Damyang-gun Creates 1.5km Barefoot Walking Trail in Bamboo Forest

Hidden Gem of Damyang, Geumseongsanseong Fortress Foothills: Autumn Foliage Scenic Spot

On the 2nd, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it will create an additional 1.5km of dirt trail within the bamboo forest walking path at the foot of Geumseongsanseong Fortress, following the barefoot walking trend on dirt paths such as the Metasequoia-lined road and Gwanbangjerim.

The newly created bamboo forest dirt trail is a place where visitors can enjoy the spectacular autumn foliage of Geumseongsanseong Fortress.

It is expected to become a popular spot for tourists visiting Geumseongsanseong Fortress, including users of the auto camping site, as it offers a different atmosphere from the existing Metasequoia-lined road and Gwanbangjerim.

There is another advantage for those who walk barefoot for health and healing.

The dense bamboo forest surrounding the dirt trail is full of phytoncides, which are beneficial to the body.

Phytoncides are known to be absorbed into the body through the respiratory system or skin, helping to boost immunity, regulate stress, and improve overall health.

The amount of phytoncides emitted in bamboo forests is about three times higher than in pine forests, with 7.68 pptv per hectare for pine and 29.34 pptv per hectare for bamboo.

The county plans to open the trail in mid-November after constructing the dirt path and installing convenience facilities such as foot washing stations, and will later hold a contest to name the dirt trail within the bamboo forest.

Previously, Gwanbangjerim and the Metasequoia Road, which are natural cultural resources representing Damyang and were selected as part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Local 100 (Top 100 Regional Cultural Attractions), saw about a 44% increase in tourists compared to last year after the dirt paths were created this year.

According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization’s Tourism Data Lab, 11.85 million tourists visited Damyang by the end of September.

County Governor Lee Byeong-no said, “We will devote ourselves to creating dirt trails so that visitors can enjoy nature and culture with all their senses, thereby increasing the satisfaction of tourists visiting Damyang.”

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