See the Magical Cherry Blossoms: Jinhae Gunhangje Festival
When you’re visiting Korea, you’ll surely plan to spend time in the big cities of Seoul and Busan. Though there is certainly plenty to see in those big cities, you should plan to spend some time outside of the city. If you can time your trip correctly, take a day trip from Busan to see the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival! This famous cherry blossom festival makes a wonderful day trip and a lovely natural escape from the larger cities. Keep reading to learn more about the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival and what you can see there!
What is the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival?
The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is one of the largest celebrations in all of South Korea! This ten-day festival shows off the impressive cherry blossoms of Jinhae in full bloom, generally between late March and early April. Located in the city of Jinhae, which sits just an hour outside of Busan in the South Gyeongsang Province, the festival is easily accessible as a day trip.
With plenty of activities, sights, and performances to appreciate, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is definitely worth the trip! Just make sure that you plan your trip accordingly, as the timing of the festival varies from year to year.
History of the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival
Since the festival has grown into such an internationally-known event, it is easy to forget the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival has humble origins. The first instance of the festival was on April 13, 1952. Originally, it was a memorial service for a fallen Admiral, Yi Sun-Sin. During the first ever celebration, the city erected a statue of the admiral to honor his great achievements, especially in holding off an attempted Japanese invasion.
Though the festival originally honored Jinhae’s naval hero and history, the festival has evolved into a much larger celebration of the blooming cherry blossoms and the vitality of the city. You can still appreciate the naval history during the festival, but you’ll also find plenty of street food, live performances, parades, and other attractions. In fact, there’s so much to do, you might feel overwhelmed. In the next section, we’ll cover the biggest highlights of the festival so you know what to look out for!
Top Landmarks and Activities for Your Visit
Although the schedule varies from year to year, there are popular spots and activities that pop up every year. To make sure you get the most out of Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, don’t miss out on the following:
- See the Jungwon Intersection: this intersection is the main nexus for the festival. Whether you go to see a show, attend the opening ceremony, or sample the food stalls nearby, you’ll need to visit Jungwon Intersection at some point! For the best experience, plan to check out a performance and all the stalls afterwards. It’s a great place to get a bite or pick up a souvenir for later!
- Take Photos at Yeojwa Stream: this is easily one of the most famous spots of the entire festival. This stream, which is absolutely dripping in cherry blossoms, was the backdrop for a famous drama in the early 2000’s (Romance). In addition to this pop culture reference, the stream is decorated with lights and other decorations that make it especially stunning!
- Get a View from the Observatory: although it is a bit of a walk to get up to the observatory in Jehwangsan Park, you should absolutely do it! From the observatory, you will get the best views looking down at all the cherry blossoms in the city. As a bonus, the observatory has some history exhibits in it, so you can get acquainted with the local history at the same time.
- Snack on Some Local Delicacies: as you walk around the festival, you’ll find plenty of tents with local meals and treats! Many of them are even cherry blossom-themed, from little cakes shaped like cherry blossoms to cherry blossom ice cream and more! Trying these foods is part of the magic of the festival, so we recommend you let your taste buds explore! For a savory dish, look out for pork barbecue and vegetables with a spicy sauce, which is a meal typical of the area.
Again, these are just the principal landmarks and activities that are available during the entire festival. We really recommend that you check the festival’s official calendar to verify performance times, fireworks shows, and more. This will allow you to get the full experience!
Tips for Visiting the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival
As with any major festival, you need to be thinking ahead to have the best experience. Since the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival relies on weather and nature, we recommend a mix of planning and flexibility. Our best tips for planning an unforgettable visit are below:
- Review the Schedule in Advance: as noted above, the schedule for the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival changes every year. You’ll notice different timings of parades, fireworks, performances, and other notable events vary. When you decide to visit the festival, find the official schedule for the current year online and see when the activities you want to participate in are being offered. If you don’t plan around the schedule, you may find what you most wanted to see isn’t even available on the day that you visit.
- Plan Early, Reserve Early: since the festival is so widely known, you need to book your transportation or accommodations in advance. This is especially true if you plan to stay the night in Jinhae. Start planning your trip well in advance of cherry blossom season to ensure you get exactly what you want. If you want to avoid crazy crowds, travel on a weekday!
- Get to Know the Local Transport: while you’re in Jinhae, you’ll save money if you can rely on the public transportation options to get around. Before you arrive, check the festival’s most recent information to get up to speed on any locally-funded transportation around the city, as well as the local bus schedule. You can always use a taxi if you can’t find a local option, but using local transport will save you money if you can figure it out!
- Be Prepared to Walk: since it is a street festival, you can expect to walk a lot during the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival if you want to see everything. For the best experience, make sure that you wear good walking shoes, carry plenty of water, and light layers to deal with any changing weather from day to night.
If you want to avoid some of the stress of planning, consider booking through a Korea travel agency! Travel agencies can handle some of the more difficult aspects of planning, such as transportation, for you, so you can just enjoy your vacation. We definitely recommend booking through a travel agency, since accommodations and transportation can get reserved well in advance of this memorable festival.
Unforgettable Moments in Korea: the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival
As one of the largest festivals in the entire country, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is a can’t miss opportunity for anyone visiting Korea in the spring! With the blooming cherry blossoms everywhere, the city is absolutely stunning. Layer on top of that the activities, performances, and local food, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect day trip from Busan! For the easiest experience, consider booking through a Korea travel agency or tackling this amazing festival on your own. Either way, you won’t regret it!
