A Visit to Jeonju

I managed to visit Jeonju, the capital city of Jeolla Province, thanks a lot to free shuttle bus provided by KTO! ^^

I visited there on late June this year, it's a one day free tour. ㅋㅋ
I got the free shuttle bus ticket by applying here: Chess Tour by KTO.
There might be a lot of applicants, so if you fail to get one, don't hesitant to try it again!
If you have time on weekdays, the chance to get the ticket will be higher, since the number of applicants on weekdays is smaller than those on weekends.
One person can apply for 2 pax at most (include himself/helself).

I went there with a friend. Both of us applied for the shuttle bus twice. First, we applied separately, and failed. Second, My friend and I, both applying for each other. But I failed, while she's selected. And so, we got the free shuttle bus ticket~~ ㅋㅋ

June 29, 2013.
All the participants have to arrived at the meeting place (parking lot of Donghwa Duty Free Shop) at 7.50 AM the latest. Don't forget to bring your passport (as a proof), and your printed ticket (just in case~)

The bus departed at 8 AM and arrive at Jeonju Hanok Village parking lot around 11 AM.
Jeonju Hanok Village or known as Slow City in Jeonju area, is a area packed with Korean traditional houses, which are operated as museums, guesthouses, restaurants, or cafes. Around the Hanok Village, we can found so many tourist spots, such as Gyeonggijeon Shrine (경기전), Jeonju Confucian School (전주향교), Pungnam Gate(풍남문), Jeondong Cathedral (전동성당), Omokdae 오목대 & Imokdae (이목대), and Namcheon Bridge (남천교).

The first thing we did after we arrived Jeonju is wandering around the Hanok Village and took a lot of pictures~

Inside one of the houses, they were making kimchi together

We can find a beautiful cathedral at one of the corner of the hanok village. It's named is Jeondong Cathedral (전동성당). It's one of the historic sites in Jeonju.

Jeondong Cathedral

Inside the main building of Jeondong Cathedral

From the cathedral, we took around 5 minutes walk to reach Pungnam Gate(풍남문). It's the only one gate left standing, out of four original gates in Jeonju. 

The Pungnam Gate

Another side of Pungnam Gate

It's 12 o'clock when we left Pungnam Gate. Having our stomach crying for some food, we then decided to have lunch before continue our free tour. We got into one of the well-known bibimbab restaurant in Jeonju Hanok Village (according to a tourist guide map). Bibimbab is rice mixed with seasoned vegetables, and meat. Bibimbab is one of Jeonju specialty. So, don't miss it if you visit Jeonju.

Jeonju bibimbab

After having our lunch, we then continue our free tour to other parts of the hanok village. 

It's a 600 years of Ginko Tree! I want to see it in autumn. It must be very beautiful~  

They are performing some kind of ceremony - though I don't really understand what it is. ㅋㅋ

The policemen with the beautiful horse.

Another corner of Jeonju Hanok Village

Glance of the hanok village from a higher place - on our way to Omokdae and Imokdae.

The entrance to Jeonju Confucian School (전주향교) 

Inside the Confucian School

I wonder how old this building is~ ^^

I like the green color of the trees in this picture!

Played around while resting for a while at a gazebo inside the Confucian School

A tunnel to another world (?) ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ

And here's what I called another world (?) ㅋㅋㅋ

Namcheon Bridge (남천교)

It's what you will look when you reach the end of the tunnel, beautiful, right? I mean the view, of course! ^^

It was around 4 PM when we finished our tour around the hanok village, and it suddenly rained, quite heavy. So we decided to have a rest at a gazebo, packed with people, who are avoiding the rain, too~

Done with our free tour, and there it came, a sudden rain~ What a good timing! ㅋㅋㅋ

We were sitting in the gazebo for around 20 minutes. Then, walk back to the parking lot and board the free shuttle bus.

The shuttle bus departed on 5 PM and arrived at the parking lot of Donghwa Duty Free Shop, around 8 PM or less. I really enjoyed my visit to Jeonju. We walked a lot, and sweated a bit. It's quite hot at the mid day, and rained at the afternoon. But I enjoyed the weather! Thanks a lot KTO for the free shuttle bus ticket! ^^