"Cheonan & other South Korean Sights to see" Ch'onan by hindu1936

Ch'onan Travel Guide: 19 reviews and 48 photos

It is Cheonan

In Hangul it would be read as Cheon An. I have lived here for 10 years. Cheonan is a thriving city 84 kilometers south of Seoul and accessed by excellent train, bus, and subway system. The N0. 1 line out of Seoul now comes all the way to Cheonan. It also has one of the few KTX (super fast bullet train) stops. Located in easy distance is the Independence Hall, the largest sitting Budhha in Korea, and several small temples worth looking at. The main attraction about Cheonan though is that it is so easy to get from here to anywhere else without fighting the crowds. Hotels will cost half what they do in Seoul. If you have a week, it will save you money to stay here and just commute on the subway (about $2.25) to Seoul.

Anmyeon-do, Seodeok-sa

squat-legged dragon holding up a drum

Head west out of Cheonan on Hwy. 21 through Asan to Yesan and you will find signs to Seodeok-sa. This is one of the most impressive and historic temples in the area. Lots of parking, The souvenir shop operators will not bother you until you stop to look. Most of the time the shop owners in Korea are polite. Once you stop to look, however, the pressure to buy is on. This is not a temple for the handicapped. The road up from the parking lot is steep and the walkways through the various parts of the temple are even steeper. The trails to the upper reaches require a lot of hard walking.

Prayer stones

Of the many customs honored by Buddhists one of particular interest is the placing of a stone onto a pile of other stones to enhance the chance that a prayer will be answered. Wherever you find a Buddhist Temple you will find these small piles of stones. Please do not remove one thinking it would be a good souvenir. Yes, I know YOU won't, but many people whose belief system is not Buddhist will take a stone believing that no harm is done.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Moderate size city offering everything.
Cons:none
In a nutshell:The best city in Korea

Last visit to Ch'onan: Dec 2005
Intro Updated Mar 11, 2006
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Reviews (4)

good food, low price Restaurants (1)

Located right in the heart of Cheonan are so many places to eat that choosing one can leave you befuddled. Life can be... more travel advice

Buddha dressed up for a birthday party - Ch'onan

Beopju-sa and the ride to go there. Off The Beaten Path (2)

There aren't any buses to Beopjusa, so you will have to rent a car or bribe a friend. Beopju-sa is about 65 miles east... more travel advice

going cammping at Ghotti Beach, Anmyeon-do - Ch'onan

Anmyeon-do beach Off The Beaten Path (2)

About 2 hours west of Cheonan on hywy 21 is the small island of Anmyeon. During the early spring-May-June there are... more travel advice

Yogwans Hotels (1)

This is a general tip, so there are no names, just advice. In every city there will be yogwans. These are inexpensive... more travel advice

Comments (23)

balhannah Aug 28, 2009 at 1:09 AM Report Abuse

Nearly made it to Korea this year, but plans didn't work out, so I ended up in Turkey!!
pfsmalo May 1, 2009 at 6:37 AM Report Abuse

Sure looks like a nice ride up there, but you do make it sound wicked :o)) We get cars like that here in St. Malo, Tourists that don't pay attention to the notices about tides. Have a good day.
lynnehamman Apr 18, 2009 at 4:09 PM Report Abuse

Joe-Wonderful photo of gigantic Buddha, and good tip about the cheaper accommodation.
jadedmuse Apr 8, 2009 at 11:49 AM Report Abuse

"...so there can be no escape from the eternally burning mouth"...that elicited a sideways smirk here. Love your writing style. Interesting life you have there. Just 2 up, all over....
csordila Mar 21, 2009 at 10:25 AM Report Abuse

Joe, you are always welcome on my pages and I will try to do my best to help you in your adventure. Thanks for the Budapest ratings. I would love to go to the best city in Korea. Best. Laszlo
Arkeolog Mar 14, 2009 at 2:29 AM Report Abuse

Nice page here. Food looks yummy :)
Wild_Orchid Aug 3, 2008 at 8:04 PM Report Abuse

thanks for the great tip on the yogwans. :)
sachara Nov 26, 2006 at 2:16 PM Report Abuse

Great tips Joe !!!
l_joo Oct 15, 2006 at 10:06 PM Report Abuse

One day, will come here.
nicolaitan Oct 11, 2006 at 5:37 AM Report Abuse

Great photos and informative writeups on Ch'onan and on your Seoul and SK pages - amazing mountain photos with the bridge. n.