survived the Japanese invasion. Most other temples were unfortunately burnt down by the Japanese.
The conservation effort that has gone into this temple is amazing since they have kept the tranquility and the spiritual essence of the place intact. We went in March and it was raining torrentially, but still, the experience was not hampered by the rain. More rain also mean less tourists, which was great. We had the whole temple all for ourselves and took some astonishing pictures. It was just us and the monks and nuns.
Cost and time: We took the taxi from Haeuadae Beach and it took us a little under an hour. We agreed for the taxi driver to wait for us for 2 or 3 hours at the temple and then to drive us back, and it cost 140,000 won. Totally worth it.
7. Gimhae National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
Reviewed By Pan-Bong H
You can understand the histories related to Kimhae from the past up to now if you look around in the museum. In particular, this museum is very famous for all kinds of relics related to the old kingdom of Keumguan Kaya. Allot one day to scrutinize the relics.
8. Upo Wetland
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By kjmagnuson - Los Angeles, California
Upo is unique as one of the only inland wetlands in the country. The location of Upo is very rural, and is relatively unknown even in Korea. The wetland is an important bird sanctuary and has been recognized by Ramsar as of high ecological importance.
Upo wetland can be enjoyed very pleasantly in 1-2 hrs. I highly recommend renting a bicycle nearby the entrace. They are affordable and are perfect for exploring the wetland. There are wide bike paths surrounding the wetland, and on spring day, a bike ride here is really as good as it gets.
For bird enthusiasts there are many different seasons to visit, but for the vast majority of visitors spring is best. Summer is likely to be too hot and humid, winter too cold, and fall also very hot. In spring everything was a lush green; turtles, ducks, and egrets were easy to spot. The closest city to Upo is Daegu, and the easiest way to visit the site is by using a car.
9. Ssanggyesa Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By xiaoyaoYantai - Seoul, South Korea
The temple is very serene and peaceful. When I went, there were hardly any people, mostly just the monks climbing the hill to meditate. The surrounding area grows a lot of tea and has a lot of history surrounding it. http://oldmountain.yolasite.com/tea-travels/ssanggyesa-temple-and-the-first-korean-tea-plantations
10. Gyeonghwa Station Cherry Blossom Road
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By Sarah Z
This is a great place to visit if you're looking to see cherry blossoms in full bloom. There is lots of street food and we even came across a Turkish shawarma stall but can't vouch for it being halal. Public toilets are available but not always clean, so I'd suggest making sure you have lots of tissue, sanitizer and plenty of wet wipes on hand. There's a lot of rush here, so if you're looking for a relaxing and quiet visit, it's probably better to go early in the morning on a weekday.
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