South Korea/Daegu - Apsan Observatory & Anjirang | Seriously! Stop Wasting Time in Malls: This Apsan Night View and Anjirang Charcoal-Grilled Makchang is the Ultimate Vibe.
Seriously! If you visit Daegu like a basic tourist—hiding in the Dongseong-ro malls for AC all afternoon and dropping tens of thousands of Won at some overhyped 'Instagrammable' cafe—you are completely missing out on the wild soul of this city🔥!
I’m the type who usually complains about the heat just walking to the subway, so coming to 'Daegu-frica' was a choice. That 20-minute 'slope of death' at the base of Apsan Park nearly took me out. Before I even reached the cable car, my tank top was soaked in the 30°C humidity, and I was internally screaming at myself for this self-inflicted torture. But the moment I hopped on that retro yellow cable car to Apsan Observatory, stood on the suspended glass bridge, and watched the entire Daegu basin transform from a golden sunset into a sparkling sea of stars... and then headed down to Anjirang Alley to devour charcoal-grilled beef makchang? Every bit of suffering was instantly cured✨!
That climb was no joke. My biggest mistake was not doing my homework. I thought it was 'just a few steps' from the parking lot to the cable car station. I missed the shuttle bus and ended up battling a nearly 30-degree vertical cement incline for 20 minutes straight🏃💨.
By 4:45 PM, I was on that rough forest path, feet pounding uneven asphalt, sweat pouring like a waterfall. My backpack felt like it was crushing my shoulders, and my calves were twitching every 50 steps. Other tourists were doubled over under the trees, gasping for air. The air smelled of dry pine needles, sun-baked grass, and my own salty sweat. When I finally reached the ticket booth and saw the 12,000 Won round-trip fare, I thought: 'If it wasn't for this view, I’d be in a taxi home right now.'
My legs were screaming at this point.
But the second I stood on the observatory, feeling the breeze and that million-dollar night view, I made peace with it all.
Even with jelly legs, I pushed past the overpriced, mediocre cafes near the station and headed straight for the Apsan Suspended Observatory🌙. At 600m up, around 6:40 PM, a cool mountain breeze swept through, instantly drying my sticky skin. The Daegu basin stretched across the horizon, with the sunset painting 83 Tower and the Nakdong River in deep orange-gold. Then, the lights flickered on—thousands of buildings and grid-like roads glowing like a spilled jewelry box. It was so quiet you could only hear the wind. The climb was totally worth it.
Then, the juicy grilled intestines in Anjirang Alley officially brought me back to life.
Last time I was here, I followed some influencer to a chain BBQ place in Dongseong-ro. I paid 40k Won for dry, salty frozen meat and left feeling bloated and ripped off. This time, I took a 10-minute cab to the source of 'Daegu’s 10 Tastes': Anjirang Gopchang Street. I ducked into a decades-old spot called 'Daebak Gopchang' (대박곱창막창, Address: 63 Daemyeong-ro 36-gil, Nam-gu)🥩. The whole street is filled with charcoal smoke from over 50 shops. The Ahjumma brought out a massive plate of thick, salt-cleaned beef abomasum (Makchang) and seasoned pork intestines.
The sound of the fat hitting the charcoal was music to my ears. That first bite of beef makchang—grilled golden-crisp like a potato chip on the outside, but chewy and tender inside—was a flavor explosion🤤. The third bite, dipped in the signature Daegu soybean sauce with fresh green chili and scallions, cut right through the richness. We finished with a bubbling spicy soybean paste soup and rice. For 13,000 Won, I felt like a new person. This is how the locals do it!
Take my word for it: don't waste your time queuing at malls! Ride the cable car up Apsan for the view, then hit Anjirang Alley for the charcoal-grilled goods. That is the true heart and soul of Daegu. Hike or don't hike, but you *must* eat that makchang!🏃💨