[One Day Walk] A Thousand-Year Time Travel Path... Ganghwa Nadeulgil Course 1

Total 18Km Distance from Yongheunggung to Gapgotdondae

Course 1 of Ganghwa Nadeul-gil starts at Ganghwa Bus Terminal and stretches a total of 18km, passing through Yongheunggung, Goryeo Palace Site, Wolgot Fortress, and Gapgot Fortress. Since it takes about 8 hours to complete, the difficulty level is considered 'medium.' It is nicknamed "A Time Travel Path Crossing a Thousand Years" because you can see places like the retreat of Ganghwa Doryeong King Cheoljong and the Goryeo Palace Site where Goryeo kings once stayed.

At the beginning of the course, you can see Yongheunggung. Yongheunggung was the house where Cheoljong, the 25th king of the Joseon Dynasty, lived before ascending to the throne. It is characterized by its simple and pure feel, built following the type of a residential house. Within the premises, there is a monument and a pavilion marking the old house where Cheoljong lived.

Continuing along the path, there is the 'Goryeo Palace Site,' which served as the royal palace for 39 years after King Gojong of Goryeo moved the capital to Ganghwa Island to resist the Mongol invasion, until King Wonjong made peace and returned the capital to Kaesong. Although small in scale, it was built similarly to the Songdo palace, and the mountain behind the palace is called 'Songak,' reflecting the intention not to forget the royal capital system. Later, during the Joseon Dynasty, the fortress of Ganghwa fell during the Byeongjahoran (Second Manchu invasion), and Joseon palace buildings were constructed on the Goryeo palace site, but these buildings were destroyed by French troops during the 1866 Byeonginyangyo (French campaign against Korea). Today, the site is used as an educational place that provides historical lessons on overcoming national crises.

On this course, there is Yeonmijeong, a pavilion where you can enjoy the scenic beauty of Ganghwa. It is a pavilion where people enjoyed nature and pursued scholarly studies. The confluence of the Han River and Imjin River reaches the northeastern tip of Ganghwa Island and splits to flow west and south, forming a shape resembling a 'swallow's tail,' which is why it was named Yeonmijeong. From here, you can see not only Paju and Gimpo but also the area around Kaepung County in Hwanghae Province. Afterward, passing through Okgaebangjuk and Gapgot Fortress Site, you arrive at Gapgot Fortress, an important stronghold that guarded the Ganghwa Strait during the wars with the Mongols in the Goryeo period, where the course concludes.

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