Cherry blossom season is a memorable and enchanting time in Korea. As the winter chill fades away, the country re-emerges in a display of beautiful colours and scents. Seeing these gorgeous blooms is an occasion that everyone loves and look forward to. While you’ve probably seen it from your favourite Korean Dramas or your favourite artists’ music videos, cherry blossoms are still a sight to behold.
The yearly display of cherry blossoms in South Korea is the most enthusiastically look-forward spring event of the year, and definitely make any trip extra special! Whether you’re still planning out your itinerary or you just want to pay a visit and see if you can find this beautiful blossom, check out these 5 splendid places that you should visit to witness the beauty of the Cherry Blossoms in Korea!
Changwon
Changwon is the ninth-most populated city in South Korea, residing in between Masan Bay and Jinhae Bay, which gives it a beautiful coastal location. This place hosts the country’s largest and most well-known Cherry Blossom festival. Every spring season, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival happens in this city for over 10 days, where up to 350,000 cherry blossom trees bloom. No wonder this city sees up to 2 million visitors each year!
Gyeongju
Gyeongju is one of the most beautiful cities in Korea, so much so that it is also known as “the museum without walls.” The yearly Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the blooming season with a host of stalls full of traditional food and souvenirs, music, entertainment, arts and crafts where people can enjoy. But besides the festival, this historical city is also known for its archaeological sites, another mainstay travel hotspot for tourists all over the world.
Jeju Island
Jeju Island is a volcanic island in the Korea Strait, and it’s popular with tourists, mainly for those looking for a romantic getaway. The island has various attractions for people to visit, but what draws the most tourists during springtime is the island’s Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival. The cherry blossom trees of Jeju island is a little different from the ones found in the rest of the country, as they are the renowned king cherry trees, which are the largest of all the cherry trees of larger petals and vivid colour. Fancy a scenic photo with a gorgeous backdrop or a location for your pre-wedding shoot? Jeju island is the place to go!
Seoul
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea and it’s probably not surprising that this is the prime place to see the cherry blossoms. Seoul has several areas where trees showcase their elegant annual shades of white and pink. One of the most well-known celebrations in the city is Yeoudi Spring Flower Festival. The celebration consists of several attractions and activities including events, food stalls, and concerts.
Gangneung
Although the coastal city of Gangneung is popularly known for its beaches, museums, fresh seafood, and heritage sites, it’s named “Coffee City” due to its popular coffee culture that’s been booming since the early 2000s. Every year, the city celebrates the seasonal Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival, and although it’s a famous affair, the event is not as packed as other cherry festivals in Korea. While this might make it sound like a less appealing option, it also means you won’t be jostling through busy crowds, being able to spend time with your loved ones in relative peace. The event also consists of cultural events, food stalls, and special performances for the occasion.
Conclusion
A blanket of cherry blossoms covers Korea every year at the start of the Spring season. The best time to visit is where the country looks like it’s straight out of a painting as vivid shades of pink and white transform the landscape – from large cities to small islands, there are several beautiful places in South Korea to spot the cherry blossom season. Aside from that, there are various top UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Korea to check out too. Choose the right city that fits into the rest of your travel plans and you’ll definitely have a great visit along with a whole bunch of great photos to bring home.
Visiting the country to witness the cherry blossoms is one great way to experience their beautiful culture and traditions. If you want to discover more, taking up Korean at a Korean language school in Singapore would be a wise choice! Here at Sejong Korean Language School, our teaching methods are outlined to help you learn the beautiful language and have a smooth trip to Korea!