Chungju travel info

Chungju sits in the north of North Chungcheong Province, where the Namhan River loops around the city. On the wide stretch known as Tangeum Lake, a seven-storey stone pagoda from the Unified Silla era stands alone in open fields, and the river slides past the pine-covered cliff of Tangeumdae. Drive about half an hour east and you reach Chungju Lake, held back by the dam; at the southern end, Suanbo has hot springs to soak in.

The food is plain and good. Chungju is apple country, and the orchards turn red in autumn. Olgaengi haejangguk, a river-snail soup, pheasant dishes in Suanbo and trout sashimi from the lake are what people go looking for here. In the market lanes, a bowl of sundae gukbap often does for lunch.

From Seoul it is about an hour and a half by express bus from Dong Seoul Terminal, or you can ride KTX-Eum from Pangyo. The lake, Tangeumdae and Suanbo are spread out, though, so by public transport two or three stops a day is the limit. A car makes the days much easier.

From Seoul (BUS)

From Cheongju Airport (CJJ)

From Chungju to Suanbo (BUS)