Incheon is known for being home to South Korea's largest airport, Incheon International Airport. But Incheon is so much more than that! Rather than heading straight off to Seoul or Busan on your next trip to Korea, take a day or two to explore Incheon first.
1. EXPLORE INCHEON CHINATOWN & EAT JAJANGMYEON
Did you know that Incheon's Chinatown is South Korea's only official Chinatown? Starting from the iconic & bright entrance, be prepared to be immersed in buildings reminiscent of red and Chinese architecture.
Beyond that, Incheon Chinatown is filled with lots of Chinese restaurants and street vendors selling a variety of Chinese street food. One famous street food to try is oven-baked dumplings at 십리향/十里香.
These oven-baked dumplings come in an assortment of fillings: sweet potato, meat, cheese etc. I tried the meat version and it was a very delicious and filling snack! The pastry was thin, slightly crispy and the portion of the meat filling was very generous. Note: You might have to wait a while as these are being freshly cooked.
Importantly, Incheon Chinatown is known as the birthplace of Jajangmyeon 자장면! Jajangmyeon is essentially a dish of noodles mixed with black bean sauce. But there has been numerous variations that have since emerged. One interesting variation to try while you are in Incheon Chinatown is White Jajangmyeon. It's really hard to find this version of Jajangmyeon anywhere else! In fact, Running Man's Song Ji Hyo & Kim Jong Kook actually visited Incheon Chinatown to try this! In terms of taste though, it does taste somewhat similar to the original version, which in itself is fascinating.
Do visit Incheon Chinatown to absorb in all that festive culture and indulge in some Korean style Chinese delicacies!
2. THREE KINGDOMS (삼국지) MURAL STREET
Located within the area of Incheon's Chinatown is a street lined with artwork depicting significant moments from The Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. The paintings are very detailed and there is information provided along with each painting. Do note that all the information is in Korean, so if you don't read Korean, you won't be able to understand much of the story. Nonetheless, you can still take a walk and appreciate the beautiful artwork along this street.
3. SONGWOL-DONG (송월동) FAIRYTALE VILLAGE
Further down from Incheon Chinatown is Songwol-dong Fairytale Village, where plenty of photo opportunities await you. Initially, this village used to be in a state of stagnation. In order to revitalise this area, it was painted and decorated in various fairytales.
This place is simply full of colour and happiness and there is so much to take in at every corner. From the various paintings to the beautiful sculptures, it's as if you are transported right into one of those fairytale books. Even the stairs are beautifully painted and decorated! Just don't forget to bring a nice camera to take pictures as you explore this wonderland! If you get tired, there are also various cafes that you can stop by for a drink or dessert. (Click the arrow for more pictures)
Note: If you are looking for a specific sculpture/fairytale/mural, check out the map that is located within the village (or check out the picture below)!
4. JAYU PARK
Located just a steep staircase away from Incheon Chinatown is Jayu Park. This is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of Chinatown. The park is nicely shaded and has numerous benches for you to take a rest.
Within this park, there are also various historical statues, with the most famous being that of General McArthur, who led the Battle of Incheon during the Korean War.
If history isn't your cup of tea, feel free to just roam around and take in the beautiful green scenery that this park has to offer.
5. WOLMIDO ISLAND (월미도)
Wolmido Island is just a simple bus ride away from Incheon Chinatown. There is so much to do at Wolmido Island that you can practically make a day trip out of this location alone.
THEME PARK
Firstly, Wolmido has a small outdoor theme park filled with exciting rides such as The Viking and Apollo Disco ride, both of which have been featured on Korean variety shows! For those with small kids, they do have another indoor theme park just for small kids.
BOARDWALK
If you are not into rides, take a stroll down the boardwalk. The boardwalk is lined with numerous cafes, seafood restaurants and even street vendors. If you're feeling snacky or if the afternoon sun gets too hot, definitely check out some cafes for a nice break.
Along the boardwalk, you can also enjoy the beautiful sea view and breeze. There are also some places where you can go down further to get closer to the sea. It's one of the best places to enjoy the sunset as well!
WOLMI PARK
Wolmi Park used to house military barracks but has since been redeveloped into an ecological and historical domain. Wolmi Park definitely has something for everyone. For the history and culture buffs, you can check out the Museum of Korea Emigration History and the Wolmi Culture Center. For those who like nature and exercise, there are walking trails, exercise spots and traditional gardens for you to explore and enjoy.
WOLMI OBSERVATORY
The Wolmi Observatory is also located within Wolmi Park. Entrance to this glass observatory is free of charge and all it takes is a short uphill hike.
Fret not, the hike up is totally worth it as you will be rewarded with gorgeous 360 degree views of Incheon. In fact, I highly recommend you take your time to soak up the view before you head down. This is because from the observatory, you'll not only be able to spot aeroplanes taking off from time to time but you can also see the longest bridge in South Korea, Incheon Bridge! P.S Go to the highest floor if you are looking to take photos so as to not be hindered by the reflection of the glass.
6. SONGDO CENTRAL PARK
It's another park but I promise that Songdo's Central Park has an entirely different vibe from the rest. Located in the middle of multiple high-rise skyscrapers that are mostly apartments, Songdo's Central Park is a seaside park, providing respite right within the city. If you don't feel like walking to explore this park, take a water taxi ride on the man-made waterway instead.
There's also a Hanok Village located right in the park that houses various cafes and restaurants that you can explore if you're feeling hungry.
7. TRY DAKGANGJEONG (닭강정) AT SINPO INTERNATIONAL MARKET
Sinpo International Market is an old traditional market that has over 140 stores selling general goods, street food, fresh vegetables and more.
While Sinpo International Market has a variety of street food, such as ddeokbokki, fishcake etc, it is mostly known for Dakgangjeong (닭강정), which is deep fried chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce. There are quite a number of stalls that actually sell this dish. As I was undecided, I simply went for the stall that had a way longer queue compared to the rest. This stall was located near the entrance to the market.
This stall does takeaway and they also have a restaurant should you choose to dine in. As such, there are two different queues so make sure you are in the right queue.
Once the chicken has been fried, it is then coated with their sauce! They actually make it live in front of you so it was quite a show! The sauce was actually not as spicy as I thought it would be as the sweetness helped to balance it out. The sauce also did not compromise the crunchiness of the fried coating of the chicken. If you are afraid you can't take the spicy level though, you can also order the chicken without the sauce but I highly recommend you try the Dakgangjeong (닭강정) instead.
As you can see, there is much that Incheon has to offer. So definitely spend a day or two in Incheon the next time you head to South Korea!
Comments