10 Most Instagrammable Places in Incheon

Uiseondang, Korea's only Chinese shrine and a haven for Chinese living in the country, is a must-visit place in Chinatown, Incheon. Going up the hill in Chinatown, you will see a yellow mural among many Chinese restaurants, and if you spot and pass through a small door next to the mural, you will find yourself in the front yard where the main hall of Uiseondang that consists of five kan (space surrounded by 4 pillars) and a rustic stone pagoda stand.

The shrine enshrines the statues of 5 deities, namely Guanyin, Guan Yu, the Goddess of Childbearing, the Dragon King, and the God of Mountains. These statues that vividly represent each deity are valuable cultural heritages that reflect the late Qing Dynasty's religious artistic style. Experience the unique Chinese atmosphere at Uiseondang, which preserves the culture and history of Chinese people in Korea since the opening of the port, and post impressive photos on your Instagram account.

Return to your childhood and meet the characters from the fairy tales you loved reading as a child at Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village. Although this village once had lost its vitality and been in decay, a residential environment regeneration project revived it into today's fairy tale village through the creation of all the murals themed with famous fairy tales from around the world.

Just past the rainbow-coloured arch entrance is the beginning of this fairy tale world consisting of 11 themed roads including Dorothy Alley, Little Red Riding Hood Alley, and Traditional Fairy Tale Alley. Every corner of the village features colourful and unique murals and sculptures, so you can take fantastic pictures with a fairy tale atmosphere anywhere in the village. Find 10 photo zones hidden in every alley and take pictures with fairy tale characters, which will make your tour of the village an even more fun-filled experience.

Songdo Hanok Village, located in the heart of the concrete jungle of Songdo International City, is a place where the clear contrast between the present and the past gives off a strong impression. Created against the backdrop of modern high-rise buildings, this village serves as a small resort in the city centre, consisting of a hanok hotel, a hanok restaurant, and various cultural experience facilities. It is also a place where foreign tourists can more easily experience the beauty of hanok and the traditional culture of Korea. If you get tired after a walk, you can take a break at the cafe. Don't forget to take pictures while having a cup of coffee at this antique hanok cafe.

If you want to take more stunning Instagram photos in this Songdo Hanok Village, where every corner is the best photo spot, it is recommended to visit after sunset. The hanok buildings in the soft glow of lights at night create a dazzling atmosphere. Indulge in an elegant and unique atmosphere in this place, which is harmonized with the colourful lighting of the concrete jungle.

Jayu Park, Korea's first western-style park, covers the entire area of Eungbongsan Mountain, where you can appreciate the beauty of nature changing from season to season. Particularly in April, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom along the trail in the park, the Cherry Blossom Festival is held to attract numerous tourists.

At top of the park, there are structures commemorating certain major events in modern and contemporary Korean history, such as the monument for the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and the United States, the memorial tower for student volunteer soldiers during the Korean War, and the statue of General MacArthur. The place commands a clear view of the city, Incheon Port, and the sea. The park is also a popular dating destination as it presents a superb view of the sunset. At night, illuminated by twinkling lights, the park becomes much more alive allowing you to take impressive pictures throughout the park.

The Oido Red Lighthouse is a marine tourism structure built as part of the fishing village experience tourism development project in 2005 that combined fishing and tourism. The lighthouse, which has become famous as a filming location for Korean TV dramas, is now establishing itself as an iconic landmark of Oido Island.

After walking up the spiral staircase of the lighthouse observatory, which is about 21.4 metres in height, you can appreciate an unobstructed view of the tidal flats and Oido Island. The view from the observatory as well as the iconic red exterior of the lighthouse are truly eye-catching. Walk along the coastal trail leading to the Red Lighthouse with your family or lovers, and take pictures against the lighthouse, seagulls and the sea in the background.

Incheon Grand Park, located in Jangsu-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, is a representative park in the city that features a hiking course, nestled along Gwanmosan and Sangasan Mountains. It is a fairly large park that consists of a lake, botanical garden, rose garden, children's zoo, and walking trail, along with a variety of facilities and attractions.

The 1 km-long cherry tree road that connects the lake and the South Gate of the park presents a superb view in spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. In other seasons, you can enjoy the natural beauty of the park on zelkova road, metasequoia road, cosmos field, mustard flower field, and maple tree forest; so, in any time of the year, you can find wonderful natural sceneries here. The park also has different types and themes of spaces. Take a walk around the park and discover your own special photo spots.

The Songdo Tri-bowl is a complex cultural centre operated by the Incheon Foundation for Arts and Culture. The building, which stands out even in Songdo where there are many unique buildings, gives off a strong impression with its distinctive design that makes it look like three inverted cone-shaped bowls floating on the water. The Tri-bowl was completed as a space to commemorate the 2010 Global Fair & Festival held in Incheon and has now become the iconic landmark of Songdo International City. It is a place where you can enjoy various cultural activities, but many people also visit to take pictures, attracted to its unusual appearance.

When dusk settles, the Tri-bowl changes from its daytime appearance. Around 100 LED lights installed between the panels twinkle and the lights reflected on the water surface create a more mysterious atmosphere. Take artistic photos of the Tri-bowl, which is also famous as a filming location for various commercials and dramas.

Wolmido, which was one of the main stages of Korean modern history including the Russo-Japanese War and Operation Chromite, is now a top representative Incheon tourist destination where history, culture, and various attractions and entertainment can be experienced in one place. After discovering the diversity of Korean traditional culture at the Wolmi Cultural Centre inside Wolmi Park, climb to the top of Wolmisan Mountain and take pictures of the unobstructed views of Incheon Port from Wolmi Observatory. A 30-minute walk to the top is a popular dating course as it presents an opportunity to see the beautiful nightscape.

After coming down from the top, enjoy a stroll along the seaside trail to Wolmido Lighthouse while listening to the sound of waves. The lighthouse, which boasts a scenic view both during the day and at night, has a photo spot in the shape of a frame. Don't forget to take a nice picture against the background of the lighthouse and the sea.

Sorae Port is located in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. This area was a famous salt producer during the Japanese colonial period, as there were a salt farm and Suin Line narrow-gauge trains operating to transport salt. Near Sorae Railway Bridge, where the narrow-gauge train used to run, you can find the Jangdo Battery Site, a modern cultural property of Incheon, and visit the old salt farm and warehouse at Sorae Wetland Ecological Park. After seeing the crab statue at Haeoreum Square on Sorae Port, walk along the coastal trail to Shrimp Tower, a new landmark of the port. From top of Shrimp Tower observatory, you can have a panoramic view of the sea in front of the port.

At night, Shrimp Tower and Sorae Railway Bridge, illuminated by soft LED lights of 7 colours, create a unique nightscape. Enjoy a cup of coffee watching the sunset at nearby beachside cafes or resting areas.

Sorae Wetland Ecological Park in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, is full of hidden beautiful scenery that you would want to share on Instagram along with windmills. The park is located where a salt farm operated during the Japanese colonial period. Today, the area has been transformed into a marine ecological park where visitors can experience the salt production process and tidal flats. This park features unobstructed scenery and an immense wetland, which make it a photogenic spot. In particular, the three red windmills standing in the vast reed field are popular as a sunrise viewing point, and on every New Year's Day, photographers flock to this place to capture the sunrise over the reeds and windmills.

No matter how skilful you are, the unusual, picturesque landscape rarely found in cities make your photos exceptional with a fantastic mood. Take stunning pictures and have new and unique experiences at this ecological park in the city centre.