Jeongyangneup Ecological Park was established to preserve Jeongyangneup, a reservoir of biodiversity and a living space connecting nature and humans. Within the ecological park, there are an ecology learning center, Jeongyangneup Life Trail, observation decks, and an ecological learning experience center. Jeongyangneup was formed after the post-glacial period due to sea level rise and sedimentation from the main stream of the Nakdong River, being a back swamp of Acheoncheon, a tributary of the Hwanggang River. It has outstanding natural scenery and serves as a habitat for various animals and plants, recognized as a wetland of high biological and ecological conservation value. However, with decreasing water volume and levels in the Hwanggang River leading to land formation, and accelerated water quality deterioration due to artificial land reclamation causing loss of wetland functions, Hapcheon-gun launched the Jeongyangneup Ecological Park creation project to establish its current state. Fish, insects, birds, mammals, and plants live in Jeongyangneup. Furthermore, natural monuments and endangered wild animals such as otters, sand lizards, large geese, Eurasian bitterns, and golden frogs have been found here.
Jeongyang Leisure Sports Park is located next to the Hwanggang River in Hapcheon, offering very beautiful scenery. It has various attractions throughout all four seasons, but in summer, the Hwanggang Leisure Sports Festival and Yellow River Beach take place. Within the park, there are well-equipped facilities including an auto camping site and various playground and rest facilities for family visitors, making it a place where you can enjoy both camping and summer leisure. The cleanly maintained walking trails and riverside paths are also great for light walks. It is a space where you can have enjoyable time with family, lovers, or friends while admiring the beautiful scenery of the Hwanggang River.
Hambyeokru was originally built in 1321 during the reign of King Chungsuk of Goryeo by Kim Yeongdon, the then Hapju Jijusa (Governor of Hapju), with the inscription written by An Jin. The pavilion has been rebuilt several times to reach its current form. Located at the foot of Daeyaseong Fortress, it was constructed to overlook Jeongyangho Lake of the Hwang River and has long been used as a place where many poets and scholars enjoyed nature and culture. Writings by Joseon-era literati such as Yi Hwang, Jo Sik, and Song Si-yeol are displayed on plaques inside the pavilion, while Song Si-yeol’s calligraphy of 'Hambyeokru' is engraved on the rock wall behind. The pavilion is a wooden structure with a hipped-and-gabled roof, measuring three kan wide and three kan deep, supported by five beams. It is famous for the design in which the eaves’ water flows into the Hwang River.
Hapcheon Yeonhosa is located in Hapcheon-dong, Hapcheon-eup, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. Behind Yeonhosa, beneath Daeyaseong Fortress, rises Hwangusan Mountain, and in front flows the Hwanggang River. Sitting on the pavilion with the mountain at your back allows you to enjoy the leisurely flowing Hwanggang. On rainy days, you can also enjoy watching raindrops fall directly from the pavilion eaves into the river. Yeonhosa is a vow temple built to console the spirits of Silla soldiers and Gotasorang, the daughter of Kim Chun-chu. It safeguards the Buddha's teachings while letting all worldly worries flow away at Hwanggang in Hapcheon. It is situated on the most beautiful southern cliff of Hwangusan Daeyaseong, a strategic military site and border of Silla during the Three Kingdoms period.
Ilhae Park was completed in August 2004 and initially opened under the provisional name "Millennium Forest of Life." From January 2007, the name Ilhae Park was officially adopted. Ilhae is the pen name of Jeon Du-hwan, who used the name through the Ilhae Foundation during his presidential term. Hapcheon-gun named the park Ilhae Park to commemorate the achievements of former President Jeon Du-hwan and to promote Hapcheon externally. The park was built with a total investment of 6.8 billion won, including 2 billion won from Gyeongsangnam-do provincial funds. Located on 53,724㎡ of land around the Hwanggang River, the park features a walking trail, March 1st Movement Memorial Tower, outdoor performance hall, inline skating rink, grass plaza, artificial turf field, and gateball court. It also has a large bell monument dedicated to the citizens of Hapcheon-gun, where a bell-ringing event is held annually on January 1. The well-maintained walking paths and gardens make it a great park for outings.
Gangyang Hyanggyo is an educational institution established by the government to hold rituals for Confucius and various sages, and to educate and cultivate local residents. The Hapcheon Hyanggyo, originally built in Hapcheon county seat, was moved together when the Hapcheon County Office relocated to Yaro-myeon in the 18th year of King Gojong of Joseon (1881). Later, in 1965, the Confucian scholars from Hapcheon, Yongju, Yulgok, and Daeyang myeon newly built Gangyang Hyanggyo at its current location. The buildings consist of Daeseongjeon (ritual space), Naesammun (inner three gates), and Myeongnyundang (lecture hall serving educational functions). Daeseongjeon is a hipped-and-gabled roof building with five rooms in the front and two on the side. During the Joseon Dynasty, the government supported students with land, slaves, and books, but currently, the educational function has ceased, leaving only ritual functions. Among the 232 hyanggyo remaining in Korea, this is the last one built.
