[백년가게]신화당분식 | Restaurant Guide | K-Travel Mate

Located at the heart of Cheongju city center, Jungang Park is a relaxing space full of cultural heritage and things to do. Its most famous feature is the massive ginkgo tree that has stood here for nearly a thousand years. Ginkgo trees are famously long-lived, so this 30-meter high tree with an 8-meter circumference is majestic and welcoming at once. Its nickname, Apgaksu, is said to originate from its leaves resembling a duck foot. Mangseollu Pavilion, a nugak (a building built to have a view of the surrounding areas without any doors or walls) built during the Goryeo period, is the oldest wooden structure in Cheongju. Another cultural site is the Byeongma Jeoldosa Yeongmun Gate, a door that served as the entrance to the office of Byeongma Jeoldosa. Byeongma Jeoldosa was a Joseon-period position tasked with quelling rebellions. The park also hosts musical concerts and presentations.

Seomun Market, located west of the Seomun-dong intersection, is home to Samgyeopsal (Pork Belly) Street, which opened in 2012. Here, visitors can enjoy Cheongju-style samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly), a local specialty known for its distinctive preparation method that has been passed down through generations.

Hyanggyo is a national educational institution from the Joseon dynasty that housed the tablets of esteemed Confucian scholars and held rituals in their honor. It consists of six hanok buildings, including the Daeseongjeon Hall, a space for rituals, and Myeongnyundang Hall, the space for education. Today, various Confucian cultural experience programs, such as Confucian student experiences, tea ceremonies, and calligraphy classes, are offered. They also provide accommodations for guests wishing to experience a "Hyanggyo Stay."