Andong City | |
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The Andong area has been known for its traditional culture since the
Shilla Dynasty (668-935).
The city itself acts as a good base camp from which to explore all the numerous cultural
sites in the surrounding area. Many districts have maintained the traditional way of life
for dozens of generations. Unlike some artificial tourist areas, these regions have
continuously preserved their way of life, with families still living in and using the
buildings on display.Famous Sites The Korea National Tourism Office has a small Tourist Information Center at the Andong train station. It is staffed by volunteers and the level of English proficiency tends to be low, but they have several good guides to the area in English and Japanese, as well as Korean. Stop by and pick up one of their area maps. Andong Dam- Built in 1976, the multi-purpose dam provides hydro-electric power and recreational areas for the surrounding areas. Andong Folk Museum- Built to preserve the cultural assets endangered by the creation of Andong Dam, the museum contains over 3,700 items representing the Confucian culture of the Andong region. Andong Folk Village- The village contains the Andong Folk Museum, as well as many reconstructed and relocated traditional buildings, many of which also function as restaurants. Andong Market- Andong actually has numerous markets, as it functions as the central trading area for the surrounding areas. The locally produced cloth is especially famous. Chebiwan Seokbul (Amitaba Buddha)- A 12+ meter high stone Buddha, with the body and head carved separately from different pieces of granite. Hahoe Folk Village- The 600+ year old village is truly a living museum as the inhabitants have maintained the traditional way of life through the generations. Hahoe Mask Museum- The museum contains over 200 Korean masks and 100 foreign masks, concentrating on the Hahoe Pyolshingut T'alnori, the famous mixture of entertainment and shamanistic ritual for which the Hahoe area is famous. Pongjong-sa Temple- Dating from 672, this beautiful temple contains many cultural properties, including Keungnakcheon, Korea's oldest wooden building. Shinsae-dong 7-story Pagoda- Built during the Shilla Dynasty, this 17 meter high pagoda is Korea's tallest and oldest brick pagoda. Tosanseowon (Confucian Academy)- Established in 1574, it was the center of Confucian studies in the surrounding region for over 400 years, and is designated Historical Site #170. Yonggye-ri Ginko Tree- Over 37 meters in height and 16 meters in width, this is one of Korea's oldest and largest trees, and it is reputed to "moan" whenever Korea is about to suffer misfortune. Famous Products 
Hemp Cloth- Since first being presented to the Korean king in the mid-Chosun period
(1392-1910), Andong hemp has
become famous for its golden yellow color and fine texture. It is especially popular for
summer clothes due to its color, breathability, durability, and comfort. It has been designated
Intangible Cultural Property #1.Soju- Famous for its distinct flavor, it has been designated Intangible Cultural Property #12 (held by distiller Cho Ok-hwa). 
Hahoe Masks- masks from Hahoe Village are the
oldest wooden masks in Korea (reputed to have first been carved in the 12th century), and have been
designated National Treasure #121. The 9 characters represented by the masks can represent different
emotions, depending on which side faces the audience.Apples- Andong produces more apples than any other area in Korea. They have a softer skin and a sweeter, crisper taste than those grown in other regions. Red Peppers- The peppers grown in the local region are famous for their bright color, characteristic taste, and nutritional value. Sanyak- Andong sanyak (san means "mountain" and yak means "medicine") is reputed to help the internal organs such as the stomach and lungs and is used in many medicines. Seventy percent of all Korean sanyak comes from Andong. Cattle- Andong's air, water, and climate have helped make the cattle bred in the area to have a distinct flavor that is of the highest quality in the country. 
On April 21, 1999, Queen Elizabeth II spent the day in Andong for her birthday. As can be expected, Korea
went crazy about it, covering every single moment of the event on all the news channels. In preparation
for her visit, the government of Andong improved the roads around Andong, expanding highway 34 to two
lanes in each direction and adding alternative roads to ease congestion.
Food and Drink:Andong is famous for its apples, beef, soju and shikhye. It also has a specialty meal called heotchae sabap that the lower class created in immitation of tan upperclass ceremonial banquet meal. It includes rice, herbs and vegetables, t'angguk (soup made with meat and radishes), and sanjeok (Korean shishkabob made with meat and seafood). Much less spicey than other Korean food, it is popular among many foreigners. 
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