Places to Visit in Gwangyang in September

Gubongsan Observatory, Baealdo Island Garden and Other Chuseok 'Moon Viewing' Spots

Provincial Art Museum's 'Lee Kun-hee Collection' and Mangdeok Port Where Poetry Flows

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do has unveiled a meaningful travel itinerary for September, marking the gateway to the season of abundant harvests and the nation’s grand holiday, the Chuseok golden holiday.

The city has designed half-day, one-day, and two-day courses centered around night view and moon-watching spots such as Gubongsan Observatory and Baealdo Island Garden, as well as cultural and artistic attractions like the Jeollanam-do Museum of Art and Mangdeok Port.

Night View from Gubongsan Observatory [Photo by Gwangyang City]

The half-day course, “Half a Day in Gwangyang,” connects sites including the Kim Si-sik Site ~ Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port (Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s manuscripts & Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden).

The Mangdeok Port area along the romantic Seomjin River is a famous autumn destination where visitors can savor savory autumn croakers and enjoy the romance of Yun Dong-ju’s poetry and Baealdo Island Garden.

Recently, unique sculptures inspired by Yun Dong-ju’s poems have been installed along the port, and subtle nightscapes have been added to Baealdo Island Garden and Byeolhae Neun Dari, attracting many visitors.

The one-day course spending a day in Gwangyang tours the Jeollanam-do Museum of Art & Gwangyang Art Warehouse ~ Gubongsan Observatory ~ Yi Sun-sin Bridge ~ Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port.

At the Jeollanam-do Museum of Art, exhibitions such as “Lee Kun-hee Collection: Encounter,” showcasing modern and contemporary Korean art, and “Eternal·Romance·Flowers,” highlighting flowers that have embroidered human life beyond time and space, are receiving great acclaim.

Standing tall at 473 meters above sea level, Gubongsan Observatory and the floating Baealdo Island Garden are perfect moon-watching spots to enjoy the romantic sunset followed by the full moon of Chuseok.

Byeolhaendaeri Landscape Lighting
Photo by Gwangyang City

The one-night, two-day course “Counting Stars at Night in Gwangyang” dreams of spending a night in Gwangyang, covering the city’s nature, culture, and beautiful night views from Okryongsa Camellia Forest to Mangdeok Port.

The first day’s itinerary includes Okryongsa Camellia Forest ~ Maechon Hwanghyeon Birthplace & Maechon History Park ~ Jeollanam-do Museum of Art & Gwangyang Art Warehouse ~ Maro Mountain Fortress ~ Gubongsan Observatory ~ Yi Sun-sin Bridge & Sunshine Beach Park.

The second day leisurely concludes the two-day journey at the Kim Si-sik Site ~ Baealdo Island Garden ~ Mangdeok Port (Jeong Byeong-wook House preserving Yun Dong-ju’s manuscripts & Yun Dong-ju Poetry Garden).

Jung Gu-young, head of the Tourism Division, said, “September is a great season for travel and a time of abundant Chuseok holidays, so we have prepared diverse courses for those planning unique trips early.”

He added, “We hope visitors will relieve everyday fatigue and fully recharge their emotions and romance through Gwangyang travel, which offers beautiful scenery and wide-open views including Baealdo Island Garden, Mangdeok Port, Gubongsan Observatory, and Yi Sun-sin Bridge.”

Meanwhile, Gwangyang City continues to present travel courses considering duration and routes, ranging from half-day trips that feel like casual outings centered on monthly hot spots to two-day courses that allow discovery of the city’s hidden charms.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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