Beat the Heat with Bamboo Breeze

The Bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.- Japanese proverb

As the temperature continues to rise up, the Damyang Bamboo Festival is a refreshingly cool way to beat the heat wave. Jeollanam-do region may be famous for its delicious and exquisitely-prepared cuisine but the Damyang Bamboo Festival is also one of the region's main attraction. Each year, the festival is rapidly gaining attention from tourists and locals alike. 

Held from May 1-5, the festival offers visitors a chance to experience various exhibitions such as Bamboo Fair, Bamboo Musical Instrument Performance Contest, Bamboo-Cutting Sword Championship, Writing & Painting Competition, Making Daetongsul (a bamboo bottled traditional liquor), Riding a Bamboo Raft, and Fishing with Bamboo Basket. 


Trekking through a luscious forest of 2.4 kilometers of bamboo while enjoying the cool breeze and relaxing towers of green will definitely calm your senses. The rustling of the bamboo leaves as they sway with the wind creates a natural musical harmony.

Feast your eyes in the perfect ecological balance that has been carefully preserved by this area.  And if that's not enough reason for you to visit Damyang, how about a taste of bamboo ice cream? Deliciously healthy, this is one delectable treat that should not be missed.   

As one ventures deeper into the forest trail, the impressive arrays of stalks become comparatively dense. One can also find some specialty shops that sells traditional bamboo handicrafts inside the forest.

Another unique attraction in Damyang is the Metasequoia-lined Road. The rows of gigantic trees is truly a visual spectacle. This is actually an iconic road that is a favorite shooting location for many Korean dramas. These trees dates back to 70's.  They are so enormous that their leaves overlap at the top creating a very long shaded walkway. You can opt for a quiet stroll or ride a bike to enjoy this scenic road. 

Damyang is indeed nature at its best. This is one festival that is truly worth a visit. 


Directions: 
[Bus]
From Yongsan Station (Seoul), take a train to Gwangju (광주).
From Gwangju Station, take local Bus 311 to Juknokwon.

OR

From Central City Bus Terminal (Seoul), take an express bus to Damyang (담양).* Bus schedule: 10:10, 16:10
From Damyang Bus Terminal, cross the road and take a Bongsan-Damyang (봉산, 담양) route bus.
Get off at the Juknokwon bus stop, and cross the road.


Photo credits goes to my Indonesian friend Sigmund Dick. Thanks for the awesome photos.