Nurimaru APEC House in BUSAN KOREA

Nurimaru APEC House

In harmony with the exquisite scenery of Dongbaek Island, the venue of the APEC Summit Conference overlooks Haeundae Beach and the beautiful landscape around . Another attraction that you should not miss is the traditionalstyled Korean pavilion re-built with a modern architectural touch.

* adress : 714-1 Woo-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan korea

* phone : 82-51-744-3140

* subwayMetro Line 2, Dongbaek Station. (Exit 1) → Busan Westin-Chosun Hotel → Dongbaek Park

Fun ! Haeundae Sand festival in Haeundae beach

Fun ! Haeundae beach ! Busan's No.1 beach, Haeundae boasts an emerald seascape, fine sandy beach and beautiful attractions. With its hot springs and excellent recreational facilities, it is also one of the most visited places in Korea with 500,000 to 600,000/day tourists every summer.

Haeundae Sand festival
This is the only festival that one can enjoy through environmental friendly sand. Along the sand beaches, many experience events and festivals are opened including the sand statute competition, sand exhibits, festival parade, and sand! Let’s play. Especially, Challenge! I am too a sand artist event and Walking along the sand of Haeundae Sampo event are events that can be enjoyed as a family. Look closer to Sand festival

Sand Festival purpose is maintaning tourist in a slack season $ improving brand name for Haeundae

* Expanding name value for Haeundae beach
*Local fetival resresenting Haeundae of torist district
*Inacreasing interest for preserving sands of Haeundae beach
*Creating love for the town through local involvment
*publicizing Haeundae of design

Location
The Haeundae is located at the southern part of in eastern Busan. It is also located near Jangsan Mountain of height of 634m along with 12 km of Sooyoung harbor to Songjung beach. To the west of the Sooyoung River, Sooyoung district, Dongrae, Geumjung, and Yeonjae district to the west northern part of Haeundae, Haeundae is bounded by Gijang district on the east northern part and is located at diverging point of south and east sea.

Information
  * home : Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu
  * tel :  82-51-749-5700
 *traffic : Metro Line 2, Haeundae Station (Exit 3 or 5)
                 → Walk approximately 600m towards Haeundae Beach

The beauty of Breathtaking Haeundae is yours to see !

     Reathtaking HAEUNDAE
    Swoosh!
    Waves invade the sands of the beach,  refreshing completely your fatigued soul,
    washing away  all your troubles. The ocean embraces you.
    Seagulls fly over as your toes are tickled by the sands’ soft touch all along the golden shore.
    This is Haeundae, a beach that will fill your heart with a longing that you could stay here forever.

     Getting there
      From Busan Airport : Airport Limousine Bus No. 2 → Novotel Ambassador Hotel Bus Stop
      From Busan Station : transfer to Metro Line 2 at Seomyeon → Get off at Haeundae (Exit 3 & 5)
      From Busan Bus Terminal : transfer to Metro Line 3 at Yeonsan → transfer to Line 2 at Suyeoung
       → Get off at Haeundae (Exits 3 & 5)


    Metro : Line 2 Haeundae Station (Exits 3 & 5) → Walk 600m in the direction of Haeundae Beach
    By car : Gyeongbu Expressway → Busan City Expressway → Wondong IC → Haeundae Beach
   Contact
    Haeundae-gu Office : tel051)749-4081
    Haeundae Tourist Information Center : tel051)749-5700


   Haeundae Beach
   Busan's No.1 beach, Haeundae boasts an emerald seascape,
   fine sandy beach and beautiful attractions.
   With its hot springs and excellent recreational facilities,
   it is also one of the most visited places in Korea with 500,000 to 600,000 tourists every summer.

    Information
    home: Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu  tel 051)749-5700
    traffic: Metro Line 2, Haeundae Station (Exit 3 or 5) → Walk approximately 600m towards
                                                                                    Haeundae Beach
    email: sunnfun.haeundae.go.kr


     Nurimaru APEC House
     In harmony with the exquisite scenery of Dongbaek Island,
     the venue of the APEC Summit Conference overlooks Haeundae Beach
    and the beautiful landscape around Gwangan Bridge.
    Another attraction that you should not miss is the traditionalstyled Korean pavilion re-built
    with a modern architectural touch.

