Gwangan Bridge (Gwangandaegyo)
Busan, KOR
The cover star of just about every Busan tourism poster since it opened in 2003, Gwangan Bridge (Gwangandaegyo) is the city's answer to the Golden Gate Bridge. Particularly impressive at night when it's illuminated, the bridge is best viewed from Gwangalli Beach, where you can see the nightly light show.
The postcard-worthy Gwangan Bridge features on most Busan sightseeing tours. On a typical tour, you visit Gamcheon Culture Village to see brightly colored houses that tumble to the bottom of a mountainous valley; Haedong Yonggungsa Temple to visit a sacred Buddhist site perched on coastal rocks; and Jagalchi Fish Market for a glimpse into local life. Take an evening tour to see the bridge and tend to include a traditional Korean BBQ dinner.
Along the waterfront below the bridge, you’ll find a great selection of restaurants and bars with ocean views.
The bridge stretches more than 4.5 miles (7.4 kilometers) and is not open to pedestrians; take a taxi across the bridge to see top Busan sights from a different perspective.
From the bridge’s vantage point, you can see attractions such as Oryukdo Island, Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, Gwangalli Beach, Dongbaekseom Island, and Dalmaji Hill.
To reach the bridge from downtown Busan, take the No. 40 or 210 bus to the base—although you may not walk the structure. For views of the bridge at Gwangalli Beach via public transportation, take subway line 2 to Gwangan Station (exit 3 or 5) and walk for five minutes. Dongbaek Island begins on the Westin Chosun end of Haeundae Beach, while a short taxi ride from Geumnyeonsan subway station takes you to Geumnyeonsan Mountain.
The bridge’s light show occurs daily at 8pm and 10pm, and lasts for around five minutes. On Friday and Saturday, there’s an additional light show at 9pm. Come in October to see Busan International Fireworks Festival make full use of Gwangan Bridge as a backdrop.
South Korea’s second-longest suspension bridge, Gwangan Bridge links the ritzy Haeundae district with Suyeong. The astronomical observatory on Geumnyeonsan Mountain and the popular coastal walk around Dongbaek Island offer good views of the bridge's lights. Continue the route to ritzy Marine City, where you can see the structure—also known as Diamond Bridge—shimmer on the Pacific while enjoying a drink at one of the restaurants lining the water.
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