It’s not uncommon to visit an Asian country and find that the people have carved a niche of some sort for themselves. In Korea, especially, you’ll find that different cities or provinces attach themselves to specific cultural habits. Some have special festivals while others boast intense cuisines. In the end, despite each area having much to offer, they’ll only become well-known for one or two.

Such is the case in Damyang, also referred to as Damyang-gun. Located in the Joellanam-do province, Damyang is filled with incredible sites and attractions but the most famous is its incredible bamboo trade.

The Growth of Bamboo in Damyang

Damyang, not to be confused with the village of Danyang in the Chungcheongbuk-do province, is located in northern Korea. In this area, bamboo grows naturally and in large abundances, giving the people residing in the area the opportunity to continuously harvest and grow the gorgeous plant.

You won’t find a garden or home in Damyang that isn’t displaying some sort of bamboo. The incredible amount of growth in the Damyang area has given the village a distinct advantage, allowing it to corner and control Korea’s bamboo market.

Don’t allow yourself to be distracted, though. Bamboo is not the only notable thing to see in Damyang and the surrounding areas. There are plenty of other intriguing and distinct cultural attractions to take advantage of.

The Soswaewon Garden

Soswaewon garden sits in the southern section of Damyang. The garden was constructed in the early 1500’s by a man named Yang San-bo. Yang San-bo moved to Damyang after his teacher was exiled from Korea. In order to protest the humiliation of his mentor, Yang San-Bo resigned from his own position and then left to find a place where he could live in tranquility.

The design of the garden took years to finish. The goal was to utilize all that nature had already provided in order to enhance the area. The end result was a garden with flowing water, peaceful ponds, and a natural white noise created by nature to stop the rest of the world from intruding. Yang San-Bo created a personal utopia.

Before his death, Yang San-Bo created a will in which he stipulated that the garden was not allowed to be sold. Members of his family have maintained the garden for more than 15 generations and it has survived many struggles, including several Japanese invasions. If you visit the Soswaewon Garden you’ll have the opportunity to sit in a tranquil and serene setting - a quiet place for thinking - just as Yang San-Bo originally intended it to be.

Tranquility within Damyang’s Spas

The Soswaewon Garden isn’t the only tranquil retreat you’ll find in Damyang. Damyang has built a reputation for providing incredible spa treatments to guests in their main tourist hotel.

Guests in the hotel receive spa services for free but you don’t need to be a guest to take advantage of their spectacular treatments. Outsiders can take advantage of the spa for only 7,000 won ($5.99 USD). The spa features an outdoor swimming pool, a hot spa, and a number of jjimjilbang (public bathhouse) facilities.

There are, of course, a number of other spa treatments available at additional cost. The changing rooms for the women and men are alternated on a semi-weekly basis to prevent an odor from developing as well. The spa and resort is incredibly popular so if you want to stay there overnight you should make your reservations as far in advance as possible.

What to Eat in Damyang

The cuisine in Damyang is just as distinct as its surrounding atmosphere. Bamboo rice, for one, is rice cooked in a bamboo dish, giving it an extra flavoring. In most restaurants, you are allowed to keep your bamboo dish as a souvenir of your visit.

Another favorite dish is the raw bamboo salad. The raw bamboo is served with a variety of locally grown raw vegetables and the crunchy meal is served with a spicy vinegar-based dressing.

Tteok galbi, another favorite dish, is made with two different cuts of meat. The first cut of meat is left on the bone. The second cut is chopped, minced, and then formed around the first cut before cooking. The final product is a sweetly flavored meat with an amazing texture and taste.

The gorgeous bamboo atmosphere will bring you to Damyang but the friendly people, relaxing spas, and serene gardens will convince you to stay. Damyang is a place where you can learn about Korean history, indulge yourself with a bit of pampering, or simply relax while escaping the hustle and bustle of the big city. No matter what your reason for visiting, you’ll be glad you made the choice.

Posted in Korea

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Korea. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.