Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum

Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum follows the Yongsogol Valley at the foot of Chilseongsan, just south of Gangneung. As its name ("pine scent") suggests, it is built around a forest of Geumgang pines, with paths along a mountain stream and a hilltop garden that looks out to the sea. Admission and parking are free, and in summer it stays open until 23:00, so you can walk here after dark.

An arboretum in a pine forest

Gangneung City began work in 2008 in Gujeong-ri, Gujeong-myeon, and the arboretum officially opened on 30 October 2013. It covers about 78.5 ha and holds some 220,000 plants of 1,127 species in around twenty themed gardens. The existing Geumgang pine forest in the valley was kept wherever possible, so tall pines frame almost every view. It is easy to see why locals like to call their city "pine-scented Gangneung".

What to see

• Yongsogol valley path: boardwalks and dirt paths follow the stream between the boulders from the entrance, starting by an old-style water wheel.
• Pine Forest Square: a broad lawn under the pines, the best place for a break.
• Thousand-Year Breath Healing Path: the arboretum's signature trail, made for slow walking through the pine forest.
• Themed gardens: hostas, daylilies, hydrangeas, irises, azaleas, a rock garden, medicinal and dye plants, shrubs and a four-seasons garden. A warm-temperate greenhouse keeps southern plants on show in winter.
• Sky Garden: the highest point of the arboretum, where pines and wildflowers grow between the rocks and you can see Gangneung and the East Sea beyond.

Through the seasons

Azaleas and wildflowers come first in spring, hydrangeas and irises in early summer, then hostas and daylilies in high summer. The stream keeps the valley noticeably cooler than the city in July and August, and in autumn the maples stand out against the dark pines. Guided forest walks and programmes for small children are available.

The arboretum after dark

Solhyang is one of the few arboretums that stays open into the evening after the daytime session. In summer you can stay until 23:00, and many locals come once the heat eases to walk in the cool air of the valley. Some sections are closed at night, and darkness falls earlier here than in town, so bring a torch and stick to the lit main paths. A small "green bus" shuttles between the car parks and the inner arboretum; it is occasionally suspended during events, so check the notices on site.

Tripto tips

• Hours: March–October 09:00–18:00, evening opening 18:00–23:00 (last entry 22:00). November–February 09:00–17:00, evening 18:00–22:00 (last entry 21:00). Closed on Mondays; if Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next day.
• Admission: free, parking included.
• Rules: no pets, bicycles or tents. Only simple packed lunches, and only in the designated rest areas.
• Time needed: an hour for the valley path and Pine Forest Square, two to three hours if you climb to the Sky Garden.
• Getting there: about 6 km south of central Gangneung. City buses 104-1 and 104-2 stop at "Solhyang Arboretum Entrance", 1.6 km from the gate, and run only a few times a day, so a car or taxi is easier. There are three car parks.
• Combine it with: Ojukheon and Seongyojang House are each around 20 minutes away by car.