The only landlocked province in South Korea, Chungcheongbuk-do covers a mountainous region in the centre of the country. It’s home to numerous national parks and picturesque resort towns, as well as the largest bronze Buddha in the world.

Things to do

Hike through Songnisan National Park to visit the 7th-century Buddhist temple of Beopjusa, which boasts the largest bronze Buddha in the world. Afterwards, soak up the rugged valley views from the 1,058-metre-high Cheonhwangbong mountain.

In the heart of Chungcheongbuk-do is the picturesque town of Chungju, where you can learn about the martial art of Taekkyon at the Chungju World Martial Arts Park. Take in the views of Chungju from the top-floor observation deck, then jump aboard a sightseeing cruise to explore the scenic waters of Chungjuho.

Travel east to the resort town of Danyang, a hub for paragliding, white-water rafting and trekking. Venture into the “Underground Palace” of Gosu Cave to explore atmospherically-lit caves, then head to nearby Sobaeksan National Park to climb one of the highest summits in South Korea, Little White Mountain.

Danyang is also near Woraksan National Park, which protects forested valleys, cascading waterfalls and ancient Buddhist sites. Follow one of the walking trails to the Shilla-era fortress of Deokjusan-seong or the Buddha-carved rock of Ma-aebul, before climbing the 1,097-metre-high Yeongbong mountain.

Getting around

Chungcheongbuk-do is around two hours by train from the centre of Seoul and 3.5 hours from Incheon International Airport. Trains connect some cities in the province, while a large network of buses also services Chungcheongbuk-do.