Changwon Plaza is a circular plaza located in front of Changwon City Hall in Gyeongsangnam-do, serving as a representative landmark of Changwon. It has a circumference of 664 meters, a diameter of 211 meters, and an area of 35,097 square meters, known as the largest circular plaza in East Asia. To the east is Sinwol-dong, to the west is Jungang-dong, to the south is Sangnam-dong, and to the north is Yongho-dong. Although the official name is 'Changwon Plaza,' local residents still often call it 'City Hall Front Rotary' or 'Provincial Office Front Rotary.' It is frequently used as a venue for large events, and during emergencies, the underground air-raid shelter beneath the plaza functions as a government office. An 8-lane nearby boulevard is also notable for being used as an emergency runway. Accessibility is good, with Yongji Lake Park and Yongji Culture Park nearby for visitors to enjoy together.
Yongji Cultural Park, located in Yongji-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, covers an area of 325,000㎡ and is a representative park of Changwon City. It is situated in the middle of the city, making it easily accessible, and many people take walks here with children and pets as it has lawns to play on. Sculptures from the 2020 Changwon Sculpture Biennale are displayed, allowing visitors to enjoy various artworks while strolling. The park offers resting spaces such as rocking chairs and benches, and features several commemorative monuments symbolizing Changwon, including Saeyeongnam Pojeongsa, the Changwon Citizen Charter Monument, and a song monument for "Spring in My Hometown" written by Lee Won-su. It is widely used as a picnic spot for students and a resting place for citizens, with frequent cultural events like concerts held on weekends at the outdoor stage. The fountain in the lake has a diameter of 12m and a water height of 20m, creating a magnificent spectacle with 13 different spray patterns. Pets are allowed with mandatory leash usage and carrying cleaning tools.
Yongji Lake Park is a representative eco-friendly park in Changwon. In 2006, it was selected as one of the top 5 most beautiful urban parks in the country. The park is centered around Yongji Lake, formed by water flowing from the Nakdong River, and features a 1 km lakeside walking trail, a lawn plaza, Changwon Daejonggak, the new Yeongnam Pojeongsa Temple, Gyeongnam Anti-Japanese Movement Monument, and the Bonglimsa Temple three-story stone pagoda. While strolling through the lawn plaza and walking paths, visitors can encounter 17 sculptures exhibited at the 2016 Changwon Sculpture Biennale. The park’s charm shines more brightly at night. The scenic lighting combined with sunsets creates a splendid view, making it easy to understand why Changwon citizens consider Yongji Lake Park the best night view in Changwon. During the hot summer, the music fountain cools visitors down with refreshing water jets dancing to lively music in a show held every year from April to October. (Source: Changwon City Culture and Tourism)
Sorae Art Studio is a ceramic hand-painting workshop located on the main street at the entrance of Garosugil. Preparing for a new leap forward, the name Sorae Art Studio was created to reflect the characteristic of pottery where 'small grains come together to complete a single work of art.' Visitors can purchase or experience hand-painted ceramics. Through a one-day class, anyone can easily try ceramic hand-painting, and finished pieces are completed with a post-processing step and delivered to the home.
The Metasequoia tree-lined street in downtown Changwon started in 1982 with Chonghon-ro, followed by Yongho-ro (formerly Dojisagwansa ilwon) and Changwon-daero. These streets were planted with landscaping trees that are large and fast-growing, selected on the empty land at the time. As Korea's first planned city, Changwon needed rapid greening, and this was perfect for that purpose. The street has now become a premium tree-lined street in Changwon. Long ago, this quiet residential area had only a few lunch spots for public officials. After an Italian restaurant opened in this quiet and pretty neighborhood, it became the most famous café street in Changwon within a few years. Along with the growth of the Metasequoia trees, cafes voluntarily emerged along Yongji-ro, which connects to Yongji Lake Road, attracting many visitors and making this street a popular café area and landmark in Changwon.
Bansong Park, located in Toechon-dong, Seongsan-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, features a 2.3 km elastic-paved walking trail extending from Banrim Lucky Apartment to Banrim Hyundai Apartment and Bansong Daedong Apartment, making it a popular walking course. Being in the city center, it has good accessibility and provides convenient main facilities such as a multi-purpose playground, jokgu court, badminton court, playground, benches, walking paths, restrooms, and parking. The area near Banrim Hyundai Apartment towards Bansong Park is well-equipped with facilities like a foot reflexology board, soccer field, and playground, making it suitable for children. Additionally, there are various courses like Bansong Health Trail, Bansong General Trail, Bansong Cypress Trail, and Bansong Waterside Trail. The Bansong Health Trail is a 20-30 minute round trip route that is easy for children to climb up and down. There are well-marked signposts and benches for comfortable use. At the park’s summit, exercise equipment for light workouts is installed. Descending further, you can find the Bansong Cypress Trail, which shows diverse scenery throughout the four seasons. The nearby Yongji Lake Park is also close, making it a good place to visit together.
