The A-Train at Cheongnyangni station.

Everything started with the A-Train. When I plan a trip, I always consider the best way to arrive to my destination. The A-Train was the best option. It is a special train that loops through Jeongseon County in central Gangwon-do. The name A-Train comes from the Korean folk song Arirang. The song Arirang has many variants, and the Jeongseon is believed to be where the song originated.

Inside A-Train.

One of the highlights of the trip was that the train cars have larger windows than those found on any other train, so you can will be amazed by the unique landscapes of Gangwon-do Province, characterized by a long range of mountains and curving rivers.

Inside A-Train.

Inside the Jeongseon Arirang Market.

A diversity of products.

I didn’t have a clear idea of what I will find in Jeongseon, but one of the biggest surprises was the Jeongseon Arirang 5-day Market. It is a traditional market situated in the heart of the city, during my visit I could see how the locals live. And along the food street I could try the unique dishes from Jeongseon like: Kotdeungchigi Noodles, Hwanggi Jokbal, Buckwheat Wrap, and many others.

A diversity of products exposed at Jeongseon Arirang Market.

Different types of products is possible to find.

My biggest coincidence is that I came on the day the market was operating, these days are 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th; the weekend market is held every Saturday, so if you are coming to Jeongseon during these days, the Jeongseon Arirang Market is a must stop!

Jeongseon Arirang Market

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Entrance of Hwaam Cave.

After my visit to the market, I went to Hwaam Cave. What’s make this cave so special? This cave is one few on the world that has a combination of a gold mine and a natural stalactite cave. After having all the gold taken out, the cave turned into a touristic spot. One of the most charming aspects of visiting the cave is the possibility to take a monorail to get to the main entrance. This saves a lot of time of walking since the total length of the route inside the cave is 1,800m, which took me around 1.5 hours to explore. The ticket and access to the monorail costs 5,000won.

Representation of the mine workers in Hwaam Cave.

Inside the old mine installations in Hwaam Cave.

Inside the cave it is possible to learn more about the history of the cave. We can see representation of the process of digging gold, and all the struggle the miners had to endure to explore the deep cave.

Art works in Hwaam Cave.

My favorite part was the stalactite area, which is the largest in Korea. It’s amazing how nature, through thousands of years, creates shapes in such unique forms. It’s a unique experience to explore the caves beatitude.

Natural stalagmite in the cave.

Entrance of Samtan Art Mine.

My last stop before heading to the hotel, was the Samtan Art Mine. This museum and art gallery was established inside an abandoned coal mine. What makes it more fascinating is that much of the old installations is still well preserved, we can see the old coal carts in very good shape, a conveyer belt which the coal was continuously carried on and a pit from which the coal was mined. Everything was there like it was yesterday that the mine was active, and it makes everything mesmerizing.

Art gallery inside Samtan Art Mine.

Venus sculpture at Samtan Art Mine.

A gallery at the old mine.

Samtan Art Mine has a lot of interesting places to explore. We can find an old bathroom filled with Venus statues, huge collections of Terracotta army figures directly from China, and we can also explore the old grounds of the mine with tributes to the former mine workers. From all the sections, my favorite was one dedicated to the African art, mostly of the collection consisted on masks and sculptures from different parts of Africa. It is really worth the visit.

The scene shot from the “Descendants of the Sun”.

Filming location of the drama.

A couple of years ago, Samtan Art Mine came under the spotlight because it was the filming location for the popular KBS drama series, Descendants of the Sun. A bunch of scenes from the series were shot using the mine as a setting and background.

It’s amazing to the places where the action of the series took place in person!

Inside the filming location

Hwaam Cave

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Samtan Art Mine

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Entrance of Sangyujae hanok house.

Main house at Sangyujae hanok house.

Sangyujae is not just any common hanok stay, but the oldest traditional hanok house in Jeongseon. The house is a cultural asset of Gangwon-do Province and once you enter the main gate, you can see how the construction time stopped for more than 250 years. The house consists of the Sanrangchae house in the front yard, ahead of it there is the Anchae (the main house where the owners live).

A traditional poem at Sangyujae hanok house

The house resembles an open museum with old paintings and sculptures that decorate the insides of the rooms and the yard, portraying a little of its history to the eyes of the traveler. The rooms have everything a modern person needs: a warm floor-heating system, or ondol, internet access, and one special feature: a warm floor on the bathroom, it is a perfect feature for these cold winter days. All these qualities make the stay very comfortable and relaxing. Blankets and mattresses are given, with which you make your own bed. Sleeping on the floor could seem a strange idea to foreigners, but it is comfortable and warm, even more perfect during the winter.

Inside the traditional hanok house.

Inside the traditional hanok house.

The hanok house is located in the heart of Jeongseon, Sangyujae is just few meters walking distance from the Jeongseon Arirang Market. Also, it is very close to the train and bus station; only 15 minutes by walking distance. In Jeongseon Arirang Market, you can have a taste of the traditional foods of Gangwon-do Province like Gondeurebap, Buckwheat Crepe, Surichwi Rice Cake and others.