{"id":3137,"date":"2015-03-20T15:29:40","date_gmt":"2015-03-20T15:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/?p=3137"},"modified":"2018-08-08T10:34:14","modified_gmt":"2018-08-08T15:34:14","slug":"busan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/busan\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than Korea’s 2nd City – Busan"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a few days of exploring all that Seoul has to offer<\/a> – the palaces, museums, parks, and nightlife – we headed to the other side of the country to Busan<\/strong> (\ubd80\uc0b0). With over 3.5 million people, this is the second biggest city in South Korea. Famous for its beaches, hot springs, and international film festival, Busan is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists. It’s also the biggest port in the country and fifth busiest in the world. Speaking of superlatives, Busan also boasts Korea’s largest beach (Haeundae<\/strong> – \ud574\uc6b4\ub300) and longest river (Nakdong<\/strong> –\u00a0\ub099\ub3d9\uac15), as well as the world’s largest department store (Shinsegae Centum City<\/strong>\u00a0– \uc2e0\uc138\uacc4 \uc13c\ud140\uc2dc\ud2f0). In Korea, bu<\/em> (\ubd80) means cauldron, and san<\/em> (\uc0b0) means mountain – the city is located at the foot of a mountain that resembles a cauldron. To help you plan your visit, here are some of the top things to do in Busan:<\/p>\n

Hit the Beach<\/h1>\n

The above-mentioned Haeundae Beach is the biggest and most famous, and it can get quite crowded during the summer months. There’s also\u00a0Songjeong Beach\u00a0<\/b>(\uc1a1\uc815\ud574\uc218\uc695\uc7a5) and\u00a0Gwangalli Beach<\/b> (\uad11\uc548\ub9ac), which are both a bit quieter with less people. No matter which beach you choose, you can rent chairs and parasols to kick back and relax, try your hand at riding a jet-ski, or just float around in an inner tube. If you want to do as the locals do, get in the water fully clothed – you wouldn’t want to get enough sunshine to get a little tan.<\/p>\n

Go Temple Hopping<\/h1>\n

There are quite a few temples in Busan that are worth visiting if you’d like to add a little culture to your beach holiday. Haedong Yonggungsa<\/strong> (\ud574\ub3d9 \uc6a9\uad81\uc0ac) – \u00a0the Dragon Palace Temple is unique from many of Korea’s other temples in that it’s on the shoreline and not in the mountains. The best time to visit is in April, when the cherry blossoms are in bloom and people are celebrating the birth of Buddha.<\/p>\n

At the edge of Mt. Geumjeongsan<\/strong> (\uae08\uc815\uc0b0), you’ll find the Beomeosa Temple<\/strong> (\ubc94\uc5b4\uc0ac). This ancient temple was built way back in 678 and has undergone many restorations and repairs in the 1,300 years since. According to legend, there is a well on top of the mountain with water of gold and a golden fish that came down from the sky. Hence the name of the mountain, which means “Gold Well” and the name of the temple, which means “Heavenly Fish.”<\/p>\n

Take a Hike and a Soak<\/h1>\n

As it’s surrounded by mountains, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of hiking trails in and around Busan. Trails are not exactly well marked, so do some research or consider hooking up with a local to show the way. After spending the whole day ascending peaks out in nature, it’s time to kick back and relax. Busan is known for its many hot spring and sauna options; the hard part is choosing which one to go to. If you’re in the mood to go big or go home, hit the above-mentioned world’s largest department store for the massive Spa Land Centrum City. This huge complex features countless saunas, baths, and places to relax. It’s different from the usual jimjilbang<\/em><\/strong> (\ucc1c\uc9c8\ubc29) in Korea, though, as children under 13 are not allowed and a 4-hour time limit is imposed.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rDxA3L4OgT4<\/a><\/p>\n

Eat, Drink, and be Merry<\/h1>\n