Contactless Tourism Destinations in Gyeonggi-do for Quality Family Time

If you're looking for a safe place to travel with your family to enjoy, here are 3 untact (un+contact) destinations located in Gyeonggi, South Korea.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, ‘healing’ destinations with wide open spaces are getting more attention as a way to escape from stuffy confines of enclosed rooms. The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (ggtour.or.kr) recommends three ‘un-tact’ (or “contactless”) tourist attractions with beautiful forests and thoroughfares in Gyeonggi Province.

Pyeongtaek Baram-sae-maeul So-poong Garden

📌Address : 424-25 Gung-ri, Godeok-myeon, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do
📌Phone : 031-668-4815
📌Homepage : www.pyeongtaek.go.kr/camp

The name Baram-sae-maeul (바람새마을) is derived from the words 'ocean', 'Ramsar wetland', and 'migratory bird' in Korean. The name effectively represents the ecological park built in the Jinwicheon Wetland. The garden’s name, Sopoong, has a meaning of "wind that makes one smile," which makes visitors feel like they are accompanied by a pleasant breeze throughout the park.

Pyeongtaek Baram-sae-maeul So-poong Garden
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Sopoong Garden is divided into three main sections: there is a camping site on the right, a pond and a theme island in the center, and a wetland that unfolds on the left.

Pyeongtaek Baram-sae-maeul So-poong Garden
ⓒGyeonggi Province

The center of Sopoong Garden includes four-themed islands that rise from the pond. In spring, Ewha’s Garden, for example, is filled with white pear blossoms. The Sopoong pavilion, which stands tall in the middle of the island, is a viewpoint that overlooks the park. It is fun to see cool fountains and sculptures between each island.

One spot hidden right by the garden is the Jinwicheon embankment road. It is good place from which to enjoy the sunset or riding a rented bicycle. In addition, it has a sand playground for children as well as a water playground.

Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park

📌Address : 287 Dongseo-ro, Yeonseong-dong, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do
📌Phone : 031-488-6900
📌Homepage : www.siheung.go.kr

In the 1930s, during the Japanese colonial era, the Japanese authorities developed salt fields in Siheung. These salt fields continued to produce salt even after national liberation, but were closed in 1996 as the salt industry fell into decline. Now that the salt fields are closed, Siheung and the surrounding area has been transformed into the "Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park'' where visitors can experience nature, observe migratory birds, and make their own salt.

Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Tidal flat flora and fauna, such as salt plants and red-footed crabs, thrive here to such an extent that this place was designated as a national wetland protection zone in 2012. Siheung Gaetgol is a hollow waterway created by the Yellow Sea. The Ecological Park was built surrounding the Gaetgol. There are many things to see here, such as the salt field experience center, salt warehouse, and dune botanical garden. The tour course around the park ranges from 30 minutes to 3 hours, but visitors can enjoy the park feely regardless of the course route.

Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park
ⓒGyeonggi Province

The dune botanical garden abounds with plants that grow on the beach, such as reeds, mudwinds, and umbrella grass. In September, East Asian seepweed turns bright red and appears to come from a fairy tale. Passing through the neighboring Cheonyi Ecological Learning Center and the sand playground to the other side, visitors will discover the salt field, sea water, and mud valley experience center. The salt field experience center, which restored part of an old salt field, is a popular course. At the ecological education center, visitors can make their own salt. Two old salt warehouses remain nearby, and relics and materials from the time when the salt fields flourished are displayed inside. The 22-meter-high rock observatory is a structure that shakes in the wind. It may impart dizziness, but when visitors reach the observatory, the panoramic view is wonderful.

Goyang Haengju Sanseong Historical Park

📌Address : 138-14 Haengju-dong, Deokyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
📌Phone : 031-8075-3404 (Department of Cultural Heritage and Tourism in Goyang City)

Located at the mouth of the Han River, Haengju Sanseong Fortress is where one of three major battles occurred that saw the defeat of Japanese forces during their invasion of Korea. Haengju Sanseong Fortress is a historic tourist attraction, as well as a popular contactless tourist attraction.

Goyang Haengju Sanseong Historical Park
ⓒGyeonggi Province

Metasequoia Road welcomes visitors as they enter the Haengju Sanseong History Park, and the park lies at the end of this road. The park, along with the Han River, is ideal for a walk or relaxing. The erection of tents and canopies, however, is not allowed.

Before moving down to the Han River’s highland, visitors pass through a pavilion that was previously used as a military post with limited public access. Visitors can find the eight photogenic spots of this area on the park information map. These spots include: Haengjusanseong Nuri-gil, Palgakjeong Pavilion, a reed field, a fishing boat modelled after Gyeomjae Jeongseon's "Haengho Gwandeo", and a laundry stone head.

Goyang Haengju Sanseong Historical Park
ⓒGyeonggi Province

In addition, 243 pinwheels invoking hope for national unification, as well as fences and iron doors with 1953 and 2015 written on them, serve as photo zones. Meanwhile, the Banghwadaegyo Bridge features a beautiful red arch that conveys the image of plane taking off and landing. Last but not least, the view of Bukhansan Mountain and the Han River from the top of Deokyangsan Mountain is superb.