Andong and Hahoe Village travel

Andong is a city in northern North Gyeongsang Province where Joseon-era Confucian culture and aristocratic traditions remain strong, earning it a reputation as a heartland of Korean spiritual culture. Hahoe Village, Confucian academies, old family houses and mask dance are its highlights. It is a place where you can see both UNESCO World Heritage sites and intangible heritage.

Yes. Hahoe Village in Andong was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, together with Yangdong Village in Gyeongju, as the Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong. It was recognized for preserving the layout and way of life of a Joseon-era clan village. Its mix of tile-roofed mansions and thatched houses is distinctive.

Hahoe means a river winding around, named for the way the Nakdonggang River flows around the village in an S-shaped curve. Surrounded by river and hills, the village has a distinctive landscape. Climbing the cliff across the river gives you a full view of this river bend.

Hahoe is still a living village, so do not enter houses that are not open to visitors or peek over walls. Keep your voice down and stick to the marked paths. It is polite to ask permission before photographing residents.

KTX-Eum trains on the Jungang Line from Seoul's Cheongnyangni Station and other stations reach Andong in about two hours. Andong Station moved to a new building in Songhyeon-dong at the end of 2020, so be careful with older maps. Express buses also run, and you can check timetables through Korail and official bus booking channels.

Hahoe Village is some distance from downtown Andong, so go by city bus, taxi or rental car. Buses can run infrequently, so check return times as well before you set out. From the parking lot and ticket office at the entrance, you continue into the village by shuttle or on foot.

Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori is a mask dance drama handed down in Hahoe Village, in which masked characters humorously satirize the lives of aristocrats and commoners. It is a national intangible heritage and part of Talchum, Korean mask dance drama, inscribed by UNESCO in 2022. Regular performances are held at the village theater, so check the schedule.

The Andong Maskdance Festival is held every autumn; in 2026 it ran from late September to October 4 in downtown Andong and around Hahoe Village. Besides Korean mask dances, you can see performances by troupes from abroad. Check the festival's official announcement for next year's dates.

From Buyongdae, a clifftop across the river, you can look down on the entire village wrapped by the Nakdonggang River. You cannot simply walk up from the village side, so you need to make a separate trip. Ask at the Hahoe ticket office or check on-site notices for how to get there and current access.

Byeongsan Seowon is a Confucian academy honoring the scholar Ryu Seong-ryong, famous for the view from its large Mandaeru pavilion facing the river and Byeongsan cliffs. It is part of World Heritage twice: as a component of Hahoe in 2010 and of Korean Neo-Confucian Academies in 2019. It is some distance from Hahoe and public transport may be limited, so plan how you will get there.

Dosan Seowon is a Confucian academy built in 1574 to honor the learning and virtue of Toegye Yi Hwang, one of Joseon's leading scholars. In 2019 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the nine Korean Neo-Confucian Academies. It lies north of downtown Andong, so allow time for the drive.

Bongjeongsa is home to Geungnakjeon Hall, regarded as the oldest surviving wooden building in Korea. In 2018 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of seven temples in Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea. It is an active temple, so stay quiet inside the halls and do not disturb worship.

Hahoe Seonyu Julbullori is a traditional night event in which burning ropes strung from Buyongdae cliff over the river send down showers of sparks, one of Hahoe's signature evening spectacles. In 2026 it was staged several times from May, with advance reservations for viewing. Dates and booking methods change yearly, so check the city of Andong's notices.

Woryeonggyo is a wooden pedestrian bridge across the river below Andong Dam, opened in 2003. When it is lit up in the evening, its reflection on the water makes it a popular night view spot. It is close to downtown Andong, so it works well for an evening walk.

Andong is known for local dishes such as jjimdak (braised chicken), salted mackerel and heotjesatbap, a ritual-style rice meal. You can easily find them at traditional markets and restaurant streets downtown. Compare menus and opening hours at several places rather than relying on one shop, and expect waits at busy times.

Hahoe masks are wooden masks used in the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori performance, vividly expressing characters such as the aristocrat, the scholar and the young bride. They are designated a National Treasure for their artistic value. Around Hahoe Village you can also find mask-themed exhibitions and souvenirs.

Yes. Andong has historic family houses that welcome overnight guests, both inside Hahoe Village and around the city. Being old hanok, they differ from modern lodgings in soundproofing and amenities, and some have shared bathrooms. Check the facilities and house rules carefully before booking.

Nearby Yeongju has Buseoksa Temple, listed in 2018 alongside Bongjeongsa as one of the Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea. Yeongju's Sosu Seowon is also part of the Korean Neo-Confucian Academies listed in 2019. Public transport connections can be sparse, so plan your travel in advance.

A day trip can cover Hahoe Village and a spot or two downtown, but seeing the Confucian academies and Bongjeongsa as well is easier over two days. The main sights are spread out, so travel between them takes time. If you want to catch a festival or night event, plan to stay overnight.

The city of Andong's tourism website and tourist information centers at places such as Andong Station and Hahoe Village provide maps, bus details and performance schedules. Korea Tourism Organization travel pages also have foreign-language information. If you need interpretation, call the 1330 tourist hotline.