Discover South Korea's Natural Wonders One Trail at a Time: A Look at Erik Palin's Hiking South Korea
What sets this guide apart is the sheer breadth and usability of the information it offers. Palin documents 88 distinct day hikes across South Korea, with routes that cater to a wide range of skill levels and interests. Whether you're craving a quiet walk along a forested trail or a full-day summit adventure with panoramic views, there's something here for you. Each hike includes detailed trail descriptions, difficulty ratings, distance and elevation gain, estimated hiking time, and tips on what to expect. The guide also features route markings, trailhead logistics, transportation options, and practical insights—making it exceptionally easy to plan your own hiking itinerary, even if you're new to Korea or hiking abroad for the first time.
But this book isn't just about logistics; it's also rich with cultural and environmental context. Throughout the guide, Palin weaves in points of historical interest, natural highlights, and unique cultural tidbits that bring each trail to life. From ancient Buddhist temples nestled deep in the mountains to seaside cliffs dotted with wind-worn pines, each hike tells a story of South Korea's land and people.
Some standout hikes include the dramatic ridgeline of Seoraksan National Park, the temple-studded paths of Bukhansan just outside Seoul, and the peaceful island trails of Geoje, where cliffs drop into turquoise waters and hikers are rewarded with views of passing ships and hidden beaches. Palin also guides readers through lesser-known gems like Jirisan's Banyabong Peak and the wildflower-strewn slopes of Hallasan on Jeju Island.
This beautifully crafted hiking guide provides everything you need for your outdoor adventures in Korea. Each hike itinerary includes an illustrative map, GPS coordinates, hike duration, distance, elevation, terrain, difficulty level, accessibility notes, and descriptions of special features. The book also includes expert advice on safety, climate, packing tips, and a glossary of useful Korean phrases—making it an indispensable companion for every level of hiker.
Author Erik Palin brings a personal touch to every page. A native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Erik hadn't even seen a hill until a Boy Scout trip to Vermont at age 14. He didn't begin hiking until his deployment to Korea, but since then, he has spent over eight years exploring its trails and over twenty years living in Asia. A veteran of the maritime and offshore oil and gas industries, he balances his time in shipyards with hikes alongside his wife, Jozefina, and their four daughters. His hiking experience extends beyond Korea, with favorite trails in Japan, Taiwan, Nepal, New Zealand, Slovakia, Tasmania, and California's Sierra Nevada.
With stunning full-color photography, expertly crafted maps, and a deep appreciation for the natural and cultural heritage of Korea, Hiking South Korea is as practical as it is inspiring. More than just a guide, this book is a testament to the transformative power of the outdoors. From Erik's first hilltop experience in Vermont to his countless adventures across the Korean peninsula, Hiking South Korea reflects a lifelong journey of discovery, family, and connection with nature. It's ideal for expats, travelers, nature lovers, and anyone eager to find peace and adventure on foot.
Explore the trails and discover the soul of South Korea—one hike at a time.