     Information
     home:714-1 Woo-dong, Haeundae-gu
     tel:: 051)744-3140
    traffic: Metro Line 2, Dongbaek Station. (Exit 1) → Busan Westin-Chosun Hotel
                → Dongbaek



     Sampo Esplanade
     Sampo Esplanade will take you past Mipo, Cheongsapo and Gudeokpo,
     coastal villages located between Haeundae Beach and Songjeong Beach.
    Walking along Sampo Esplanade, you will hear the sound of the waves
    and the whistle of the train come together like tender music. Mipo is a typical fishing village,
    with a breakwater, where Korean actress Ha Jiwon starred in the movie,

    "Haeundae". Cheongsapo, with its white and red lighthouses, became famous as the shooting location
    for the movie, "Blue Alarm"

    Information
    home:Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu
    tel:051)749-4081
   traffic:Metro Line 2 Jung-dong Station (Exit 7)
               → walk 500m to Mipo 5-Road Junction and drop down to the seafront
   emai:: ltour.haeundae.go.kr



    Dongbaek Park    The camellia and pine trees make a magnificent scene on Dongbaek Island,
    while the pathways and the trail to the summit of the hill promise a joyful promenade.
    At the summit, there is a bronze statue and a monument of Choe Chiwon,
    along with a stone carving on a rock at the southern edge.
    At the seashore, you can observe a statue of a mermaid that appears in a legend about
     Princess Hwangok.

     Information
     home:Woo-dong, Haeundae-gu
     traffic:Metro Line 2, Dongbaek Station (Exit 1) → Busan Westin Chosun Hotel → Dongbaek



(tip)
Legend tip of the mermaid
The statue of the mermaid is about the sad legend of Princess Hwangok (Topaz)
who came across the sea to get married to King Eunhye.
The legend says that she suffered from homesickness, and used to comfort her sorrows,
by looking into the topaz where her fatherland was reflected at each full moon.


    Moontan Road
    Walk along the beautiful Moontan Road in the moonlight.
    The Moontan Road is one of Busan lovers’ favorite dating places because of its romantic
    atmosphere created by the moon-shaped street lamps that illuminate the surrounding woods.

     It’s a 30-minute walk connecting Dalmajigil Road, Dalmaji Garden Trail, Dalmaji Oeulmadang and      
     Kudeokpo.
     Information
      home: Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu
     tel :051)749-4081
     traffic :Metro Line 2, Jungdong (Exit 5 & 7) → 500m to Mipo IC
     emai :ltour.haeundae.go.kr

The 25th polar Bear swimming competition of 2012 of Haeundae Busan

The 25th polar Bear swimming  competition of 2012, held by busan newspaper,
will begin in front of the event sqaure of Busan, Haeundae outdoor swimming pool on Sunday, January 8st 2012.

What is Polar Bear swimming competition ?
Just like the bear who enjoys swimming in cold, icy artic ocean, is an officail swimming
competition where we can enjoy swimming in cold weather.

This competition provides an opportunity to make an exciting memory for the participants, while presenting their health and beauty.
For the tourists, this is the most unique festival which provides many attractions of winter sea in Korea.

The polar Bear swimming competition started with 100 participants, with the commemoration of Seoul Olympic, 1988 in Westin Chosun hotel. After the year of 2000, it gained more popularity and became the very famous festival with more than 1000 competitions.

This competition had difficulty of operation atone time, facing crisis, but it developed into more stable competition  after Busan newspaper has taken it over in 2009.

