Daegu Ansim-dong Lotus Root Cultivation Area Transforms into Tourist Attraction through Urban Regeneration Project

'Ansim Creative Valley Development' Reaches Milestone After 7 Years Since Inception

A deck path created after the Ansim Lotus Root Cultivation Area in Ansim 3-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu was developed into Ansim Creative Valley.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The Ansim Lotus Root Cultivation Complex area (1.1㎢) located in Ansim 3-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu, has transformed into a new tourist attraction as Ansim Creative Valley through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Urban Vitality Promotion Area Development Project selected in 2014.

This area, once the largest lotus production site in the country, had lagged behind compared to the nearby Dongho District and Shinseo Innovation City, drawing criticism for urgent needs in landscape improvement and environmental maintenance.

In this situation, Daegu City and Dong-gu Office invested 8.6 billion KRW from the Urban Vitality Promotion Area Development Project budget to carry out the Ansim Creative Valley development project aimed at creating an eco-friendly ecological and cultural space in this area.

The detailed projects for the creation of Ansim Creative Valley include ▲ establishing the Geumgang Station Rail Cafe ▲ hosting the Lotus Festival ▲ installing ecological roads and deck paths (Gananji, Geumhogang, Jeomsae Swamp) ▲ creating the Lotus Ecology Center and Lotus Gallery ▲ establishing community rest areas (Ansim Station, Shinseo Town Street).

The Rail Cafe at Geumgang Station Plaza, made by repurposing two abandoned train cars, is bustling with visitors to the point that it is hard to find an empty seat even on weekday afternoons. This cafe is operated by the Banyawol Lotus Village Cooperative, which gathered 16.5 million KRW from 20 cooperative members and received approval from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety earlier this year.

The Ansim Creative Valley Lotus Festival, held annually from 2017 to 2019 and highly praised by many tourists, has not been held since 2020 due to COVID-19, much to the regret of local residents and citizens. Instead, this year, the 1st Ecological Arts Festival is scheduled to take place over two days, June 24-25, at Jeomsae Swamp Rest Area and Geumgang Station Rail Cafe, which is expected to somewhat alleviate the disappointment.

The Lotus Ecology Center, established in 2017, creates an environment within a vinyl greenhouse suitable for the healthy growth of water lilies, preserving various lotus species native to Jeomsae Swamp and utilizing the space for promotion and educational purposes.

Daegu City and Dong-gu Office completed the project by creating meeting plazas and small parks on Ansim Station and Shinseo Town streets, providing rest areas to enhance community communication.

Kwon Oh-hwan, Director of the Urban Regeneration Bureau of Daegu City, stated, "Through the urban regeneration project, the Ansim area has begun to regain vitality as a new tourist destination," and added, "Currently, residents are voluntarily making various efforts to ensure that this project does not end as a temporary effect but continues sustainably."

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