Spring date under the cherry blossoms

Cherry blossom season

Like every other land, spring in Korea is the time when many flowers bloom after days of sleeping in the cold. Cherry blossoms bring pink and white color to the mountain slopes and stream banks. Depending on the weather, cherry blossoms will bloom in late March or April.

The entire canopy of the tree is covered with pink or white petals. Imagine walking on the street and suddenly a petal falls gently before your eyes or a sweet scent wafts past, making you look up and then sigh because the gray sky of winter has gone, leaving only a gentle, warm, pink and white color.

Cherry blossoms are scattered throughout Korea. In each region, there are spring festivals, or specifically cherry blossom festivals, to welcome these first signs of warmth. Families, friends, and couples will walk together under the cherry blossoms in the cool, slightly chilly weather of early spring, then find an empty place to sit, sip tea, and enjoy the beauty of nature and the sky.

Ideal places to enjoy cherry blossoms in Korea

Two of the notable cherry blossom viewing spots in Korea are Gyeongju and Busan. Coming to the ancient capital of Gyeongju, you will see a quiet, ancient atmosphere worthy of an ancient capital. Spring in Gyeongju is adorned by two main colors: the warm yellow of rapeseed flowers and the pure white and pink of cherry blossoms. Watching cherry blossoms amidst the solemn, ancient scenery of the ancient capital of the Silla Dynasty is a completely different experience from watching flowers in bustling cities. One of the favorite cherry blossom viewing spots here is the tranquil Bomun Lake with the famous Bomun Pavilion. Watching the cherry trees reflect on the lake and the graceful, gentle cherry blossom petals when landing on the water surface is definitely a wonderful experience.

Busan and Jeju are usually the two places where cherry blossoms bloom the earliest in Korea. Busan has cherry blossom-lined streets, suitable for leisurely strolls. Walking under the cherry trees and accidentally witnessing a shower of petals every time a gentle breeze blows can leave many people speechless. Beautiful cherry blossom viewing spots in Busan include Haeundae Dalmaji Road, Oncheon Park, the coastal road in Igidae Park, Samnak Park, Namcheon-dong Cherry Blossom Road, etc.

In addition, we cannot fail to mention the “kingdom of flowers” ​​– Jeju Island. The cherry trees here produce flowers with larger petals than other places. Therefore, they are also called the King of Cherry Blossoms. In Jeju, you can walk between cherry blossom roads or roads with a strip of bright yellow rapeseed and a row of pure white cherry trees.

Seoul is also a must-see cherry blossom viewing spot with two prominent cherry blossom festivals at Seokchon Lake and Yeouido Han River Park.

Running a marathon in the middle of cherry blossom season

In Gyeongju, the government and people have come up with a great way to enjoy the short cherry blossom days: a mid-season marathon.

The Gyenongju Cherry Blossom Marathon was first held in 1991. This year, it will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2016. This year’s race will be held on April 9, 2016, with distances of 42 km, 21 km, 10 km, and 5 km. About 12,000 participants will start from the Bodeok Community Service Center and run the routes of each distance around the city, under the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

From now on, running enthusiasts can register to participate in the 2016 Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Marathon at the tournament website: https://cherrymarathon.com:48271/etc/?vmode=05 until mid-March 2016. The participation fee for the 5km distance is 20,000 won and for the remaining distances is 30,000 won.

Racing in the rain of flowers with the gentle fragrance of cherry blossoms and the warm spring breezes will surely become an unforgettable memory for anyone.

Notable cultural and historical festivals in Korea this spring

Spring in Korea not only has the beauty of nature but also has many cultural and historical beauties that visitors can learn about through the cultural and historical festivals of this country. A series of festivals held from the beginning of spring is a suitable occasion to preserve and promote the cultural and historical heritage of the country. Immerse yourself in the festival season with many interesting programs such as experiencing the Namhansanseong World Heritage Site with activities such as experiencing royal costumes, tea ceremony, learning to make fans and books, performing Nongak, listening to concerts at royal palaces such as Jagyeongjeon, Sugyeongjeon, Gyeongbok Palace, ... in May, June, September, October 2016, participating in the lotus lantern festival, learning about Buddhism in May. In addition, if you are passionate about learning about the culture and history of Korean dynasties, do not forget to record the calendar of royal festivals in Seoul and Jongmyo.

If the cold, gloomy winter days have made you tired, an early spring trip to Korea with its wonderful natural scenery and colorful and vibrant festivals will definitely be a vacation to help you relax and recover in preparation for the race of the whole year ahead.

More information:

- The Korea Tourism Organization also has a separate cherry blossom forecast for each year on its website. (http://english.visitkorea.or.kr)

- Supporting information about the festivals can be found on the website of the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam: https://visitkorea.org.vn/

The Thanh