A Hidden Gem in Korea: A Healing 2-Day Trip to Andong

📍My Trips Overview Day 1: Seoul → Hahoe Folk Village (World Heritage Site) → Wolyeonggyo Bridge Night View → Andong Jjimdak Street. Day 2: Nakdonggang River Park → Andong Market → Mammoth Bakery → Return. 💡An Eye-Opening Experience: This is not your typical Korea! 1️⃣ Uncovering 600 years of secrets at Hahoe Folk Village I departed from Seoul at 5am and took the KTX-emu train (which is super pretty, like a moving cafe!) for a 2-hour ride directly to Andong. Hahoe Folk Village is surrounded by the S-shaped Nakdonggang River, and villagers still live in thatched-roof houses. The most impressive sight was the 600-year-old Zelkova tree, covered in paper notes filled with wishes. I peeked at one where a father prayed for his daughter's happiness, and it brought tears to my eyes. ❗️Key Point: Don't miss the free mask dance at 2pm! The dancers wear asymmetrical masks and use exaggerated movements to satirize the aristocracy. It's even more captivating than a K-drama. 2️⃣ Wolyeonggyo Bridge at night: As beautiful as AI special effects The 387-meter-long wooden bridge is illuminated at night, with lights cascading like a starry river. We rented a Moon Boat (KRW 28,000 for 3 people), and the boatman rowed us through the bridge arches, with the lights scattering like gold foil on the water. My friend said, "This is enough for 10 social media posts!" 3️⃣ Andong Market: A foodie's paradise! Locals told us, "Forget Myeongdong, this is the ultimate Korean food haven!" ✅ Must-try list: Andong Jjimdak: We chose the restaurant with the most lively atmosphere in the market. The sauce was so rich I wanted to lick the plate! The chicken was tender, and the glass noodles soaked up all the flavor. We ate our fill for KRW 15,000 per person. Rice wine + Kimchi: The spicy and sour kimchi paired perfectly with the sweet rice wine. The grandma saw how much I enjoyed it and gave me an extra plate of her special radish kimchi. Cheese bread: Mammoth Bakery sells out by 4pm! We raced there and grabbed the last bag. The cheese pull was seriously 3 meters long. ⚠️Things to avoid: Lessons learned the hard way! Transportation: Taking a taxi from Andong Station to Hahoe Folk Village is more time-efficient (around KRW 22,000), as the bus schedule is infrequent and easy to miss. Photography: The "fairy photo spot" at Nakdonggang River Park is to the right of the fountain. Get there before 8am to avoid waiting in line for an hour or more. Tickets: Admission to Hahoe Folk Village is KRW 5,000 for adults, but the mask dance is free! Don't be fooled by scalpers selling overpriced package deals. 🌸Hidden photo spot recommendations! Buyongdae Cliff, Hahoe Folk Village: Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the village, with smoke curling from chimneys like an ink painting (the KRW 3,000 boat ticket is worth it). Woryeongjeong Pavilion, Wolyeonggyo Bridge: Wear a light-colored dress and stand in the center for a long-exposure shot that creates a "person among the stars" effect. Andong Market ceiling: Take photos of the fruit stalls from below, using the ceiling lights to create a film-like feel. ✨Afterword Andong is like a forgotten book of poetry. It lacks the hustle and bustle of Seoul but possesses a rustic charm you won't find in K-dramas. The villagers smile at you, shopkeepers offer extra side dishes, and even the 600-year-old tree exudes warmth. If you're tired of checklist-style travel, come here and experience a slower pace of life.