In this year, the competition is already presenting its 24th event.
It will be presented with many various programs along with the concept aims for the best competition of East Asia of the winter. Yur can experience many things beyond your imagination. Please come and enjoy, and bring many memories with you.

beautiful Gwangalli Beach in Busan

Gwangalli Beach is one of the most popular beaches in South Korea.
Not quite as popular as Haeundae Beach to the east, this beach in Busan still manages to draw lots of visitors both because of its beautiful white sandy stretch of coastline and the area’s cafe scene.

It is particularly popular with young people in this area and young visitors to Busan in general. Besides the wide variety of eclectic cafes that each offer a different experience in terms of design and ambiance, the area on which the beach is situated is also home to a number of restaurants, bars, and clubs.  You will also have no problem whatsoever locating hotels near Gwangalli Beach as there are plenty in the area.

If you have never traveled to South Korea and simply search for any beach in Busan to help determine where to stay, you may overlook Gwangalli Beach. This will be no fault of your own. There are simply larger and better-known beaches such as Haeundae. You will find, however, that there are a lot of options for things to do on and around Gwangalli Beach. Numerous festivals and events take place throughout the year on the beach, including the Busan Sea Festival held every summer. Namcheon-dong is located at the southern portion of the beach and plays host to the Cherry Blossom Tree Festival each and every year. This is a very popular time of celebrations at Gwangalli Beach. People come from all around to take part in traditional Korean festivities and games. You can do everything from learning ancient forms of Korean wrestling to taking the kids to fun and interactive singing and dancing workshops. There is definitely no shortage of things to do at this beach in Busan.

The Novotel Ambassador is a gorgeous hotel located closer to Haeundae Beach, but well within driving or even walking distance of Gwangalli. It is worth a mention because it is one of the nicest hotels near Gwangalli Beach where you can also get a lot of value for your money. Booked far enough in advance, the Novotel Ambassador offers highly competitive rates, especially considering the wide range of luxurious amenities. The Novotel features an indoor and outdoor pool, sauna and spa, restaurant, 24-hour concierge service, and spacious guest rooms and suites.

The Busan Hotel is another of the popular accommodations in the area where you can find reasonable rates without having to compromise on anything. The amenities are comprehensive including massage and spa treatments, onsite dining, and swimming pools. The guest rooms and suites are decorated with fine furnishings and provide excellent views of the sea. It is one of the best hotels near Gwangalli Beach, both for the price and for the location. It is close to downtown and much of the nightlife in Busan. It is also right by several fish markets if you want to try the best in freshly caught raw seafood. Do not overlook this beach in Busan if you happen to be staying in this part of South Korea. Gwangalli offers a lot of cool cafes and a fun, laid-back environment where you can relax.

Stroll along the footpaths and feel the real Busan

Stroll along the footpaths and feel the real Busan
A walk through Busan’s  scenery

In Korea, spring is a great season to go for a walk. All of Busan is ablaze in flowers, and a beautiful spring scent permeates the air.

Within Busan, Galmaet-gil footpaths are especially famous spots for its spring ambience and are perfect for a scenic stroll. Comprising 21 courses, Galmaet-gil is the collective name for the footpaths connecting Busan’s most beautiful shores, forests and parts of the city.

The word Galmaet-gil is a hybrid of galmaegi or seagull, the representative bird of Busan, and gil, which means road. When combined, the word Galmaet-gil means “blue city” or a city you’d like to walk in, which is just the kind of place Busan is looking to become. Here is introduction to the best Galmaet-gil footpaths in Busan.


Haeundae Three Fishing Villages Walk  ( 8.4 kilometers, 3 hours )
Mipo, Cheongsapo and Gudeokpo are collectively known as the Haeundae sampo (meaning “three harbors”). The Three Fishing Villages Walk (Sampogil) takes you along the shore of those three harbors, following a trip around Dongbaek Island, the setting for the legend of Choi Chi-won.

