TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 12-2015 | Page 113

to ski at once. You also have a chance to witness the beautiful nature of the Daegwallyeong Mountains. Together with Alpensia Ski Resort, Phoenix Park is preparing for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. This resort is located in Bongyeong-myeon, a paradise for skiers. Situated at an altitude of 700m above sea level, Phoenix Park includes 21 ski slopes that meet international standards, 8 chairlifts, golf courses, hotels, swimming pools and luxurious shopping centers. It could be a shortcoming if you miss Yongpyong Resort when visiting Gangwon-do. Skiers of all levels, from beginners to experts, can enjoy themselves on 31 slopes of the resorts. The chairlifts system allows visitors to reach the top of nearby mountains where they can contemplate the natural beauty of South Korea in winter. Vibrant winter festivals Despite the cold weather with low temperature, Korean winter is never tedious. People in the land of Kim Chi spend three months in snow season hosting and taking part in an array of effervescent festivals. Fun Ski Festival, held at Yongpyong resort from midDecember to early March, is always favored by locals and foreigners. Here, all skiers can join some small contests to receive special gifts from the organizing board. Another interesting festival is Go - Go Ski at High 1 Resort, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do. However, this festival mainly focuses on serving Southeast Asian visitors with ski school programs for different levels of expertise and promotions for traditional Korean culture. In January, Hwacheon Sancheoneo stream completely freezes, informing the time of Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. Many people flock to this place to punch tiny holes in the ice for trout fishing. Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of the world’s four biggest winter event, attracting over 1 million visitors each year. Moreover, locals and foreigners can join more than 60 leisure activities: barehanded fishing, ice soccer, ice sledding and snow sledding. Besides Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, the two other interesting ones are Inje Icefish Festival and Mt. Taebaek Snow Festival held on late January. They are the chances for Korean families gather and enjoy the cold yet vibrant atmosphere of winter. Further information: KOREAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION IN VIETNAM: ü Room 1302, 13th floor, Charmvit Building, 117 Tran Duy Hung, Hanoi ü Tel: 04 3556 4040 ü Email: [email protected] ü Website: www.visitkorea.org.vn TRANSPORTATION: ü You can travel from airport to resorts by public means of transportation or shuttle bus of the resorts. OUTFITS: ü Winter in Korea is cold and dry; therefore you should carefully prepare clothes and accessories to keep warm. Activities: ü Apart from skiing, you can take part in other activities such as golf, shopping, spa and visiting famous attractions in the area. TRAVELLIVE 113