Buy the book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-South-Korea-Hikes-Beaches-ebook/dp/B0D14ZJ3X4
Watch the book trailer:
https://youtu.be/JjjUIj1R-_U
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National Geographic
6 days ago
- National Geographic
7 bullet train journeys across China, from the Great Wall to Shangri-la
On a clear Beijing morning, I settle into my seat on board the G87 bullet train. Bound for Chengdu, we'll make the nearly 1,200-mile journey—about the distance from New York City to Kansas City—in just 7.5 hours. Through the window, buildings blur as we quietly pick up speed and soon we're sailing across the Yellow River, past Xi'an's ancient walls, and into the mountains of Sichuan. China is blazing a new future with its rail network, which includes more than 28,500 miles of high-speed tracks (for comparison, Europe's is around 7,450 miles), from Shanghai's leafy avenues to the soaring heights of the Himalayas and the surreal Terracotta Warrior Army. And, China just unveiled the world's fastest bullet train, topping out at 280 mph. These trains make crossing the country's huge landmass accessible and eco-friendly, even on a shorter visit. The Bund in Shanghai is a popular waterfront district. Photograph by Bodgan Lazar, Alamy Stock Photo 1. Golden triangle Best for: Imperial history and the Great Wall Route: Beijing to Shanghai via Xi'an Journey time: 10 hours (five hours per leg) Distance: 1,170 miles Best done as a journey of two halves, this train trip encompasses China's biggest sights, from Forbidden City in Beijing to the surreal terra-cotta warrior army at ancient capital Xi'an, finishing at the glittering city lights of the Bund in Shanghai. The first journey glides south out of Beijing West Station and across the vast plains of the Loess Plateau through China's industrial heartland before crossing the Yellow River to the ancient city walls of Xi'an. The second leg diverts west to Shanghai, passing the fifth-century Longmen Grottoes and Suzhou's classical gardens and canals on its way. 2. Tibetan Plateau Best for: Himalayan peaks and Buddhist temples Route: Xining to Lhasa Journey time: 20-hour night train Distance: 1,1215 miles Technically the only non-high-speed train on this list, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is an engineering marvel built on permafrost and traversing challening terrain over some of the world's highest passes. Starting in Xining, the provincial capital of Qinghai province, this overnight journey first passes the blue waters of Qinghai Lake—China's largest—before chugging across the Tibetan Plateau (where you might spot antelope and other wildlife), and up into the Himalayas, arriving the next morning in the lofty Tibetan capital. (Our ancestors walked these trails hundreds of years ago. Now you can too.) On board, heated sleeper carriages and oxygen tanks keep passengers warm and safe from elevation sickness. Once in Lhasa, you can board a high-speed line (opened in 2021) that connects with the city of Nyingchi. To visit Tibet, international tourists need a regional travel permit and must book through registered agencies. Dunhuang was a primary stop along the Silk Road. Photograph by Horizon International Images, Alamy Stock Photo The colorful hills of Zhangye National Geopark are made up of colorful rock formations that look like art. Photograph by Boaz Rottem, Alamy Stock Photo 3. Silk Road Best for: Bazaars, dunes, Buddhist art Route: Lanzhou to Dunhuang Journey time: 8 hours Distance: 690 miles Stretching across the northwest deserts in Gansu province, this high-speed journey follows the camel trails that were used for centuries to trade silk, spices, and philosophy. Today, you can do the journey in a couple of days, or even better, break it up into several legs, allowing time to explore the grand Buddha statues, night markets, temples, and sweeping landscapes along the line. Starting in Lanzhou, home of the original hand-pulled lamian noodles, the train sails through the Hexi Corridor, through Zhangye with its colorful rainbow hills, Wuwei, where the famous Flying Horse of Gansu was uncovered, and Jiayuguan, the western end of the Great Wall, before finally arriving in the desert outpost of Dunhuang, home to giant dunes and the Mogao Caves—one of the most important caches of Buddhist art in the world. 4. Mountains of Shangri-la Best for: Mountains, gorges, ancient architecture Route: Kunming to Shangri-La Journey time: 5 hours Distance: 385 miles This mountainous journey zips across southwest China from Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan, to the high mountain town of Shangri-la, named after the mythical Himalayan valley in James Hilton's 1933 book, Lost Horizon. One of China's highest railway lines, it tunnels through the Himalayan foothills and up across the Tibetan Plateau. The journey can be done as a series of stops at towns like Dali and Lijiang, both known for their ancient architecture and minority cultures, or you can speed straight through in about five hours. Passing Lijiang, the region's best-known peak, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, spikes into a perfect triangle in the distance, and later the train crosses a high bridge over the glacial blue waters of the Jinsha River, which carves through Qinghai and Sichuan and into Yunnan. The ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin, China. Photograph by Gavin Hellier, Getty Images 5. Wintery northeast Best for: Ice festivals and a cultural mix Route: Beijing to Harbin Journey time: 4.5 hours Distance: 771 miles This sleek, high-speed route shoots northeast from Beijing through the vast plains of Dongbei, a region shaped by heavy snowfalls, dumplings, and faded traces of the Qing dynasty. You'll pass through Shenyang, once an imperial Manchu capital, before reaching Harbin, a city with onion-domed churches, frozen rivers, and a mix of cultures and influences, including from China, Russia, Mongolia, and beyond. Time your journey for January or February and you'll arrive just in time for the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, where entire palaces and pagodas are carved from blocks of ice and lit up in neon hues. The route follows part of the old Trans-Manchurian corridor, once used by Soviet and Chinese railways heading for Moscow. 6. Rivers and rice terraces Best for: Karst peaks and lush forests Route: Guiyang to Guangzhou Journey time: 3.5 hours Distance: 540 miles This scenic journey traverses the karst landscapes of southern China, including the dramatic limestone peaks near Guilin and the subtropical scenery of Guizhou. This route blends mountainous terrain with modern viaducts and tunnels, which are great for dramatic vistas.
