Anyangcheon Creek Walking Course 1, Branch of Hangang River in Seoul from Sinmokdong Station to Doksan Station in Seoul Metro

 1.   Preface

Anyangcheon Creek is one major branch of Hangang River in Seoul which is starting flowing down from Kwangkyosan Mountain in Uiwang City in Kyeonggi Province and passing 7 cities in Kyeonggi Province and 7 districts in Seoul and eventually joining at Mokdong River Junction. Total flowing distance is estimating as 32.5 km which is comparably longer among other creeks in Korea. You could see very rare scene of carp’s mate grouping and bloody mate fighting, if you are lucky to trek these courses at early spring. I was lucky to see this scene and linked to https://youtu.be/fQESCvHITtQ . Anyhow I will arrange to trek Anyangcheon Creek Walking (ACW) from Sinmokdong Station in Seoul Metro Line 9 and Gunpo Station in Seoul Metro Line 1 which is divided into 3 different Courses, total distance as 36 km and total walking hours as 12 hours as see at the ACW Course Table attached. Each course is arranging with about 12 km distance and 4 hours walking and starting from near subway station and finishing at designated subway station. Please see more to Attached Table.

2.   Course Guide Information

ACW Course 1 is starting from Shinmokdong Station in Line 9 to Doksan Station in Seoul Metro Line 1 as about 12 km distance walking alongside Anyangcheon Creek for about 4 hours including 1 hour break during the Course. We will take Ahnyangcheun East Course crossing Ahnyangcheun Creek from Shinmokdong Station, West of Anyangcheon Creek. Please see followings are summary of the Course 1 and  linked summary video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0as4ARFxBQ&t=192s. 

2-1) Starting at Shinmokdong Station, Gate 3 in Seoul Metro Line No 9 and move forward Anyangcheon West Bank Road as see at Photo 1 and 2 attached.

2-2) Turn Left at Ahnyangcheun Bank Road Junction as see at Photo 4.

2-3) Walk Down to ACW Road and Start to Move Right at the Junction as see at Photo 5.

2-4) Turn Left at the Corner of Gateball Field at Left as well as small break place as see at Photo 6.

2-5) Pass the Yangpyeongkyo Bridge, 1^st One at ACW Course 1 as see at Photo 9.

2-6) Cross Heemangkyo Bridge, 2^nd One at the ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 11 which is sometimes submerged at exceptionally heavy flooding.    .

2-7) Turn Right at End of Heemangkyo Bridge and head toward Upstream as see at the Photo 12.

2-8) Pass the Mokdongkyo Bridge, 3^rd One at the ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 17.

2-9) Pass Sign indicating as 700m to Omokkyo Bridge as see at the Photo 22 after about 20 minutes walking from the Starting Point as Shinmokdong Station.

2-10) Pass Omokkyo Bridge, 4^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 23.

2-11) Pass the Omokkyo Bridge Junction as see at the Photo 24.

2-12) Pass the Rose Garden as see at the Photo 26.

2-13) Pass the Children’s Park as see at the Phot 29.

2-14) Pass the Submerged Shinjeungkyo Bridge First and Shinjeungkyo Bridge Second as see at the Photo 30, 5^th One and 6^th One at ACE Course 1.

2-15) Pass the Ogeumkyo Bridge, 7^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 38.

2-16) Pass the Stepping Stone Bridge as see at the Photo 42, ..

2-17) Pass the Gocheokkyo Bridge, 8^th Bridge at ACE Course 1 as see at the Photo 43.

2-18) Pass the Guil Station and Its Bridge, 9^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 44.

2-19) Pass Anyangkyo Bridge, 10^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 45.

2-20) Pass Sasangkyo Bridge, 11^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at Photo 47.

2-21) Pass the Baemsae Bridge, 12^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 51.

2-22) Pass the Gwangmyeong Daekyo Bridge, 13^th One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 52.

2-23) Pass the Gwangmyeong Gateball Field at Right as see at the Photo 53.

2-24) Pass the Gwangmyeong Little Baseball Field at Left as see at the Photo 54.

2-25) Move Up to Anyangcheon Bank Road at end of Kwangmyeong Little Baseball Filed as see at the Photo 56.

2-26) Pass Under the Geumcheonkyo Bridge, 14^th and Last One at ACW Course 1 as see at the Photo 58.

2-27) Move Up and Turn Right at the Geumcheunkyo Bridge as see at Photo 59

2-28) Cross the Doksan Station Junction and Enter Into Gate 2 at Doksan Station in Seoul Metro Line 1 as see at the Photo 61 and 62.

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) Mokdong District

There were a bit dense forest and ranches at this area in Choseon Dynasty which was a somewhat lower elevation so that frequent flooding. Therefore they put name of this area as a meaning “Ranches” which was nowadays changed to meaning as “Trees”. Shin Mokdong Station means newly build Mokdongkyo Station where we are scheduled to start ACW Course 1.

            3-2) Yangwhakyo Bridge

            Yangwha Ferry Dock is one of three major ferry docks at Hangang River in Choseon                 Dynasty which was a very important ferry dock to go to West  Seoul like Gimpo City,                 Gangwha District, Bucheun City and Incheon City. There was no way to go to this                     West Seoul unless they cross Ahnyangcheun Creek. Present Yangwha Bridge was                 constructed at this Yangwha Ferry Dock area.

            3-3) Omokkyo Bridge

            There was another rout going to Incheon City, biggest port in West Seoul as a short                 cut which was crossing Ahnyangcheun through the Omok Ferry Dock. But this ferry                 dock was located somewhat lower level which was frequent flooding so that they                     could not use in flooding season despite shortcut rout. There is no appropriate                         alternative transportation other than walking which people loved to take Omok Brook             was original name of Ahnyangcheun Creek

            3-4) Guil Station

            This station means this station locating at Guil Dong District where this station is. This             station has alternative station name as Donyang Mirae University Station which is                     connected with Seoul Metro Line 1 and built crossing over the Anyangcheon Creek                 which we could conveniently use for station as well as bridge.

3-5) Anyang City

Anyang name was originated from Anyang Temple which was constructed under King’s Order building for Anyangsa Temple, the Taejo Wanggeon and  founder of Empire of Goryeo. When he passed by Samsungsan Mountain for concurrence of Siheung City and Gwacheon City, He saw five different color on top of Samsungsan Mountain and felt it was so strange and odd. Therefore he ordered to his assistants for checking this odd situation. As his assistants climbed up the Mountain and checked around and met old Buddhist Monk, named as Neunjeong and found his intension how Goryeo Empire shall go is the same as Wanggeon’s intension. Therefore Anyangsa Temple was built at Manan District in Anyang City. Meaning of Anyang Buddhism wise is utopia where people could enjoy and relax with always pleasure without any sufferings.

3-6) Anyangkyo Bridge

King Jeongjo, 22th King at Joseon Dynasty was frequently travelling to his farther’s Royal Tomb in Anyang City and ordered his assistants to build strong and durable bridge at the Anyangcheon Creek which was named as Manankyo Bridge which was later changed to Anyangkyo Bridge later.    

3-7) Geumcheongyo Bridge

There was Geumcheon Brook after passing palace main gate before next area. Therefore King’s supporters arranged to build bridges calling as Geumcheongyo Bridge.