After passing by Dongbaek Island, Haeundae Beach and the Donghae-Nambu line, the walk continues through the entrance of Dalmaji Road. After passing by the Moontan Road parking lot and walking for another 500 meters, on the right hand side you will see Haeundae Beach, Dongbaek Island and even Gwangan Bridge in a single glance. In front of the Korea Art Center stands a sign marking the entrance of Moontan Road, a 2.2 kilometer course taking in Mipo, a pavilion, an observatory and Eulmadang. The straight course from the forked lane of the trail leads to the Cheongsapo trail, and walking for another kilometer will take you all the way to the rock observatory.



From here, you can see not just Songjeong Beach, but right up to the front of Yonggungsa Temple. Keep going through the underpass at the Nambu Railway and you’ll come to Gudeokpo, from where the road leads directly to Songjeong Beach.

▷ How to get there: To get to the entrance of Dongbaek Island take metro line No. 2 to Dongbaek Station or bus No. 31 or 139. If you prefer to start from Gudeokpo, take bus No. 100, 100-1, 139, 1003 or 1006.


Gwangalli~Igidae~Jaseongdaegil ( 23.1kilometers, 8 hours )


This course starts from Gwangalli Beach, passes by Igidae and ends at Jaseongdae. It will take you past the city from Gwangalli Beach to Namcheon-dong, and from Yongho-dong onward, the course follows the shore. From the Igidae seaside pedestrian walk you can enjoy views of Gwangan Bridge, Dongbaek Island and Haeundae. From Seungdumal, you can see the Oryuk Islets, and from Sinseondae you can see up to Bukhang (North Port), Jodo and even Yeongdo. The course then passes by UN Memorial Cemetery, Pusan University of Foreign Studies, Seongji High School and finally Jaseongdae, which takes you on a road back to downtown through Jang Pass and Munhyun Rotary.

▷ How to get there: To get to the starting point on Gwangalli Beach, take metro line No. 2 to Gwangan Station and walk or take bus No. 41 or 83. The end of the trail, Jaseongdae, is near Beomil Station on line No. 1 and there are numerous buses.

Suyeong River~Oncheoncheon Street ( 15.5 kilometers, 4 hours )
The Suyeong River Oncheoncheon Street course starts from the Dongdae Bridge at Hoedong-dong. The course begins on a neat and clean road before passing through the wonderfully clean air of the citizens’ park under Dongcheon Bridge. Cross Sewol Bridge, go through the underpass, and in front of the Centum City Shinsegae Department Store you’ll come to the APEC Naru Park, a riverside park created to celebrate the APEC Summit Talks in 2005.

Cross Suyeong Bridge No.1 over the Suyeong River and walk downstream toward Wondong Bridge. From the bridge you will walk toward the Oncheoncheon pedestrian walk, which continues all the way to Dusil Station. Since the course passes by Busan National University of Education Station, Dongnae Station and Myeongnyun Station, you can hop on the metro at various spots along the way.

▷ How to get there: To walk the Suyeong River Oncheoncheon Street, it is best to start from Hoedong-dong. Bus No. 42, 99 or 179 will take you to the last stop of Geumjeong District Hoedong-dong. You can also easily get to Oncheoncheon from Busan National University of Education Station or Dongnae Station on metro line No. 1.

Come visit sunny beaches in Busan of south korea

Beaches welcome the summer with festivals of fun and exciting performances and sports events .

Haeundae, Gwangalli and Songdo beaches will open on June 1, and remain open until the end of September. This new arrangement means they will be opening a month earlier and closing a month later than last year. Songjeong, Dadaepo, Imnang and Ilgwang beaches are to open on July 1 and close on August 31 as originally scheduled.

                                            < haeundae beach >

Busan City is increasing the opening periods of Haeundae, Gwangalli and Songdo beaches from this year in order to promote their use throughout all four seasons. The three beaches receive the most visitors of any beaches in Busan City, and have also had the most requests to extend their opening periods.

                                < Gwangalli Beach  >

During low season in June and September, visitors are restricted to certain sections of the beach for safety reasons. However, the beaches’ locker rooms, shower rooms, foot washing areas, and drinking fountains will all stay open.

With the opening of Haeundae, Gwangalli and Songdo beaches being moved forward by one month, the local authorities have also lined up a series of special festivals, performances and sports events for locals and tourists alike to enjoy.

