Changwon

This industrial and multicultural university city on the southeastern coast of South Korea is bringing color to its streets with artworks, festivals and flowers.

Changwon is the sprawling capital of South Korea’s South Gyeongsang Province. This is a coastal city shaped by its people, something that is best illustrated in central Sangsang-gil (“Imaginary Road”), a street decorated with the names of people from all over the world.

Because of its coastal location, Changwon has more open spaces and access to nature than the capital Seoul. Changwon occupies the Nakdong river delta and was modeled after Canberra, the capital of Australia. Both cities were planned around a central lake with open green spaces to form a sustainable city.

More than 1 million people now call Changwon home and the city keeps growing. To spur on and support this growth, Changwon has many colleges and universities, a huge industrial area, and major technology and media companies.

Those who are here on business will likely visit the Changwon Exhibition Convention Centre (CECO), if not for a conference then at least for a visit to its mall with food courts, mega supermarket and multiplex theater.

If you’re into culture and history, exchange the modern urban streets for the House of Changwon, a recreated hanok village in Sarim-dong. The Korean War Monument in Changwon's Uichang-gu is an impressive structure and not just because it is so massive.

Follow Changwon’s hiking and cycling trails that crisscross the city to explore the parks. Junamjeosuji is reservoir and a bird sanctuary and Jinhae Dream Park is an ecological reserve.

Jinhae also has the 10-day Cherry Blossom Festivalthat starts on the April 1 each year. Changwon itself has the annual K-Pop World Festival, a global singing and dancing competition, the delicious Warty Sea Squirt Festivalin springandNamsan Sangbongje Festiva in autumn. Foodies will also love the indigenous cooking contest during the Food Culture Festivalin October.

Local flower festivals include the Jillyesanseong Fortress Royal Azalea Festivalaround the historical fortress on Bieum-san and the Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival on the coast.

You can reach the port city of Masan via the modern Masan-Changwon Bridge. Come here to escape to the islands in Masan Bay. Don’t miss Dotseom Island, where you can snorkel in the Changwon Marine Park.