Enjoy a "snowy" fun at the Han Winter Festival: ice fishing for mountain stream fish & sipping coffee in an igloo

Welcome the new year of 2018 with a bang—Taiwan’s currency appreciation makes it the perfect time to travel abroad. Though Taiwan rarely sees snow, nearby Northeast Asian countries are now in the thick of "snow season"! Want a different kind of winter? Traveling to Korea isn’t just about playing in the snow or skiing—it also offers a wide array of vibrant winter festivals themed around snow, snow games, and winter fishing!

Endless fun at Korea’s winter festivals! In the snowy winter, head to Gangwon Province in Korea—for example, the 【Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival】, known as one of the “Seven Wonders of Winter in the World,” and the 【Pyeongchang Trout Festival】 held in Pyeongchang, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics. These events let you enjoy the thrill of ice fishing and create unforgettable winter memories! Meanwhile, the 【Taebaeksan Snowflake Festival】, covered in a blanket of pristine white snow, offers dreamlike scenery that will have you reaching for your camera non-stop!

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival, selected as a representative Korean festival by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was also once chosen by CNN as one of the “Seven Wonders of Winter in the World.” It’s a favorite among foreign tourists and will be held from January 6 to January 28, 2018, in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province. During the festival, there’s not only ice fishing for mountain stream fish but also a wealth of hands-on experience activities.

Catching mountain trout by hand at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival. (Photo provided by the organizer)

From sledding races where you zoom down from heights of 40 meters, to figure skating that makes you feel like an ice sprite, there’s also a winter sports zone where sports enthusiasts can try out unique experiences like ice soccer and curling—activities you can’t do in Taiwan. The thrilling matches are sure to leave lasting memories with family and friends! Additionally, every day during the festival, there’s a “Mountain Trout Catching by Hand” contest, where participants try to catch trout barehanded in freezing weather—with a chance to win gold rings for added prizes!

Taebaeksan Snowflake Festival. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Aside from the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival, the Pyeongchang Trout Festival is also being held in Pyeongchang—the host city of the Winter Olympics. The festival kicked off on December 22 and runs until February 25, 2018. In addition to various enriching experiences such as ice fishing for trout, snow activities, and ice experiences, there are also traditional winter folk games, snow rafting, sledding trains, and more.

Travelers heading to the Pyeongchang Trout Festival can take the newly opened Gyeonggang Line KTX to Jinbu Station starting December 22, significantly cutting down travel time and making round trips from the capital area to Pyeongchang much more convenient. Before January 10, you can also purchase the “Pyeongchang KORAIL PASS”—developed jointly by the Korea Tourism Organization and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL)—exclusively for foreign travelers. It’s valid through February and allows unlimited rides on the Gyeonggang Line KTX. Holders of the Pyeongchang KORAIL PASS also receive various benefits from the Korea Tourism Organization,

such as free or discounted tourist bus vouchers, 10% off on airport railway luggage storage & delivery services, plus many other perks. Also located in Gangwon Province, the “Taebaeksan Snowflake Festival” is another winter event running from January 19 to February 11, 2018. Massive snow sculptures and ice landscapes will be set up throughout downtown areas including Taebaeksan National Park, Jungang Road, and Hwangji Pond.

Ice fishing at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival. (Photo provided by the organizer)

Attractions include fountain icicles, snowflake slides, and a Starlight Festival. Step into the festival grounds, and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a silver-white wonderland. Besides all the picturesque snowy installations perfect for photos, the Taebaeksan Snowflake Festival also features a unique “igloo café,” where you can sip a steaming cup of coffee inside an igloo for a truly distinctive coffee experience! Still wondering where to go for winter travel? Join us on a winter festival adventure in Korea’s Gangwon Province!