So, from Kintex I walked to the lake park and alone explored this Asia's largest man-made lake park that spans over 991,800 sqm in one full round, with the Ilsan Lake Park map brochure that I obtain in Kintex Tourist Information Centre. I spent about 2 hours here, leisurely walk along on the jogging cum bike trail to go round the lake. It's early autumn, some trees leaves just began to turn red. Hoping to see more autumn foliage while I am in Korea is one of the reason I choose to walk to lake park today.
At about first quarter of the lake park, this one and only bench next to the walkway has appeared in the K-drama "My love from the star" Episode 17. I heard about the drama as it is a famous drama starring by Jun Ji Hyun, but I never watch it. So I am not familiar with actor Kim Soo Hyun who's signboard is next to the bench who also starred in the drama.
Further down a little, across the bridge to the Dalmaji Island (which has same name as Dalmaji in Busan). there is a Pavilion named Woel-Pa-Jung 월파정 where you could see the whole view of lake and the 10m high Go-sa fountain 고사 분수 from the top of pavilion.
Ilsan Lake Park features a large variety of wild flowers, plants and trees. Along there way there are few arboretum and botanical gardens. Cactus garden and Rose garden is one of it. The lake park also held the Goyang International Flower Festival annually which required admission fee for the entry.
What I like the most in the lake park is the mini libraries. Total 3 of them. First one I encounter is the windmill mini library next to the lakeside square, which is also the most beautiful among 3. While the second mini library a roofed rest area with long benches where the books were kept in the notice board. The two giant rubber cat balloon that floating on the lake is the mascot of Goyang-si. Cat pronounce as Goyang-i in Korean, which has similar sound with Goyang-si (Goyang City), so I guess that's how cat become the mascot of Goyang.
After passed by second mini library, artsy sculptures line up along the promenade reminds me of Publika~ when Publika firstly open in 2012, there are few interesting sculptures that made of metal or steel display at the foyer. Here, I slow down a little to check out the name of the sculptures.
Continue the walk, I walk passed a tunnel before reaching the end of the first half of the lake park. The third mini library is housed underneath the tunnel that has some mural on the walls. The tunnel reminds me of the tunnel in Taman Tasik Perdana that linked to Museum Negara haha! Now I notice both Ilsan Lake Park and Taman Tasik Perdana has this similarity where there is a flyover across the lake at the end of the lake.
After the tunnel and cross over the Ae-Soo-Kyo (Love water bridge), I had cover half of the lake park. When I was standing at Ae Soo Kyo looking the artificial giant waterfall, a group of giant Koi fish flock over gather beneath the bridge as they thought I was going feed them. No feeding is allowed by the way.
At the second half of the lake park, there is a public toilet with beautiful lake view that caught almost everyone's attention when step into the public toilet. Some of the public toilet in Korea really amazed me with the stunning view! Not far from the public toilet, there is a Toilet Museum (Toilet Culture Exhibition Centre) which is very interesting and worth to stop by for a visit. All the information is in dual language (Korean and English), I will share it in separate post since I took quite a number of pictures about the toilet culture.
After toilet museum visit, I took short break at this swing bench under the shade of tree with lake view to rest my tiring feet. It's sunny weather with cold breeze where temperature is around 17 Celsius. Early autumn in Seoul and Gyeonggi is pretty chilly when it is windy compare to the warm Busan.
Not far from where I rest, spotted the Korean traditional tall swing. Wanted to try but the swing has been occupied for quite a while by a couple then father and daughter. So I end up give up waiting and continue my walk. Anyway, this part of the lake park with many trees is the place where I can see early autumn foliage.
When I saw the bench from "My love from the star" again, I know I am reaching the starting point soon. There is one view point near by the starting point which I give a miss earlier, I decided to give a try since I still have strength to do so. It's a very short and quick 5 mins hike, at the hilltop there's a gazebo inside the forest. I was hoping to see something probably like a lake view in full from top, but there's nothing as the see as it is block by the trees.
So that's my alone explore Ilsan Lake Park and you may refer to the following links if you wish to find out How I walk from Daehwa Station to Kintex, and to Ilsan Lake Park and Toilet Museum (Coming soon).
