Andong, the Home of Confucianism and the Noble Class

[Introduction to Andong]

Andong is the home of Confucianism in Korea. During the Joseon Dynasty, Andong attracted scores of Confucian scholars becoming a pioneering city in Confucian thought. This city also contained the highest number of private schools from the Joseon Dynasty as well as Confucian schools. To this day, Andong still has around 26 private schools from the Joseon Dynasty. This city also acted as a home to the noble class during the Joseon period. Many of the homes of the noble class are still standing in Andong; some are kept up by the relatives of the original owner. Certain homes have established guest house accommodations. Two of the most famous places are Jirye Art Village and Jeonju Ryussi-musiljongtaek (Ryu noble family’s estate). These are great places to experience the essence of Korea’s traditional lifestyles. Andong has become a famous tourist area ever since Queen Elizibeth visited in 1999. She spent her birthday in Andong visiting such places as Hahoe Village, Dosan Confucian School, Byeongsan Confucian School, Bongjeongsa Temple, Icheon-dong Soekbulsang (engraved Buddha on granite), Sinse-dong Chilcheeung Jeontap (7 story pagoda), Dongbu-dong Ocheung Jeontap (5 story pagoda), Ocheon relic’s site, Andong Folk Village, and Andong Soju Museum.  The most famous festival in Andong is the Andong Mask Dance Festival which is held every year starting the last week of September and running for 10 days. Some of Andong’s most famous native foods include jjimdak (spicy steamed chicken) and heotjesatbap (bimbimbap-like dish served with vegetables traditionally used in ancestral rites ceremonies), other popular dishes are geonjinguksu (noodles), kalguksu (hand-made noodle soup), and Andong sikhye (fermented rice punch). A popular product of the region is Andong soju (Korean alcohol).  Population: 184,108 people(2001)  Land size: 1,519.81㎢

[Andong’s Main Tourist Attractions]

Andong Hahoe village 안동 하회 마을	Bongjeongsa Temple 봉정사	Dosan Confucian School 도산서원	Jirye Art Village 지례 예술촌
Andong Folk Museum 안동 민속 박물관	Byeongsan Confucian School 병산서원	Andong Icheondong Seokbulsang (Buddhist stone statue) 안동 이천동 석불상	Andong Soju Museum 안동 소주 박물관
Sinse-dong Chilcheung Jeontap (seven-story pagoda) 신세동 칠층전탑	Dongbu-dong 5-story Pagoda 동부동 5층 전탑	Andong Folk Village 안동 민속촌	Goseong Lee head family Estate 고성이씨 탑동파 종택
Imcheonggak Pavillion 임청각	Ocheon Relics Site(village) 오천 유적지	Hahoe Mask Museum 하회탈 박물관

[Andong Festivals and Performances]
Andong International Mask Dance Festival	Hahoe Byeolsingut Tallori (Korean traditional masked-dance drama)

[Food in Andong]
Andong jjimdak (spicy steamed chicken) and heotjesatbap (bibimbap-like dish served with vegetables traditionally used in ancestral rites ceremonies) are the two most well-known dishes in Andong. Visitors to this region can find these dishes near the Andong Hahoe Village and Andong Dam, as well near the downtown area. The downtown area is famous for its ‘Jjimdak Alley’ which is full of jjimdak restaurants. For those craving fast food, everything from western, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are available in downtown Andong.
Heotjesatbap (a kind of bibimbap, Andong style)	Geonjinguksu (drained noodle with toppings)	Andong Kalguksu (hand-made noodle soup, Andong style)	Andong Sikhye (fermented rice punch, Andong style)
<Recommended Restaurants>
Kkachi Gunmeongjip

[Accommodations in Andong]

Andong doesn’t have any major hotels, but there are many traditional hanok guest houses available throughout the area. The Hahoe Village, Jirye Art Village, Jeonju Ryussi-musiljongtaek (Ryu noble family’s estate) and many other guest houses offer visitors a unique lodging experience. Additionally, there are many well-kept motels near the Andong Train Station and the Andong Intercity Bus Terminal. For further lodging inquires visitors can stop by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Tourist Information Center or call them at: 82-54-852-6800 (English, Chinese, Japanese).

[Andong’s Tourist Information Center]
	Across from the train station in Andong is the Gyeongsangbuk-do Tourist Information Center, and across from the Hahoe Village is the hahoe Village Tourist information center. Both of these places have general tourist information and free pamphlets in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Free internet access is available.  Gyeongsangbuk-do Tourist Information Center  Address: 218-13, Unheung-dong, Andong City (in front of Andong Train Station)  Telephone: +82-54-852-6800 (English, Chinese, Japanese)  Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese  Business hours: November ~ February : 9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.  March ~ October : 9:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m.  *Open 7 days a week, year round  Hahoe Village Information Center Address: 844-1, Hahoe-ri, Andong City, Gyeongsangbuk-do Languages: English, Japanese  Business hours: November ~ February : 9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.  March ~ October : 9:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m.  March ~ October : 9:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. *Open 7 days a week, year round

[Transportation] From Seoul to Andong  By train:

There is only one train departing form Seoul Station to Andong daily. There are approximately 7 trains daily departing from Cheongnyangni Station between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.  Travel time is four to 5 hours.

By express bus:

Bus #13 operates from 6:20 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. out of Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. Approximate travel time is three hours and 50 minutes  → Dong Seoul Bus Terminal information

When departing from locations other than Seoul see the following links:

→ Trains & Express buses

Transportation in Andong

Andong Intercity Bus Terminal and Andong Train Station are located in the center of the downtown area in close proximity to each other. Accordingly, many lodging facilities and restaurants are in walking distance. If you are planning to use local city buses while in Andong, you can find bus times at Andong Train Station. There aren’t many buses available, so taxis are always an option

→ 2003 Andong local city bus schedule

[Video of Andong]

*This video gives viewers a unique glimpse into this historical city filled with beauty and architectural treasures. The video is narrated in Korean, but its splendor can be enjoyed by all. 

[Photo gallery]