Gyeongin Ara Waterway Walking (GAWW) Course 1 from the Gaehwa Station in the Seoul Metro Line 9 to the Gyeyang Station in the Airport Railroad Line, Gyeonggi Province in Korea

 1.     Preface

Consistent effort how to efficiently and safely forward the cargo between Hangang River and West Sea had been made from the generation to the generation. First trial was made in the King Gojeong in Joseon Dynasty about 800 years ago which they were transporting most nationwide taxed goods from various places to the Gyeongchang Warehouse in Mapo, Seoul via Sondeulmok in Ganghwa Island and Yeomha. But these two areas were always raging tied area and troubled area, the one is hardest sailing route and the other normally too shallow river to sail under normal tied condtions so that only possible to sail the vessel under high tied. The Korea Government decided to directly connect between Wontungui Hyun Village in Incheon City and Gulpocheon Creek in Gimpo City in order to avoid these two troubled areas. But they failed to complete the canal since they could not make a canal at hardest rock area for about 400m. Thereafter they were randomly trying to construct the canal but continuously failed due to insufficient technology or infeasible project or strong resist from the environmental movement group. The Government eventually took a determination to perform this canal project under political nation project which could directly start to move under the Government project in 2009 and complete the project in 2011.   

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2.     The Guide Information for Course 1

The Gyeongin Ara Waterway Walking Course 1 is starting from the Gaehwa Station in Seoul Metro Line 9 to the Gyeyang Station in the Airport Railroad Line as about 14 km distance walking alongside Ara Waterway cannel for about 4 hours including 1 hour break during the Course. You could start to walk the GAWW Course 1 as soon as walking out the Gate 1 at the Gaehwa Station in the Seoul Metro Line 9 and continuously walk to the Bike Riding Confirmation Point at the Ara Hangang Lock Gate where hardest area at the complete Course 1. If you carefully follow course guide explanation at the Photo 01 through 20, I believe you could make it possible to touch down the Confirmation Point. Thereafter walk along with Ara Waterway up to the Gulhyun Daegyeo Bridge via the Gyeongin Container Terminal as see at the Photo 21 through 42. You could now go to the Gyeyang Station from the GAWW Course 1 as see at the Photo 43 through 46. You could also refer to the GAWW Course 1 Map attached and linked to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZpvn-3tXSE

 

3.     Historic and Background Information

There are several places or spot where some cultural and historic background and which you may feel interest or useful for your better understanding. Please refer followings to brief explanation.

3-1) Gaehwa Dong Town

The name of the Gaehwa Dong Town was originated from the name of low level Gaehwa Mountain, 13.2 m above sea level which was mostly covering and positioning the Gaehwa Dong. This Dong was hanging at the end of Gimpo Plain and Haengju Passenger Dock and belongs to the Yangcheongun District in the Korean Empire in old days which was combined with other neighboring towns as Sangsa Dong, Gaehwari and Uebuseokri. All these towns were naturally created and build up under normal human life.   

3-2) Gulpocheon Creek

The Gulpocheon Creek means excavated creek which was made by the dredging works since elevation level between Boelmal area to Hangang River was higher and not so easy for the transportation. Therefore people took a decision to dredge this creek. As dredging works was carried out, they were additionally renovating the existing curved water flow rout to somewhat straight flow.        

3-3) Gyeyang Daegyeo Bridge

There are 16 bridges at the Gyeongin Ara Waterway (GAW) Cannel connecting between South and North at the GAW Cannel. There are three best three bridges at the GAW cannel as Sicheongyeo Bridge as well-known as beautiful lighting at night and Moksanggyeo Bridge as beautiful arch style bridge and Gyeyang Daegyeo Bridge as longest and highest bridge. Gyeyang Daegyeo Bridge was called as Gulhyun Daegyeo at beginning and later changed its name to Gyeyang Daegyeo Bridge so as to promote Gyeyang Gu District 

 

Hangang River Walking Trek Course 6, South From the Missa Station to the Hanam Geomdansan Station In Seoul Metro