                                      < Songdo beach >

Haeundae Beach will have an acoustic guitar live performance at the seashore road every weekend starting from 10 p.m., and a salsa dance festival at the event square. A “sports zone” on the shore will provide a venue for playing beach games such as volley ball and soccer.

Gwangalli Beach will host street performances every weekend at its meeting square with dance and saxophone shows. Gwangalli will also have an open marine sport academy teaching wind surfing, yachting, kayaking, and canoeing on the shore every day.

Songdo Beach will have a music concert at its center square every weekend, as well as a music fountain performance twice a day.

Songdo will also have a marine sport academy offering wind surfing, dinghy yachting and banana boating.

Warm winds urge blossoms to life

Valleys that were frozen during the winter are now melting, and pussy willows shyly peek out. Cherry blossoms and rape blossoms start blooming near the end of March, reaching their peak in mid-April in Busan.

The road to Dalmaji Hill from Haeundae Beach is famous for its divine cherry blossoms in spring, and has been designated the most beautiful road in Busan.

With its lush floral decorations, the road is popular with locals and tourists alike, whether driving or on foot. Taken last year, the above picture shows locals strolling on a cherry blossom-shrouded Dalmaji Hill.

10 must-visit places in Busan City, south Korea

1. A building where history was made Nurimaru APEC House


The site of the APEC Summit Talks in November 2005, Nurimaru APEC House has been widely considered to be one of the most picturesque venues for the APEC Summit. Foreigners and Koreans alike have praised Nurimaru, where the sandy beaches of Haeundae meet the evergreen pines of Dongbaek Island.

The venue’s design also blends with its surrounding natural scenery. Built in a modern style, Nurimaru features the traditional Korean “arbor” style for its overall shape and roof to represent the curves of Dongbaek Island.

The lobby’s traditional multicolored, or dancheong, ceiling and floor harkens back to the daecheong maru, Korea’s traditional living room. The summit’s meeting room, where the ceiling has been constructed with the same motif from Seokgulam’s ceiling, highlights Korea’s creative traditional culture in visual form through interior design.

        * Information: Nurimaru APEC House (051-749-4335)


2. Korea’s most popular vacation spot Haeundae Beach
Korea’s largest vacation spot ? and the nation’s pride ? Haeundae Beach was a favorite among poets and painters of the past with its beautiful scenery: pine tree forests, a sparkling golden beach and nearby Dongbaek Island. The beach is open from July 1 to Aug. 31 every year, and its average water temperature during this time is a refreshing 22.6 degrees Celsius.

The sandy beach shore slopes 10 degrees and the water is about a meter deep. The area also boasts top international-grade hotels and various resting areas where you can enjoy both hot springs and the ocean. Visitors can also enjoy the beautiful views of Oryuk Islets, Dongbaek Island and Dalmaji Hill.
* Information: Haeundae Tour Information Center (051-749-4335)


3. Korea’s largest two-story bridge Gwangan Bridge
Gwangan Bridge, a 7,420-meter-long 25-meter-wide two-story bridge with eight lanes that connects Suyeong District Namcheon-dong with Haeundae U-dong Centum City, opened in Jan. 6, 2003, after breaking ground in August 1994. The beauty of Korea’s largest two-story bridge is apparent from any angle, its lights illuminating the night with over 100,000 different colors. The bridge itself has become a popular tourist spot in Busan with its stunning night vistas of Haeundae Beach. By day, it revels in its grandeur and majesty, and by night, it provides for romance and a resting place for the public.

              * Information: Gwangan Bridge (051-780-0077)



4. World’s only UN Cemetery ,UN Memorial Cemetery

The UN Memorial Cemetery, located in Daeyeon-dong in Nam District, is the world’s one and only UN cemetery. Established by Korea in 1951, the cemetery is the resting place for 2,300 soldiers from 11 countries, including soldiers from the United States (36), England (885), Australia (287), Canada (378), New Zealand (34), Turkey (462) and the Netherlands (117). Each year on Oct. 24 on UN Memorial Day, Busan City invites the ambassadors from the 11 represented countries for a memorial service. And every April, the city invites 200 soldiers from ally countries (England, Australia, Canada and New Zealand) who fought in the Korean War to express the nation’s gratitude.

          * Information: UN Memorial Cemetery (051-624-2165)


5 .Nation’s largest fish market Jagalchi Market
A must-see for any tourist visiting Busan, Jagalchi Market is Korea’s largest fish market that also represents the life of many Busan citizens.

The market completed its modernization in 2006 and reopened in a seven-story building with a fish market, raw fish restaurants, a wedding hall, a seafood restaurant, a cultural exhibition center and a shopping mall. The modernization has spurred even greater numbers of visitors to come check out the market.

Hydrophilic park, which is located toward Namhang beach on the building’s first floor, is another place to visit and has become a popular dating place for young couples.

* Information: Jagalchi Market (051-713-8000)


6. A place where the past and future coexist Mt. Yongdu Park
Mt. Yongdu gets its name from the fact that it looks like a dragon’s head rising from the sea. Yongdu means “dragon head” in Chinese characters. It is the consummate example of a place that represents the port city of Busan as it is today as well as the city’s long history.

Before independence from Japan, Mt. Yongdu Park was the site of a shrine. During the Korean War, shanty homes housing refugees filled the area. Today, Mt. Yongdu Park exudes a charm that culminates with Busan Tower. The tower, 180 meters above the ground, gives you full panoramic views of Busan and its surrounding area.

* Information: Mt. Yongdu Park (051-860-7820)


7. Unique rock formations and cliffs Taejongdae
A perennial chart topper on any list of must-visit spots in Busan, Taejongdae was designated as the nation’s cultural treasure No. 17 in 2005. First-time visitors often have their breaths taken away by Taejongdae’s stunning views of unique rock formations and of the sea, which seems to stretch into infinity. Hard-to-see scenery is best observed from the observatory at the southern part of Taejongdae or from the century-old Yeongdo lighthouse next to Sinseon rock. The mother and son sculpture, about a legend of a faithful wife who turned into stone, along Taejongdae’s rock cliffs and thick dense woods, adds to the charm of Taejongdae.

            * Information: Taejongdae Amusement Park Office (051-405-2004)

8 .World’s largest flat fountain Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream
The world’s largest flat fountain, Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream, was constructed in June 2009 and has become a popular tourist destination in Dadaepo. The fountain is 2,519 square meters, 60 meters in diameter, and its circumference measures 180 meters. Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream can shoot water 55 meters into the air from its 1,046 nozzles. The fountain’s 27 smaller fountains and 1,148 LED lights provide a fascinating water and light show at Dadaepo Beach every night.

                 * Information: Saha District Office (051-207-6041)


9. 1,300-year-old temple that represents Busan Beomeosa Temple
Beomeosa Temple on Mt. Geumjeong is Busan’s largest, most historical temple. The scent of pine will greet and envelope you when you enter 1,300-year-old Beomeosa Temple. There are a lot of treasures located at Beomeosa Temple, such as Daewoongjeon, which has been designated as national treasure No. 434.

The stone lantern in the front yard of Daewoongjeon is Busan’s designated cultural asset No. 16. The entrance gate to Beomeosa Temple ? Jogyemun ? features four pillars and is often considered to be the best entrance gate among Korean temples.

* Information: Beomeosa Temple (051-508-3122)


10. Korea’s largest underwater aquarium Busan Aquarium
Busan Aquarium is the country’s largest and most high-tech underwater theme aquarium and is located at the entrance of Haeundae Beach. The 80-meter-long aquarium tank offers 270-degree views and contains over 350 species of fish, sharks, reptiles and penguins, totaling 35,000 creatures. You can also watch sharks, otters and penguins being fed, as well as coral diving.

* Information: Busan Aquarium (051-740-1700)