The metasequoia lane
The most famous avenue.
Katsujiro Maekawa — CC0 · Jocelyndurrey — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jocelyndurrey — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Minseong Kim — CC BY-SA 4.0
A half-moon-shaped river island in the Bukhan River, formed when the water rose around it after the Cheongpyeong Dam was built in 1944. It is named after General Nami, a young commander wrongly executed in the fifteenth century, whose grave was said to be here. It belongs administratively to Chuncheon but is reached from Gapyeong. The island has become a park covered with long, straight rows of trees: poplars, pines, ginkgos and metasequoias forming shaded avenues that are among the best-known views in Korea. It became famous across Asia after the 2002 television drama «Winter Sonata», whose best-remembered scenes were filmed here. You cross by ferry in five minutes, or by zipline from the mainland for an extra fee. On the island there are bikes for hire, ostriches, rabbits and peacocks roaming free, and restaurants and cafés. In the middle of the island is Dongmoon, a halal restaurant certified by the Korea Muslim Federation, and prayer rooms for men and women with ablution facilities, according to the island's own site. Autumn is the best season, when the ginkgos turn yellow and the metasequoias red, followed by spring. Allow three hours and come in the morning, before the tour buses arrive.
The most famous avenue.
Five minutes to the island.
Yellow ginkgos, red trees.
Nami pier, Gapyeong, about 60 km north-east of Seoul; Gapyeong Station, then ten minutes by car
Yes. The adult ticket of about 19,000 won includes the return ferry. The zipline from the mainland costs extra.
Yes: Dongmoon, a halal restaurant certified by the Korea Muslim Federation, with prayer rooms for men and women and ablution facilities, according to the island's own site.