Literary tour following the novel Taebaek Mountain Range | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Beolgyo Honggyo is a granite stone bridge from the Joseon Dynasty located in Beolgyo-eup. It is constructed by connecting three arches, each approximately 27m long and 3m high. This Honggyo shares the most distinct structural style with Seungseon Bridge of Seonamsa Temple in Seungju-eup, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do. Honggyo refers to a bridge built in a semi-circular shape like a rainbow; it is also called hongyegyo, arch bridge, or rainbow bridge. The place name Beolgyo originates from a raft bridge that used to be here. Originally, a raft bridge was constructed in 1718 (44th year of King Sukjong) by residents of Nagan-hyun at the time. After it was destroyed by a great flood in 1728 (4th year of King Yeongjo) in Jeonnam province, the abbot Hoamhwasang of Seonamsa recommended Choanseonsa as steward and Seupsungdaesa as project supervisor to rebuild it. The construction started the next year and was completed in 1734 (10th year of King Yeongjo) after six years. From 1981 to 1984, a four-year restoration removed cement from the arch bases and stone bridge outer walls and replaced them with granite to restore the original form. It is estimated that the original size of the bridge was 4m wide and 80m long, making it the largest among existing Honggyo bridges, and it is still used by local residents. The community reportedly holds a 60-year cycle celebration in honor of the bridge.

Opening its doors 10 years ago under the name 'Jeongga-ne Cockle Restaurant,' this place is rarely empty, matching its reputation with a clean and spacious interior. Cockles have long been considered a premium delicacy, served among the Eight Delicacies on the royal table. Locals say, 'Even if you lose your appetite for three months due to a cold, the taste of cockles never changes,' reflecting how much they enjoy this dish. Cockles are rich in protein, essential amino acids, niacin, histidine, and contain abundant vitamin B and iron, which are excellent for children's growth and liver detoxification. As a high-protein, low-fat alkaline food, they aid digestion and have numerous benefits including vision recovery, diabetes prevention, gallstone dissolution, and heart function improvement. Beolgyo cockles gained nationwide fame thanks to the novel "Taebaek Mountains," involving characters Oeseodaek and Yeom Sang-gu. Harvested from the pristine mudflats of Suncheon Bay, Beolgyo cockles are known for their chewy texture and great taste. The cockle set menu, the restaurant's main dish, includes cockle salad, cockle pancake, whole cockles, cockle soybean paste soup, and seasoned cockles, offering a full range of cockle dishes. Along with these, more than ten kinds of meticulously prepared side dishes are served. The special cockle set, which includes grilled cockles and cockle sweet and sour pork, is also popular. The cockle sweet and sour pork was first created here and is particularly favored by children who might not usually eat other cockle dishes. Cockle salad offers a fantastic combination of plump, savory cockles mixed with tangy and sweet vegetables. Eating the flavorful rice mixed with seaweed perfectly concludes the cockle set meal. The summer delicacy, jjangttungeo soup, increasingly popular among health enthusiasts, is being developed for year-round availability. Featured on KBS《6시 내고향》, MBC《전국시대》, SBS《출발모닝와이드》, and selected as a regional specialty restaurant.