Sanghyowon, located in Seogwipo, Jeju, is an approximately 80,000 square meter arboretum. It was established by KC Cottrell Chairman Lee Dalwoo with the intention of sharing the beautiful natural scenery with others. Situated at an altitude of 400 meters, this place offers views of Mount Hallasan and the Seogwipo Sea, and it houses indigenous plants unique to Jeju.
It serves as the native habitat for Jeju’s indigenous plants like Hanlan (Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis) and Saeu-ran (Lilium brownii var. viridulum), with over 100-year-old trees densely populated. In terms of diversity and rarity of species, it holds significant conservation value.
“Jeju’s Secret Garden, Sanghyowon”
Defining Sanghyowon in one word is difficult, but it can be described as a well-maintained large garden.
It would take at least an hour to go around Sanghyowon. Inside Sanghyowon, various themed gardens such as the Secret Garden, Gotjawal, and Mother’s Garden have been created.
As you walk through the well-maintained garden, you might feel like you’re momentarily stepping out of the real world and into a fairy tale.
“Sanghyowon Cafeteria: Overlooking View from Sanghyowon Peak”
Upon entering through the Sanghyowon entrance and walking slowly along the path, you’ll reach the peak. At the peak, you’ll come across a “cafeteria” which provides a space to rest for a while before continuing.
Enjoying the natural atmosphere while looking down at Sanghyowon from the peak could also be a highlight of the Sanghyowon tour.
“Train Inside Sanghyowon”
Inside Sanghyowon, there is a train that operates. It’s not a real train, but a makeshift train that looks like it could come out of a fairy tale. As you walk around Sanghyowon, you’ll see signs with “station names,” which are makeshift stations where trains supposedly stop at different times.
During this visit to Sanghyowon, I didn’t get on the train, but riding the train and exploring the spacious Sanghyowon could also be an enjoyable activity.
“Jeju Tour Pass”
You can enter Sanghyowon for free through the Jeju Tour Pass. Personally, since I actively utilized the Jeju Tour Pass during this trip, I was able to visit Sanghyowon for free.
However, even without the Jeju Tour Pass, if you want to take a break from the city and enjoy leisurely time in nature, it’s a great place to visit.
One relatively disappointing aspect is that while there are several gardens within Sanghyowon, they give off a somewhat similar feeling. The space is expansive, but there’s a slightly limited variety of sights to see. That being said, for those who want to take a leisurely stroll and spend some time in nature in Jeju, it can be a wonderful space. It’s a hidden gem in Jeju, found in the middle of Hallasan.
“Jeju Seogwipo, Secret Garden Sanghyowon”
- Address: 2847-37 Sanroknam-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 63577
- Phone: 064-733-2200
- Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Website: http://sanghyowon.com