Siheung (시흥, 始興) is a city to the southwestern of Seoul. Geographically, it functions as a satellite city because it is close to Seoul and Incheon. Because of the Sihwa National Industrial Complex, it forms an important pillar of Gyeonggi Province's industry on its own, and is also an attractive city with nature, such as the Siheung Gaetgol Ecology Park and sea route.
Districts
[edit]Siheung's urban structure is largely divided into five districts: Northern, Eastern, Central, Wolgot, and Jeongwang Living Zone.
- Northern - Daeya, Shincheon, Eunhaeng , Eungye: Siheung's most populous area and an old city residential area close to Seoul, Bucheon, and Incheon.
- Eastern - Guarim, Maehwa, Mokgam: It is an area where there were many factories and warehouses, and is being transformed into the development of Gwangmyeong Siheung New Town.
- Central - Sinhyeon, Yeonseong, City Hall(Janggok+Janghyeon+Neunggok), Geomo: It is an emerging center with Siheung City Hall and Administrative Town, where eco-friendly development is promoted.
- Wolgot - Wolgot, Baegot: It was famous for its fish market and entertainment district, but is now transformed into a residential area due to the development of the station influence area.
- Jeongwang - Jeongwang: A planned city and an area with strong multicultural characteristics, a center of the industrial complex and port industry.
Understand
[edit]A city located in southwestern Gyeonggi-do. The Siheung-si area used to be the land of Incheon Dohobu (formerly Sorae-eup) and Ansan-gun (formerly Suam-myeon, Gunmyeon), and has no connection to the original Siheung.
The city area is about 140 ㎢. However, as the city is widely distributed like Yongin and Namyangju, and the ratio of mountains and flat lands is similar, it feels much wider than the actual area.
At the time of the city's promotion in 1989, the population was only around 100,000, but from the 1990s to the early 2000s, the number of people surged to 310,000 in just over a decade as various land readjustment projects, housing site development projects, and residential areas behind the Sihwa Industrial Complex were moved in. Since then, development has been carried out in various places such as Neunggok, Baegot, Mokgam, Eungye, and Janghyeon, adding fuel to the population growth, and even now, various projects such as Ha-joong District, Geomo District, and Gwangmyeong Siheung New Town are planned and underway, so they are free from the problem of population decline, which is a nationwide headache.
Tourist information
[edit]- Siheung Cultural Tourism Website (시흥 문화 관광)
Get in
[edit]By train/subway
[edit]- Seohae Line (Sosa–Wonsi Line) connects Siheung with Incheon and southwestern Seoul.
- The Seoul Subway Line 4 and Suin-Bundang Line connects the outskirts of Siheung, and transfers are required to get to the center.
By bus
[edit]- Express buses from Seoul (Gangnam, Seoul Express Bus Terminal) take 1–2 hours.
- Local buses connect districts and coastal areas.
By car
[edit]- Accessible via the Seohaean Expressway (Expressway 15) and Je3gyeongin Expressway (Expressway 330).
Map of Siheung
See
[edit]- 1 Gaetgol Ecological Park (갯골생태공원), 287 Dongseo-ro, ☏ +82 31-488-6900. 24/7. Gaetgol Ecological Park is a wetland formed by deep inland tidal flats on the site of a 1.5-hectare abandoned salt farm. Developed utilizing the natural ecological resources of the inland tidal flats and the cultural heritage of the former salt farms, it is a treasure trove of vibrant natural ecosystems and a haven for citizens, offering a haven of relaxation and an eco-friendly park where nature and people coexist.
- 2 Lotus Theme Park (연꽃테마파크), 139 Gwangokji-ro, ☏ +82 31-310-6224. every 24/7. To honor the symbolic and historical significance of Gwangokji Pond, Siheung City has created and operates a "Lotus Theme Park" on a 19.3-hectare rice paddy surrounding the pond. A walking and bicycle path has been constructed around the pond, encouraging citizens to visit. Lotus flowers begin blooming in mid-July, peaking in mid- to late-August, and remain in full bloom until mid- to late-September.