Axios
25-07-2025
- Axios
Jilli brings San Francisco a taste of Korea's drinking scene
Jilli, the Mission's new spot serving rice wine flights and bold bar snacks, introduces San Francisco to a Korean drinking culture it didn't know it was missing. State of play: The restaurant, with roots in LA, brands itself as a modern sool jib — a communal Korean "drinking house" — by spotlighting makgeolli, a funky, lightly effervescent rice wine with a cloudy appearance and milky texture. The big picture: Jilli's opening reflects a broader trend of Korean cuisine gaining popularity across the U.S. — expanding beyond traditional barbecue and bibimbap to elevating lesser-known specialties like makgeolli and comfort dishes like gukbap and jajangmyeon. Dig in: The low-ABV drink pairs nicely with the rich flavors offered on Jilli's menu, like the gooey tteokbokki ($21), deep-fried shrimp toast ($16), popcorn chicken ($23) and $50 caviar bump — and, yes, it is worth it. Sips to savor: First-timers should begin with the flight, which features four varieties: Sang Takju: Traditional and a great starting point to get your bearings. Nomi Doga Takju: Slightly sweet, creamy and tangy — with a subtle nuttiness and faint fizz. Hana Makgeolli Takju: The funkiest of the flight, made from brown rice with a slightly sour and earthy profile. Hanna Forbidden Takju: Infused with red berries, this version has a slightly sweeter fermented taste. The drink menu also includes a rotating list of natural wines, craft beer and soju. Best bites: Other standouts include gochujang-marinated pork jowl ($35), sous-vide and cooked on a charcoal grill, and rigatoni alla kimchi vodka pasta ($23), topped with house-made burrata. The vibe: Laid back and welcoming, Jilli feels more like a friendly hangout than a bar, with staff who'll chat through the menu, share fun anecdotes and hand out Korean " hangover cure" packets they swear by. Inside, there's '80s hip-hop, Korean animation projected on the walls and neon signs reading "Drink Responsibly Reckless," while the patio twinkles with string lights. My thought bubble: My favorite (and owner Hwanghah Jeong's) was the "Yakju" ($72) from Hana Makgeolli, a small artisanal producer based out of Brooklyn, New York.
