Heal Your Body and Mind in Nature This June... Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation Recommends Three Destinations Including Cheongdo Eupseong Fortress

On June 11, the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Corporation announced that it has selected three “Green Destinations in Gyeongbuk” as part of its monthly “Traveling Gyeongbuk Through Photos” series for June, where visitors can heal both body and mind in nature.

In Gyeongbuk, June marks the transition from a full spring to early summer, when mountains, fields, and urban spaces are blanketed in a vibrant, lush green. Before the intense summer heat sets in, June is the perfect month to enjoy a stroll in the shade of trees, accompanied by a refreshing breeze. Encountering the invigorating scenery created by dense foliage brings a sense of liberation, as if old stresses are being washed away.

Cheongdo Eupseong Fortress Panorama

To help visitors escape the stuffiness of the city and truly heal in the great outdoors while welcoming the coming summer with freshness, the Corporation introduces three recommended destinations for June: Gyeongju Millennium Forest Garden, Yeongcheon Ecological Park’s Metasequoia Road, and Cheongdo Eupseong Fortress in Cheongdo.

The “Millennium Forest Garden,” located at the foot of Namsan Mountain in Gyeongju, is the first provincial garden designated by Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. For more than 50 years, this hidden ecological treasure was closed to the public for forest research, but it has recently been opened. Thanks to decades without human disturbance, the lush forest—almost primeval in its preservation—remains intact. In June, the entire garden, which spans the size of 46 soccer fields, is covered in dozens of vibrant shades of green.

The garden’s most notable viewing point is undoubtedly the “single log bridge” stretching over a clear brook, surrounded by the “Mirror Forest.” On calm days without wind, the deep green leaves above are perfectly reflected on the glassy surface of the water, creating a surreal, symmetrical landscape reminiscent of a fairy-tale forest. Standing at the center of the bridge and taking photos with the lush greenery as a backdrop guarantees a perfect, memorable shot for any visitor.

The Metasequoia Road in Yeongcheon Ecological Park is a hidden gem for healing in Yeongcheon. Instead of flashy artificial structures, visitors are overwhelmed by the grand textures and colors of the trees, shaped entirely by nature. The main reason to visit in June is that the trees are at their lushest, forming a thick green canopy that provides perfect shade. Towering metasequoia trees, stretching tens of meters high, line both sides of the walking path, with their branches meeting overhead to form a vast natural cover. Even under the scorching midday sun, stepping onto this path brings an immediate drop in temperature, allowing visitors to enjoy the cool and pleasant air of the forest.

In June, Cheongdo Eupseong Fortress presents a striking contrast between its rugged, solid gray-brown walls and the endless expanse of green, carpet-like lawns below. Unlike city fortresses, there are no tall buildings to obstruct views, offering an open, liberating atmosphere. Walking along the top of the fortress walls, visitors are treated to peaceful rural vistas and blue fields of Cheongdo stretching out below, creating a sense of release. Especially notable is “Yeonji,” the pond next to the fortress, which in June is filled with large green lotus leaves covering the water’s surface. When the wind blows, the huge lotus leaves ripple in unison, creating a dynamic scene reminiscent of green waves.

Yeongcheon Metasequoia Road

Inside and outside the fortress, charming walking trails wind gently through the area, with mild slopes that make for easy, leisurely walks for people of all ages. After a stroll, visitors can relax at one of the cozy hanok cafes or teahouses that have sprung up naturally around the fortress, enjoying a cool drink and taking in the view of the green fortress walls through wide windows—a perfect way to unwind and beat the heat.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.