Jinhae | The Military Port Festival Intertwined with Pink Cherry Blossoms: The Most Romantic Spring Festival.
Due to the cold wave in February disrupting the cherry blossom forecast, the Jinhae Military Port Festival will be held from March 29 to April 6 this year, a few days later than usual. If you plan to visit Busan for cherry blossoms, you may need to adjust your itinerary to include Jinhae.
Speaking of the Jinhae Military Port Festival, this year marks its 63rd edition. It began in 1952 when a park was built in Jinhae, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, to commemorate General Yi Sun-sin of the Joseon Dynasty, who repelled invaders during the Japanese invasions of Korea. Originally just a commemorative event, it later attracted many tourists due to the abundance of cherry blossom trees, boosting the local economy. Over time, the Jinhae Military Port Festival became synonymous with the Cherry Blossom Festival and even became the largest cherry blossom festival in South Korea.
The most beautiful scenery can be found at Gyeonghwa Station. This station, no longer in service, features an 800-meter stretch of cherry blossoms along the old railway tracks, creating a picturesque scene with the train. You can then take a bus to the 1.5-kilometer cherry blossom path at Yeojwacheon, where the Romance Bridge, a filming location for the TV drama 'Romance,' is located. The area is lined with Korean street food vendors and strawberry milk sellers, adding to the springtime romance.
For transportation, take bus 760 from Sasang West Bus Terminal to Jinhae, which takes just over an hour. On weekends, four buses will take you to various cherry blossom viewing spots.
📍Address: 5-1 Docheon-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
📍Address: Gyeonghwa Station, Gyeonghwa-dong, Jinhae-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea