Daebudo Island

Daebudo is the largest island in Gyeonggi Province. Because you can drive across the Sihwa Sea Wall, a day trip from Seoul is enough to explore its mudflats and coastal trails, the islet of Nueseom that you can walk to at low tide, and an old quarry where dinosaur footprints were found. The name means "great hill": seen from the Namyang Peninsula in Hwaseong, the island looks like one.

A short history

Daebudo belongs to Danwon District in the city of Ansan. Sources put its area at about 42 or 46 km². It passed from Mahan and Baekje through Goguryeo to Silla in 553, and in the Goryeo and Joseon eras it belonged to Namyang. It moved to Bucheon County in 1914 and Ongjin County in 1973 before joining Ansan in 1994 after a residents' vote. The sea walls of the Sihwa Lake reclamation project linked it to Seongamdo, Tando and Buldo, and as the mudflats grew, Seongamdo and Tando effectively merged with Daebudo. Its wide intertidal flats are a Ramsar site and an important habitat for birds such as the Chinese egret.

What to see

• Daebu Haesol-gil: a coastal trail of 91 km in ten sections around the whole island. Section 1, from Bangameori to Donjiseom-angil, is the most popular.
• Gubongdo Sunset Viewpoint: at the northern tip of the island, the sun sets between two rocks called Grandpa and Grandma. The moment it slips into the ring of the sculpture "Holding the Sunset in My Heart" is a favourite photo shot.
• Tando Port and Nueseom: twice a day at low tide a sea path opens for about four hours between Tando and the uninhabited islet of Nueseom, 1.2 km away, so you can walk the last kilometre or so. From the third-floor outdoor deck of the Nueseom Lighthouse Observatory you can see the sea, Tando Port and Jebudo Island.
• Daebu Mine sedimentary strata (Gyeonggi Monument): quarrying exposed layers laid down in a Mesozoic lake around 70 million years ago. Since a dinosaur footprint was first reported in 1999, 23 footprints and plant fossils have been found, and it is said to be the only place near Seoul where you can see Mesozoic strata and volcanic rock together.
• Sihwa Nare Tidal Power Park: a park in the middle of the Sihwa Sea Wall, built from earth dug out for the tidal power station, with an exhibition hall, the Moon Observatory and a service area.
• Daebudo Metasequoia Road: 1,200 metasequoia trees line about 3.5 km of road around the Daebu Bada Hyanggi Theme Park.
• Seafood: restaurants along the coast specialise in kalguksu noodle soup and grilled clams.

Tripto tips

• Check the tides: the path to Nueseom opens only at low tide, and the times change every day. Check before you set out and be back before the water returns.
• Nueseom Lighthouse Observatory: open 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February, free of charge. Closed on Mondays, 1 January and on the day of Seollal and Chuseok.
• Ferries: boats to Jawoldo, Seungbongdo, Daeijakdo and Deokjeokdo leave from Bangameori pier in the north of the island.
• Information: the Daebudo Tourist Information Center (1899-1720) can help with trail and sightseeing information.
• Time needed: a section of the Haesol-gil, Nueseom and the sunset at Gubongdo add up to half a day to a full day.