Eater
22-07-2025
- Eater
Minhwa Spirits Feels Like Your Cool Friend's House
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. Welcome to another installment of Scene Report in Atlanta, a new column in which Eater captures the vibe of a notable Atlanta restaurant at a specific moment in time. The soju distillery in a Doraville strip mall, is an unlikely hot spot, but when you make the OTP drive and enter the doors, you realize you're at your coolest friend's house party. Minhwa Spirits founders Ming Han Chung and James Kim are those friends. After opening Georgia's first soju distillery (soju is a Korean distilled alcohol fermented with rice) last year, they were smart to house more than just the spirit, which was widely unknown in the state. The space is home to Postern Coffee during the day, chef residencies in the kitchen, and a cocktail bar, invitingly introducing diners to soju and makgeolli. The atmosphere: Minhwa has two versions: an evening electric energy and a daytime chill mode. On a recent visit on a Saturday afternoon, the space was flooded with ample natural light from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Young people sat at tables on their laptops, the air smelled of freshly brewed coffee (try the coconut ube latte, $7), and a gentle hum of conversation and laughter came from the bar stools. An outdoor patio has several tables against a stunning mural called 'Morning Calm' by artist Kimchi Juice, depicting a Korean woman wading through mountains and peach trees — a nod to Georgia. On a Saturday evening, there was a line forming out the door. The space was buzzing with people. A table close to me was celebrating a birthday, and another seemed to be on a first date with shy, awkward body language and cocktails in hand. Andrew Bloom's kinetic art on the walls seemed to move in its liquid florals. People were relaxed, the service was attentive and friendly, and no one seemed to keep tabs on the parking meter — parking is free. From bottom to top: Cheesy kimchi fried rice, coconut ube latte, KFC nuggets, gilgeori toast, japchae, and volcano hot dog. Henna Bakshi The food: Minhwa Spirits has welcomed chef Lino Yi (formerly TKO at Southern Feed and Lazy Betty) to the kitchen since Ganji's departure, the excellent pop-up that popularized the purple rice bowl. Yi brings Korean comfort bar food to Minhwa. The cheesy kimchi fried rice ($12) is a treat any time of the day, the japchae ($15) with sweet potato starch noodles and mushrooms is an umami bomb, and the volcano hot dog ($6) is piled high with spicy krab, sriracha, eel sauce, and scallions. The food is delicious barfare, though the menu could use a punch of acid through a bright salad or pickles and kimchi. Pastry chef Molly Follet (Little Bear, Ticonderoga Club) makes the fluffiest butter cheesecake ($10) with a peach ginger jam that pairs perfectly with Postern's cortado using Ethiopian coffee. Insider tip on food: A spam and egg souffle gilgeori toast ($10) with cabbage, carrot, and spicy mayo is the current offering for brunch, and black sesame chicken and waffles with a spicy miso maple caramel will be added soon. Food pop-ups are hosted here often — look for Jay Patel's popular Indian-fusion barbecue tandoori sliders and wings from Dhaba BBQ. Mom's Backyard Garden made with soju, gin, cucumber and lime cordial, and perilla. Henna Bakshi The drinks: As one would hope, this distillery slings great cocktails. Minhwa has taken on one of Atlanta's top award-winning mixologists, James Sung (formerly Umi, Palo Santo), to whip up concoctions using the housemade soju and gin. The housemade Yong soju is earthy and light, and the gin is made in partnership with local tea company, the Chai Box, with Indian chai spices. Beaches Down in Georgia cocktail with hibiscus jelly at Minhwa Spirits. Lauren Lynn Sung infuses Korean ingredients with fat-wash and clarification techniques to create floral, fresh, and velvety-textured drinks. In one cocktail, aptly named Mom's Backyard Garden ($16), Sung uses his mother's perilla from her garden to garnish the drink made with soju, gin, and a cucumber and lime cordial. (Perilla leaves are commonly used in Korean cooking and have an herbaceous and peppery flavor.) It's refreshing, with a milky texture, punctured by bright green perilla — a visual stunner. The Beaches Down in Georgia ($16) is served with a cat face-shaped sour digestif gummy made from an extract from the Japanese raisin tree (hovenia dulcis thunb). It is commonly found in alcohol digesting supplements. I couldn't tell you if it works, but I can surely tell you the cocktail is a sweet and sour beauty with tongue-popping acidity. Most signature cocktail on the menu right now use clarification and fat washing, giving them linearity in a milky texture. They also tend to lean sweet, which is expected in Korean food and drinks. I'll be curious how Sung experiments moving forward, leaning on spice, salt, and umami in other iterations. Insider tip on drinks: Be sure to order the makgeolli service (cloudy Korean rice wine) ($22) served from the traditional gold aluminum kettle in golden cups. Pair it with the KFC chicken nuggets. Buy bottles of soju and gin to take home. Why go here: Minhwa Spirits gets it. The precarious 'it' is the balance between accessibility and finesse, and a downright cool factor. The team here is finding its groove, and it is exciting to witness their experimentation. The distillery is drawing local talent to itself seemingly naturally, making the space a creativity incubator, all while keeping its boozy and cultural spirit alive. This is my kind of house party. Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