 1.   Preface

Hangang River is one of Major River in Korea which is starting flowing down from the Taebeak City in Gangwon Province, North East to the Ganghwa Island in West Sea and which is almost dividing half of country from North to South. Total flowing distance is estimating as 494km. There are total numbers of bridges built around Seoul and it’s metropolitan in the Hangang River as 32 pieces. But I will arrange to walk Hangang River from Gangseogu district to Hanam City in Kyeonggi Province which is estimated as total distance, 86 km and 26 walking hours and passing 22 bridges out of these total 32 bridges. Each course is principally arranging based on about 13 km distance and 4 hours walking time and starting from near subway station and finishing at designated subway station. Please see more to Attached Walking Course Summary Table and map below for bridges on the Hangang River.

2.   Course Guide Information

Hangang River Walking Trek (HRWT) Course 6 is arranged from the Misa Station to the Hanam Geomdansan Station in the Seoul Metro Line 5 as about 13 km walking distance for about 4 hours including one hour break. We will pass Misa Daegyeo Bridge at the Hangang River and five Seongnaecheon Bridges at the Seongnaecheon Brook during the course as shown at the summary map of the Course 6 as attached below. Please refer overall Video summary linked to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wzddj6AFDo  

2-1) Start the Gate 4 at the Misa Station in Seoul Metro Line 5 and move toward the Misa Sagueri Junction via Arisuro Junction as see at the Photo 1~ 6.

2-2) Move Forward the Hanam Tree Orphanage through Misa Daero (Main Street) as see at Photo 7 ~10.

2-3) Walk toward the Junction with the HRWT Course 6 via Hanam Orphanage Entrance and Gangil Over-Bridge Junction as see at Photo 11~14.

2-4) Keep walk toward the Seongnae Bridges alongside the Hangang River and enjoying so sweet nature view alongside Hangang River as see at Photo 15~38.  

3.   Historic and Background Information

There are several places or spot where some cultural and historic background which you may feel interest in or useful for your better understanding. Please refer followings for brief explanation.

3-1) Hanam City

The King Onjeo at Baekje Period was establishing his capital at this place as calling as a Wuiraeseong city and his subsequent kings and King Gaero, 21th King in Baekje Period were continuously controlling this capital for 494 years until the King Jangsu in the Goguryeo Period took over. Therefore King Gaero moved his capital to Woongjin area, presently calling as Gongju City. The Goguryeo was naturally changing the Wuiraeseong City to Hanju City which was changed again by the King Taejo, founder of Goryeo Empire to the Gwanju as the same name as present name. This area was upgrading calling as Dongbu Myeon Town at the King Seonjo controlling period 10 years in Joseon Dynasty (Village to Town Upgrading). This area was reorganized as Gwangju City in 1989 under merging three Gwangjugun District, Dongbu Eup Town and Jungbu Eup Twon and Seobu Myeon Town.

3-2) Deokpoong Cheon Brook

.The Deokpooncheon Brook was originated somewhere in the Namhansanseong Castle area and flowing down to the Hangang River via middle  of Hanam City which is ultimately reaching to the West Sea. There were upper Warehouse and lower Warehouse in Joseon Dynasty which were storing grains and others for collecting from the people as a relevant tax since convenient transportation through at this area through the Hangang River by the yellow brown mast vessel. This Deokpoongcheon was becoming swallowing time by time and naturally changed to woman’s laundry places or children’s playing area or man’s fishing area which is no more nowadays. There were many marsh snails which was a good diet to firefly and water parsley paddy one time before which is no more this scenery. Local Government made a effort to recover nature scenery and made proper living or mating area at the brook where carp are easily and comfortably living and mating since people used to see carp’s mating scene at the brook.         .      

3-3) Geomdansan Mountain   

            Geomdansan Mountain, 657m above sea level is elegantly soaring at the Hangang                 River at the East of Hanam City which is facing Yebongsan Mountain, 679m above                 sea level across the Hangang River. It is legend that the Geomdan Buddhist Monk                 was living at this Geomdansan Mountain one time who was putting mountain name as              his name as Geomdan or many goods arrived at this area from various places which             were waiting for inspection by authority because Geom alternatively means                             inspection.