Juknokwon Bamboo Garden

Right next to the centre of Damyang, a whole hillside is covered in bamboo. Juknokwon is a bamboo garden that Damyang County planted across Seonginsan and opened in May 2003, with walking paths winding between stems so tall and straight they close out the sky. When the wind blows, the rustle of bamboo leaves fills the forest, and many visitors come for that sound alone.

Damyang, the bamboo county

Damyang has long been famous for its bamboo. Juknokwon covers about 160,000 m² planted with locally grown bamboo, and jungnocha, a tea plant said to grow on the dew that drips from bamboo leaves, grows wild inside the forest. The garden borders Damyangcheon Stream, the Gwanbangjerim woodland and Damyang Hyanggyo, so it makes a natural starting point for exploring the town.

What to see

• Eight bamboo trails: about 2.2 km of paths divided into eight themed routes with names like the Road of Good Fortune, the Road of Old Friends and the Philosopher's Path. Some include uphill sections, so pick one that suits you.
• Juknokwon Observatory: where the trails begin. It looks out over Damyangcheon, the Gwanbangjerim forest with its trees more than 300 years old, and towards the famous metasequoia-lined road.
• Along the trails: an eco exhibition hall, an artificial waterfall and pond, an outdoor stage, a hall of traditional bamboo basketry, the Lee Lee Nam Art Center, a hanok stay area and a poetry park.
• Bamboo at dusk: the forest is lit, so it is pleasant to walk until closing time.

Good to know

One corner of the forest was used for battle scenes in the film R-Point, and the pond that cast members of the first season of the TV show "2 Days & 1 Night" fell into during a game is still there, so people stop for photos. The bamboo is protected: carving into stems, damaging plants and picking leaves or shoots without permission are all forbidden.

Juknokwon also helped popularise the idea of a "bamboo forest bath": like forest bathing, you walk slowly between the stems and breathe in the bamboo breeze. Climb the stone steps into the heart of the grove and the sunlight breaks into fragments as it passes through the leaves. Inside the garden, the Jukhyang Experience Village offers hanok stays, and the poetry park lines a path with stones carved with poems about Damyang.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: March to October 09:00–19:00 (last entry 18:00), November to February 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), open every day. The main gate closes at closing time, so if you leave late, use the exit by the Lee Lee Nam Art Center.
• Tickets: adults KRW 3,000, teenagers and soldiers KRW 1,500, primary school children KRW 1,000. Visitors aged 65 and over and children under 6 enter free with ID. Groups of 20 or more pay KRW 2,400 per adult. There is a car park; for enquiries call 061-380-2680.
• When to go: the bamboo is green all year, but the shade is especially welcome in midsummer. Allow 1–2 hours for a loop.
• Combine it with: a walk along the Damyangcheon embankment through Gwanbangjerim and a bowl of noodles on the nearby noodle street.