Travel date: January 25, 2016

This will be the last part of Damyang's winter wonderland series. If you want to know my itinerary for one day trip in Damyang, you can see my 1st post here. So the last stop on this trip was Damyang Juknokwon Bamboo Forest. From Metasequoia-lined road, I was walking for about 2km following the tree pathway along the river and through Gwanbangjerim Forest to reach Junokwon. It takes me about 1 hour, should be shorter though if you don't take too much stops (read: take photos) like me :P

Anyway, the front side of Juknokwon is also got featured in 2015 Korean drama's Mask (가면).


Later, I find out that this building is called "봉황루" / Bonghwangru (well, it's written over there as you can see in the photo), which actually is an observatory (전망대 / jonmangdae) and there are also souvenir shop and cafe inside of it. I didn't get in to that building though. From the observatory, you can see the panoramic view of Damyang river, Gwanbangjerim Forest and it's said that on a fine and clear day, you can also see the Metasequoia-lined road from a far.


You will find this entrance gate to enter the bamboo forest and pay 3,000 won to get in.


I've been to the famous Arashiyama bamboo forest in Kyoto, Japan back in autumn 2014, but this bamboo forest in Damyang offers different attractions. The one in Kyoto is very famous for its pathway with tall bamboos soaring up on both sides, create a picturesque view for people to take pictures in the middle of the pathway. The one in Damyang has walking pathway as well but there is no such kind of bamboo fence bordering the pathway like the one in Kyoto.

Also, it's my first time to go to bamboo forest in winter. Visiting green bamboo forest with its white snow-covered ground in winter is another experience! I used to wonder what happened to bamboo leaves in winter, would it changes color and fall off as well. Turns out even in winter, bamboo leaves stay green, though not as green as in summer probably (?)





I guess some couples want to leave their marks here, writing their names on the bamboo stalks. I don't know whether I should call this romantic or nature vandalism. Maybe the land owner should make a specific site for the couples to hang their love locks around the bamboo just like any other recreation places in Korea :P



I do especially love this picture of Korean traditional pavilion in the middle of bamboo forest along with snow piling up on its roof. It gives me a sense of tranquility.





Bamboo forest wouldn't be complete without... pandas! not the real squishy fluffy pandas though :P


Another photo spot, the frozen artificial waterfall with pandas around.



There are some artistic installations you'll find as you wander around the forest. I personally think that Korea is really great at making stuff like this, put some art installations / sculptures that would create artsy instagram pictures and attract people to take pictures with it. There are 8 walking courses you can follow and each of them has different theme and purpose for the walk, such as "Lovers' Road", for a romantic walk where you can walk hand in hand with your lover or "Old Memory Bypath & Philosopher's Road", where people can reminisce the old good memories as they walk along the pathway or take time to reflect on their life.







Unfortunately, several sites were closed at the time of my visit include the filming location for 2D1N variety show. Several other movies has also been filmed in Juknokwon, seems like this bamboo forest  is quite famous as the filming site. It takes me an hour to tour around this bamboo forest though I didn't visit all sites inside.



After finished touring inside the bamboo forest, I was getting hungry and next to the entrance gate, I found this restaurant called "죽녹원 식당" (Juknokwon Sikdang) or if you translate literally: Juknokwon Restaurant, such a very simple name.


When you're visiting other regions outside Seoul, you better try their local cuisines. And when you're in Damyang, it's recommended to try daenamutongbab / daetongbab (rice steamed in bambo stem), which usually accompanied with tteokgalbi (marinated beef patties). This restaurant that I visit only have a full-course menu or in Korean, it's famously called "한정식" (Hanjeongsik). I always get excited every time I eat hanjeongsik because the waiter will serve various dishes on your table until there's no more space on your table (lol, kidding). But seriously, there will be several main dishes and a different array of side dishes (banchan) which I couldn't even name it. Usually people eat hanjeongsik in group, but sadly at that time I came alone so I couldn't share this huge portion of food. Luckily, this restaurant has the menu for one person and it costs 18,000 won (expensive huh). The full course menu (한정식) has tteokgalbi (marinated beef patties), daenamutongbap (rice steamed in bamboo stem), grilled fish, and other bamboo shoot dishes. I was really satisfied with this menu, but still I couldn't finish it all, too much for one person!

Address:
119, Jungnogwon-ro, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
전라남도 담양군 담양읍 죽녹원로 119 (담양읍)

How to get there:
Take direct bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal (by subway, go to Express Bus Terminal station exit 8) to Damyang Bus Terminal (3 hours 30 mins). From Damyang Bus Terminal, take taxi to get to the entrance of Juknokwon (7 mins ride and costs 5,000 won) or walk for about 20 mins (Follow this route: Naver Map) or take local bus no. 311 and get off at Juknokwon bus stop.

If you plan to stay in Gwangju (and then visit Damyang), you could take bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal to Gwangju Bus Terminal (3 hours 30 mins), bus is available every 5-10 mins. Get out from Gwangju Bus Terminal and walk to the bus stop in front of the bus terminal / U-SQUARE, then take local bus no. 311 to get directly to Damyang Juknokwon (the bus makes a stop in front of Juknokwon).