Jeju Province occupies the island of the same name in the Korea Strait. Jeju Island is the largest island in South Korea. Here is the highest point of the country – the extinct volcano Hala-san (1950 m). Jeju famous for its resort areas stretching along the coast, volcanic landscapes and picturesque nature. The beaches here are very diverse – from black with volcanic sand to white sand. The beach season lasts from July to September. The rich underwater world attracts diving enthusiasts here. About 500 species of fish, soft corals and sponges live in coastal waters. A 180 km long automobile ring road runs along the entire coast of the island; this is the main tourist route of the island, traveling along which you can see its main attractions. The main means of transportation here is a car or bicycle.
According to Top-mba-universities, the provincial capital is the city of Zhezhu . It is located on the north coast of the island. Zhezhu Airport- the first place where tourists arrive on the island. There are no good beach areas for recreation in the city itself. The Zhezhu Museum of Folklore and History is interesting here. The museum presents the main attractions of the island, as well as its history, culture, traditions and crafts. In total, it contains about 10,000 exhibits. Not far from the city of Jeju, the beaches of Iho, Geumneum and Haepche stretch to the west. Next to them , Hallim Park is interesting. It was founded in 1971. The park has gardens of tropical plants, stones, bonsai and birds, as well as a folklore village.
The southern coast of the island is the most popular among vacationers. Another large city is located here – Sogipo. Sogipo was originally a small fishing village. It received city status in 1981. Sogipo is surrounded by tangerine plantations, and there is even a Tangerine Museum. In the southeastern part of Sogipo is the Jeonbang Waterfall. This is the only waterfall in Asia whose waters fall directly into the ocean. Nearby is another waterfall called Seojeongbang. It is good to relax here in summer. At the top of the cliff, from where the waters of the waterfalls fall, there is an observatory, which is an excellent observation platform. Just to the west of Sogipo is Yakchon-sa Monastery. On the territory of the monastery there is a vast park with tropical vegetation. A pavilion with miniature dolls is also interesting here.
From Sogipo, you should go to the center of Jeju Island Where is Halla-san National Park located?. The park was created in 1970 to protect the ecosystem of the slopes of the extinct volcano Halla-san. Halla-san is the highest point of the island and the whole country (1950 m). The volcano last erupted in the 11th century. The flows of solidified basalt lava formed many tunnels, pillars and other bizarre formations on the slopes, as well as numerous volcanic caves, all these natural attractions are included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List. There are about 2,000 plant species and 4,000 animal species in the park. There are 4 hiking trails in the park. There are no accommodations here. For unprepared tourists, climbing to the top of Halla-san is better along the Songpanak route. Gwangneum-sa’s route is more difficult. Both of them are 9 km long. The other two routes do not reach the top of Halla-san.
You can rent a boat at Sogipo Port and go fishing. It is worth noting that Jeju Island is the birthplace of haenyo divers, who catch seafood at depths of up to 10 m. Tourists are offered fishing for squid, tuna and sea bass. Also from Sogipo they go for diving, cruises along the coast or to Munsom Island, off the coast of which an excursion submarine runs.
To the west of Sogipo stretches the largest resort in South Korea – Chungmun. Chungmun – a chic resort with many luxury hotels and developed infrastructure. The beach features Pacific Land Park, Yeomiji Arboretum with about 4,000 species of trees and flowers, a fishing village for tourists, Sonimgyo Bridge, and Jeongjeyeon Waterfall. To the west of Chungmun Beach are Chusan Jeolli-dae volcanic pillars, which stand in rows in the sea along the coast. Here tourists like to meet sunrises and see off sunsets. If you go further west along the coast, you can see Mount Sonban-san, which is one of the craters of the extinct volcano Halla-san. Seonbangul-sa Monastery is located on the slopes of Seonbang-san. Near the monastery in the mountain there is a cave 12 m high, where at the beginning of the last millennium the monks performed Buddhist rites. At the foot of Mount Sonbang-san, on the coast, there is a stone shore Yeonmori, which is a rock composed of many slabs. There are many museums and parks around Chungmun Resort. This is the Miniature Park, which presents the main attractions from around the world in reduced sizes, the Bonsai Garden, the Green Tea Museum and the Art Park.
The eastern part of Zhezhu Island is no less interesting. In the southeastern part of the island on the coast is Pyosong Beach.. The sea here is shallow and calm. In the interior of the eastern half of Jeju Island, the Song-eup Folk Village is of interest. At the entrance to it, you can see a lot of figurines – “harubans” in the form of figurines of old people who, according to legend, exorcise evil spirits. You can touch them and make a wish. The village is surrounded by a protective wall of hardened lava. Inside the walls are houses with thatched roofs. Many of them can be entered. Inside the houses are the main crafts of the island – pottery and weaving. There is also an opportunity to join the process of manufacturing products themselves.
Northwest of the folklore village is the Sangyemburi crater.. The crater has a diameter of 650 m and a depth of about 100 m. Red rose hips, magnolias and winter brambles grow on the north side of the crater, and evergreen trees, maples and mountain brambles grow on the south side. In the northeastern part of the coast of Jeju, Kimnyeon Beach stretches. South of Gimnyeon Beach is Monchang-gul Cave. This lava cave is the longest in the world. Its length is 13422 m, and its height is about 10 m. Inside the cave is artificially illuminated. On the eastern tip of the island is another volcanic crater, Ilchulbon.. Its name is translated from Korean as “sunrise”. And in fact, this is a great place to meet the dawn. The contour of the crater is bordered by sharp peaks, and the heights of its walls reach 90 m. From here , the island U-do, located not far from the coast, is perfectly visible. It is the largest of the nearby islands of Jeju. Here is Sobin Beach, where tourists who come to relax on the white sand in solitude and tranquility seek to get.
