Cheongju, South Korea Travel Diary
🔴Cheongju is the capital of North Chungcheong Province, located in central South Korea.
🔴History and Culture
🔺- Long history: Known as the "East Asian Cultural Capital," Cheongju is an ancient city with a history of over a thousand years and was one of the five small capitals of Unified Silla, Seowon-gyeong.
🔺- Rich cultural heritage: The world's oldest metal-printed book, the UNESCO World Memory Project "Jikji Simche Yojeol," was born here. The Cheongju Early Printing Museum was built on the site of Heungdeoksa Temple, where the world's first metal-printed book "Jikji" was born, and is the only early printing museum in South Korea.
🔺- Traditional folk customs: Munui Cultural Heritage Complex recreates the traditional cultural scene of Cheongwon-gun, North Chungcheong Province, where you can experience the traditional culture and folk culture of South Korea.
🔴Tourist Attractions
🔺- Cheongnamdae: A private vacation area for the President of South Korea for over 20 years since 1983, now open to tourists.
🔺- Sangdangsanseong Fortress: The most representative stone fortress in South Korea, with an outer length of 4.2 km, a wall height of 3-4 m, and an internal area of 660,000 square meters.
🔺- National Cheongju Museum: Designed by the famous Korean architect Kim Swoo-geun, the museum has a unique roof and is one of the most beautiful museums in South Korea.
🔺- Cheongju Yukgeori Market: With a history of 100 years, it is one of the five major traditional markets in South Korea, covering an area of 99,000 square meters.
🔴Local Cuisine
🔺- Beef soup: A specialty of Cheongju, with a light broth that brings out the original flavor of the ingredients.
🔺- Mini pig's feet and blood sausage soup: A 40-year tradition.
🔴Transportation and Education
🔺- Convenient transportation: The Gyeongbu and Jungbu Expressways run through the suburbs, and Cheongju International Airport has regular international flights to Beijing, Weihai, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and other cities in China.
🔺- Educational resources: Cheongju University is located here, with its industrial design and optical technology energy programs ranked No. 1 in South Korea.
🔴City Features
🔺- Livable city: With four distinct seasons, beautiful mountains and rivers, and many mountains, rivers, and hot springs, Cheongju is known as one of the most livable cities in South Korea.
🔺- Fashion shopping: Seongan Street runs north-south and is the most fashionable and bustling street in Cheongju, similar to Myeongdong in Seoul.