- 3 Oido Red Lighthouse (오이도빨강등대), 170 Oido-ro. M 13:00-17:30, Tu-Sa 10:30-17:30. The Oido Red Lighthouse is a marine tourism facility built in 2005 as part of a fishing village experience tourism project. Its striking red hue makes it a popular date spot for couples and a popular spot for photography enthusiasts.
- 4 Yongdo Arboretum (용도수목원), Yongdo Arboretum, 32 Batdwigil, ☏ +82 31-313-9090. Daily 9:30-16:00. Located in Maehwa-dong, Yongdo Arboretum is a nature-based experiential learning center. Featuring a wildflower garden of over 100 species, a botanical garden filled with diverse plants, a herb village filled with the fragrant scent of grass, a water playground suitable for children, a year-round sledding hill, and more, it offers a unique experience for children and a beautiful retreat where the whole family can enjoy nature without any pressure.
- 5 Gwangokji (관곡지), 208 Hajung-dong, ☏ +82 31-310-6224. Gwangokji Pond, located in Hajung-dong, is a pond dating back to the reign of King Sejo of the Joseon Dynasty. It is privately managed by the family of Kwon Man-hyeong (an inspector of the Office of the Inspector General), the son-in-law of Kang Hui-maeng. The pond measures 23 meters wide and 18.5 meters long. It is said that Kang Hui-maeng (1424-1483), a civil servant and agricultural scholar of the early Joseon Dynasty, brought lotus seeds from the Ming Dynasty and planted them here. As they spread widely, the area came to be called "Yeonseong," meaning "Village of Lotus."
Do
[edit]- 1 Gyesu Bam Farm (계수밤농장), 635-1 Gyesu-dong. M-F 11:00-16:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00. If you come in autumn, you can experience chestnut picking here. Operates only from early September to mid-October when the nights are ripe.
- 2 Siheung Horseback Riding Healing Experience Center (시흥승마힐링체험장), Siheung Horseback Riding Healing Experience Center, 342 Majeon-ro. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00, break time 12:00-14:00. This is a place where you can run around with your pet and experience horseback riding in a place with natural grass. You can also rent out the playground, so keep that in mind.
- 3 Oido Fishing Village (오이도 어촌체험마을), Oido Fishing Village Experience Resort, 156 Oido-ro. Here, you can experience the natural mudflats and dig for clams. Enjoy grilled clams and kalguksu nearby.
- 4 Tayo Strawberry and Tangerine Farm (따요딸기감귤농장), 264 Hasang-dong, ☏ +82 4660-3400. M-F 10:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. You can experience picking strawberries, tangerines, and cheonhyehyang. You can also buy strawberries and tangerines at low prices, and you can eat strawberry cakes and strawberry fondue from winter to spring.
Buy
[edit]Department stores
[edit]- 1 Siheung Premium Outlet Playground (시흥 프리미엄 아울렛), 699, Seohaean-ro. It is the most shopping-like place in Siheung. In addition, it is perfect for family customers by creating more experiential content spaces that care about landscaping and age groups, such as "Central Garden," "Sky Garden," "Futsal Stadium," and "Taste Village." However, except for Baegot and Wolgot, the connection to public transportation is not good, so it is recommended to use your own car.
Supermarkets
[edit]- 2 Lotte Mart Siheung Baegot (롯데마트 시흥배곧점), 67, Seouldaehak-ro 278beongil, ☏ +82 31-299-2500. Daily 10:00-23:00.
- 3 Lotte Mart Siheung (롯데마트 시흥점), 28, Pigeon Park-ro, ☏ +82 31-435-7500. Daily 10:00-23:00.
- 4 Lotte Mart Sihwa (롯데마트 시화점), 26, Mayu-ro 238beongil, ☏ +82 31-496-7700. Daily 10:00-23:00.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Cheongchunjogae Oido (청춘조개 오이도본점), 199-1 Oido-ro, ☏ +82 507-1412-5227. Daily 10:00-03:00. Here is a famous restaurant known for its fresh seafood, cheese scallops, and unlimited refills of grilled clams. You can enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, including seafood kalguksu and mulhoe (raw fish soup). The tteokbokki and corn cheese that are provided as standard are also popular.
- 2 Charcoal-grilled meat Siheung City Hall main branch (숯성고기 시흥시청본점), 101, 1st floor, 47 Sicheongjeonwonmaeul-gil, ☏ +82 507-1353-1826. Daily 11:00-22:00, break 14:00-17:00. It is a restaurant where you can experience the deep flavor of aged meat. Aged beef sirloin and aged pork belly go through a first-cut and aging process to provide rich meat juice and a soft texture.
- 3 Melange (멜랑제), Melange, 152, 1st floor, Building A, C1 Hoban Summit Place, 19-13, Seouldaehak-ro 278beongil, ☏ +82 507-1386-8835. Daily 11:30-23:00, break 14:30-17:00. Melange is a popular restaurant that offers a variety of Western dishes. Popular menu items such as truffle cream gnocchi, lasagna, and pom-po are especially popular, while Korean fusion dishes such as kimchi pilaf are also popular.
- 4 Mulwang Mushroom Farm (물왕버섯농원), 706-112 Dongseo-ro, ☏ +82 31-403-4122. Daily 11:00-21:00. It is a Korean restaurant where you can taste beef shabu-shabu, various mushrooms, and fresh vegetables. Korean beef shabu-shabu and Ibukson dumplings are popular menu items, and you can enjoy porridge, salad, and coffee after shabu-shabu using the salad bar.
- 5 Wild scented rice (들향기들밥), 39, Dongseo-ro 811beongil, ☏ +82 10-3939-1051. Daily 10:30-21:00. It is famous for its cost-effective Korean set meal. From course 1 to course 4, various menus such as seasonal salad, acorn jelly pancake, makguksu, mung bean chicken, and ongsimi are served in order. In particular, the 4-course meal including Gamjaongsimi, Gondre Bap, and Mosi Songpyeon is a great way to end the meal.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Hamilton (해밀화), 2nd floor, 116 Geobukseom-ro, ☏ +82 507-1416-1604. Daily 10:00-21:00. Hamilton is a large cafe with a breathtaking view, featuring coffee made by award-winning baristas and a variety of drinks.
- 2 Cheonghwa Space (청화공간), Cafe Cheonghwa Space, 155-25 Hohyeon-ro, ☏ +82 507-1371-8832. Daily 10:00-22:00. It is a Hanok cafe near Mt. Sorae, and its special drinks, such as the Blue Salt Spear and Mugwort Brown Rice Cream Latte, are popular.
- 3 Eohungdang (어흥당), 1st and 2nd floors, 114-1 Doil-ro, ☏ +82 507-1392-5007. Daily 10:00-19:00. The fall limited menu items, chestnut financier and chestnut latte, are delicious, and the Levain cookies are rich with almonds, white chocolate, and macadamias.
Sleep
[edit]There are various hotels and motels at low prices.
Hotel
[edit]- 1 Urbanstay Siheung Geobukseom (어반스테이 시흥 거북섬), Turtle Island Trail 7, ☏ 0507-1394-9250. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00.
Motel (Love Hotel)
[edit]- 2 New Rose Hotel (뉴로즈호텔), 22 Jungsimsangga 2-gil, ☏ +82 31-319-6482. Accommodation ₩33,000~.
- 3 Bunny Motel (버니무인텔), 1729-6 Jeongwang-dong, ☏ +82 31-499-5833. Accommodation ₩40,000~
- 4 XYM Hotel (XYM호텔), 26, Wolgotjungang-ro 58beongil, ☏ +82 31-317-0879. Accommodation ₩35,000~