Enjoy Autumn Leaves in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do!

By Lim Se-ryeong

Korea is known as a peninsula which has four distinct seasons and four distinct landscapes according to each season. Since Koreans enjoy seeing red and yellow foliage in the autumn, there is a specific Korean word called danpungnori (단풍놀이, directly translated as “autumn foliage play”), which refers to the act of going out to enjoy the autumn leaves. For this year, it is expected that we will be able to see the first fall leaves from late October (in the southern provinces). Below are the spots that are famous for danpungnori.

1. Gwangju Citizens’ Forest (광주 시민의 숲)

  Address: 190 Chuam-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 북구 추암로 190)

Gwangju Citizens’ Forest is a small, eco-friendly forest located near Cheomdan Daegyo with campsites and playgrounds. You can enjoy the autumn leaves by walking along the walkways there, including the Yellow Poplar Road (백합나무길), which takes around an hour and a half round trip. If you have a bicycle, it is also recommended to ride the Yeongsangang Bicycle Path (영산강 자전거길).

2. Mudeungsan’s Wonhyosa (무등산의 원효사)

  Address: 846 Geumgok-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 북구 금곡동 846 원효사)

Mudeungsan is the mountain that stretches across Gwangju, Damyang, and Hwasun. Peak dates for seeing autumn leaves on the mountain vary from place to place, but it is generally expected that we can enjoy the most autumn colors in early November. Wonhyosa is a well-known temple located on the mountain and one of the most famous spots to visit in fall, as you can see the autumn leaves of the mountain from the beautiful temple grounds. 

3. Green Road Park in Dong-gu, Gyerim-dong (동구 계림동 푸른길공원)

  Address: 525-1 Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju (광주광역시 동구 계림동 525-1 )

If you want to enjoy autumn colors in the middle of the city, you can also visit Greenway Park, which is located near Gyerim-dong in Dong-gu. It is a long path stretching from Gwangju Station to Chosun University. You can find a special spot called Maple Tree Way (단풍나무길) within the park (located at 525-1 Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu / 동구 계림동 525-1) which is popular among locals for enjoying the fall foliage.

4. Gwanbangjerim Forest in Damyang, Jeollanam-do (담양시 관방제림)

  Address: 1 Gaeksa-ri, Damyang-eup, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 담양군 담양읍 객사리1)

Gwanbangjerim Forest is located near Metasequoia Road in Damyang. There a stream flows between walking trails lined with warm fall foliage. Also, as Damyang Noodle Street is right next to the forest, you can also eat delicious Korean-style noodles outdoors after enjoying the colorful views.

5. Nampyeong Ginkgo Arboretum in Naju, Jeollanam-do (나주시 남평 은행나무수목원)

  Address: 659 Gwangchon-ri, Nampyeong-eup, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do (전라남도 나주시 남평읍 광촌리 659)

At Nampyeong Ginkgo Arboretum, you can enjoy yellow-colored ginkgo trees this autumn. Besides the ginkgo-tree-lined road, there are various other walking courses such as a bamboo forest as well as a maple forest in the arboretum. In order to get into the Nampyeong Ginkgo Arboretum, you have to buy an entrance ticket (3,000 won), and you can get a 10 percent discount from the café located within the arboretum with this ticket.

The Author

Lim Se-ryeong is from Gwangyang, South Korea, and has been doing an internship at the GIC since August 2022. She majored in business administration and is interested in communicating with foreigners based on her experience being overseas. Instagram: @sr_chlo_e.