Wando Cheongsando, Last Autumn Foliage at Its Peak

Slogil Course 9, Cheongsando Island Loop Road 3.2km Turns Red

Wando Cheongsando Autumn Foliage Trail (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Although the brightly colored autumn leaves have fallen, Wando Cheongsando reaches its peak foliage in mid-November, allowing visitors to fully enjoy the late autumn atmosphere.

According to Wando County on the 16th, the "Autumn Foliage Prediction Map for Korea This Year" released by the Korea National Arboretum under the Korea Forest Service predicts that Wando, Jeonnam, will have the latest foliage, with Cheongsando's leaves turning the latest.

As Cheongsando's foliage is expected to reach its peak starting from the 20th, if you still have a longing for autumn, a trip to Cheongsando is recommended.

The Cheongsando foliage course consists of 9 Slow Road routes, taking about an hour on foot from Jinsan-ri to Gukhwa-ri, Jiri, and Docheong Village. It is an ideal course to enjoy a walk overlooking the indigo sea or to enjoy a drive by car.

In particular, along the approximately 3 km road from Jinsan-ri to Jiri, about 30-year-old maple trees form a long tunnel, creating a spectacular view.

Photographers from all over the country visit every year to capture the island's autumn foliage path, which can be seen only once a year, and this year they will also embark on a photo shoot on the 21st along the autumn foliage path.

The background of the creation of the Cheongsando foliage path is also interesting. During the busy farming season, the women of Cheongsando used to go to the mainland for autumn foliage viewing, leaving the men on the island feeling dissatisfied. They thought of planting maple trees, and after the foliage path was created, it is said that the women no longer went out for autumn foliage viewing.

Wando County has installed landscape lighting along the foliage path to attract staying tourists, providing a unique nighttime attraction, and plans to continue installing lighting facilities along the foliage path.

A county official said, "Cheongsando is an attractive island in all four seasons. If you are tired physically and mentally due to busy daily life and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, we hope you visit Cheongsando, where the last autumn leaves turn in Korea, to heal your body and mind."

Meanwhile, Cheongsando, officially certified as the "World's First Slow Road" by the International Slow City Federation in 2011, is ideal for leisurely walking and enjoying the scenery.

The Slow Road is a path used by residents to move between villages, named because the scenery naturally slows down one's pace.

Passenger ferries traveling between Wando Port Coastal Passenger Terminal and Cheongsando operate six times a day starting with the first ferry at 7 a.m. during winter, with a travel time of about 50 minutes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.