Daegu Colorful Tour highlights Daegu’s brightest attractions

DAEGU, Republic of Korea - Daegu is rethinking the way visitors interact with the city. Daegu Colorful Tour, a guide brochure recently released by the Daegu Convention and Visitors Bureau, is a fresh approach to the city’s must-see attractions.

Colorful Tour consists of four tour courses. Rather than simply organizing courses by theme, it divides the city into four geographical regions. Each course gives visitors a feel for the unique character of this multi­faceted city.

Course 1: Time Travel in the Heart of Daegu
Today, downtown Daegu is a bustling district, however, this area offers much more than endless shopping and dining options. The Daegu Modern History Alley Tour offers visitors a window into a time when the city looked quite different. The tour features several locations, within walking distance, that provide insight on Daegu’s contribution to Korea’s history from 1900s to 1970s.

It was in downtown Daegu that Korea’s most well-known company, Samsung Group, had its modest beginnings as Samsung Trading Company 76 years ago. The original company headquarters has since been torn down, but the monument features an architectural model.

Yangnyeongsi is the site of one of Korea’s oldest and largest oriental medicine markets. Shop windows along the 700­meter alley display mushrooms, herbs, bundles of prickly branches and roots suspended in amber color liquid. The locals have a saying that simply strolling down the street and breathing in the fragrance of ginseng and other medicinal ingredients will cure what ails you.

Just one subway stop from downtown Daegu, visitors can find another historic market. Daegu is famous for its textiles, and the trade can trace its history back to Seomun Market. Today, it is the largest traditional market in the city, where shoppers can find clothing, fabric, leather goods, souvenirs and plenty of food stalls.

Course 2: Live Like a Local
There is much more to see outside of downtown Daegu. The second tour course invites visitors to explore the road less traveled. Located in Suseong, just east of downtown, and Gachang, a rural area south of the city, these attractions offer recreation options that are set apart from the big buildings and bright lights of the inner city.

Virtually tourist free, these are the places local citizens go to unwind. Hiking is a national pastime in Korea, and there are several good mountains around Daegu to join in the fun. The most accessible is Mt. Apsan. Visitors can hike or take the cable car to the observatory. The nighttime view of the city as a sea of lights is especially rewarding.

Visitors to this area should also take time to indulge in another nationally treasured pastime: relaxing at a jjimjilbang (Korean bath house). Spa Valley is the perfect place to experience this uniquely Korean getaway. Known for its saunas and hot springs, the multi­level facility is a fun and relaxing place for any age.

Course 3: Feel Fresh in Nature
The third course offers yet another side of Daegu. Visitors should grab their cameras because there is a lot of natural and manmade beauty to take in on this course. Getting around is no problem because Daegu DTRO lends bicycles for free in several main subway stations. Visitors can enjoy a ride along the Nakdong river path, which offers beautiful views around sunset.

Visitors to this area can also enjoy exploring the Mabijung Mural Village. One of Daegu’s hidden gems, this hillside village is full of art and culture. There are 35 households functioning in the village. Visitors can spend an afternoon enjoying the murals, interactive art and photographs that document Korea’s development.

Course 4: Finding Your Zen in Mountain
The fourth course focuses on the Mt. Palgong area. Offering refuge for those seeking tranquility, Mt. Palgong is home to several attractions. One of Daegu’s most iconic landmarks is Gatbawi, a statue of Buddha with a thick, flat stone on his head made in the Unified Silla Kingdom era and Donghwasa, a temple that includes a 17­meter tall statue of the Buddha. The temple’s stunning architecture, colorful murals and fresh mountain air make it a wonderful escape.

In addition to breathtaking views, Donghwasa’s temple stay program allows visitors to experience temple life. Participants can meditate under the stars, learn about the traditional tea ceremony and experience a monastic meal.

These four tour courses give visitors a chance to see Daegu’s many sides from its bustling downtown district to the peace and tranquility of its natural beauty. The Daegu Colorful Tour gives visitors options of not just what they can see in the city, but how they can experience it. It includes not just main attractions, but other points of interest off the beaten path. Together these courses offer a passageway that allow visitors to get a closer look of the places that make this city unique.

Photo caption: (left) Mabijeong Mural Village attracts countless visitors with their unique murals all around the village. (right) Gatbawi buddah grants your wish only once in your life. Meet him on the top of Mt. Palgong.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia