Enjoying the summer sea one hundred percent | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Dongho Beach is famous for its long, expansive white sandy shore. The beach stretches over 4 km with fine sand and a gentle slope, attracting many summer vacationers. The water depth ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 meters, making it suitable for children to enjoy water activities. Behind the white sand beach lies a magnificent pine forest hundreds of years old. The shade provided by the pine trees offers a cool breeze even in the middle of summer, creating a perfect resting spot. The sunset over the West Sea viewed from here is especially beautiful. Additionally, on the hill above the pine forest stands the only Haesindang shrine in Gochang, where fishermen hold rituals every year praying for a good catch.

Mandol means 'village of ten thousand chimneys,' signifying ten thousand houses. Mandol Village boasts an extensive mudflat stretching 6 km. Visitors are amazed by the vast size of the mudflat and the fun of digging large clams. If mudflat experience is a gift from the sea, salt experience is a gift from the sky. The solar salt experience will be a gift from the sky and sea to children. Visitors can enjoy the refreshing feeling of endless mudflats by riding a mudflat bus modified from a tractor, and can enjoy primitive ecological experiences at Jukdo in front of the village, salt making, torch fishing (primitive fishing method), and mudflat experiences. The scenery is very beautiful with the combination of the sea and island rocks, and Mandol Village is proud of Myeongsasipri white sandy beach, the external Jukdo island on the seawater sandbath mudflat, and Dosunyeok rock. Directly managed by the fishing cooperative, visitors can experience the living natural mudflat sea by riding a mudflat tour bus. A comprehensive information center, shower facilities, and parking lot have been officially opened for the learning experience center, equipped with various equipment such as mudflat boots, clam rakes, baskets, as well as washing stations and restaurants for external tourists.

Seonunsa Temple is the head temple of the 24th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, located on Dosolsan (兜率山) in Asan-myeon, Gochang-gun, Jeonbukteukbyeoljachi-do. Dosolsan is also called Seonunsan (禪雲山), and during the late Joseon period when Seonunsa flourished, 89 hermitages and 189 monk lodgings (료사, 寮舍) were scattered throughout the mountain, creating a magnificent Buddhist land. Along with Geumsansa Temple in Gimje, it is one of the two major head temples in Jeollabuk-do, with a long history, outstanding natural scenery, and valuable Buddhist cultural assets, attracting continuous worship and tourism all year round. The founding of Seonunsa has two legends: one that it was founded by King Jinheung of Silla and another that the great monk Geomdan (檢旦, 黔丹) founded it in the 24th year of King Wideok of Baekje (577). It is said that King Jinheung of Silla (540–576) relinquished the throne in his later years and stayed one night in a cave on Dosolsan, where he dreamt that the Maitreya triad statues split through a rock, inspiring him greatly to establish Joong-aesa Temple, the origin of this temple. However, since this area was Baekje territory fiercely contested with Silla at that time, it is unlikely that the Silla king founded this temple here. Therefore, considering the historical and geographical context, the founding by Monk Geomdan is accepted as the established theory. Various legends related to Monk Geomdan's founding are told: originally, the site of Seonunsa was a large pond inhabited by a dragon, and when Geomdan drove the dragon away and started filling the pond with stones, an epidemic of eye disease severely affected the village. However, when villagers poured a kiln of charcoal into the pond, the eye disease seemed to be cured, leading villagers to bring charcoal and stones, quickly filling the pond and later building Seonunsa on the site. Monk Geomdan named the temple 'Seonun (禪雲),' meaning 'dwelling in the cloud (雲), the mysterious boundary of wisdom, refining and attaining the state of meditation (禪).' Currently, Seonunsa houses a total of 25 cultural properties including 8 treasures, 3 natural monuments, 11 tangible cultural properties of Jeonbukteukbyeoljachi-do, and 3 cultural heritage materials of Jeonbukteukbyeoljachi-do. Especially, behind the Main Buddha Hall (Daeungjeon), a natural monument-designated colony of camellia trees about 500 years old and approximately 6 meters tall on average forms a spectacular flower screen in full bloom in spring. To commemorate Seonunsan's camellia forest, the Camellia Art Festival is held annually in mid-April.

The region surrounding Naejangsan and Gochang is famous for its autumn foliage in Honam. In particular, the Dosol Valley area of Gochang's Seonunsan is said to bloom red flowers three times a year. In spring, the camellia forest, designated as a natural monument, shows its red color. In early autumn, red spider lilies bloom, and after they wither, the maple leaves display their splendid colors. From Seonunsa Temple to Dosolam Hermitage along Dosolcheon Stream, autumn foliage dyed red and winter’s white snowy scenery are famous. The area of Dosol Valley, designated as a scenic site in 2009, is beautiful in all four seasons. Seonunsan, called the inner Geumgang of Honam, is also known as Dosolsan. Embracing the notable temple Seonunsa, Seonunsan is rich with dense forests and strange rock formations, with spectacular sights like Jinheung Cave, Yongmun Cave, Nakjodae, and Cheonmabong scattered along the valley. In front of the Seonunsa Tourist Site parking lot lies the natural monument Songak on the valley, and climbing from Seonunsa to Dosolam follows past the natural monument Jangsasong next to Jinheung Cave. The camellia forest behind Seonunsa’s Daeungjeon Hall is also designated a natural monument.