Alone explore Ilsan Lake Park, Goyang-si 일산 호수공원

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).

How I walk from Daehwa Station to Kintex, and to Ilsan Lake Park

Since I have no schedule today, I decided to walk to Kintex (Korea largest exhibition centre) and Ilsan Lake Park (one of the Asia largest man-made lake park). As our hotel is nearby Daehwa station, I begin from the walk from Daehwa station Exit 2, cross the street via traffic light~ there is a stone signage indicate that this beautiful walk way with apartment blocks and trees on both side will lead u to Kintex in 5 mins walk (about 300m). As it is an alley between apartment blocks, along the way I could see residents exercising or hang-around at the recreation area.

I briefly look around both Kintex 1 and Kintex 2 including make a pit stop at the tourism desk to obtain map of Ilsan lake park and Goyang-si. However the short visit took nearly an hour as the exhibition is really huge! After get my coffee of the day~ iced caffe latte from Twosome Place at Kintex 2, I then begin my walk to Ilsan Lake Park from Kintex 2 main gate (Gate 2) where there's a huge luggage as landmark. Walk out thru the side way of the gate, continue the journey by walk thru a pedestrian tunnel, I found a beautiful flower wall painting but kind of spooky feel inside the tunnel as it has spider web here and there (as if the tunnel is not being used for sometimes...)

After walk out from the tunnel, continue to head straight for 8 mins until reach a overhead bridge where Hyundai Department Store is located opposite the main road. Use the overhead bridge crossover the main road to Hyundai Department Store. And continue to head straight on left hand side direction to walk pass Hyundai Dept Store.  

After walk pass Hyundai Department Store until the end of the building corner, turn right along the corner and continue walk straight. Walk pass Homeplus and Lotte Vic Mart and cross a main road again (via traffic light). About 10 mins walking time including a quick browse and toilet break at Lotte Vic Mart, I reach the lakeside park entrance which is located at the overhead bridge entrance.

Walk up the stairs to the overhead bridge and the park entrance is there right at the end of the bridge. This overhead bridge is a connecting bridge for Lake Park Apartment residents to go over to lakeside park. Further walk down a little also will lead to another bigger entrance of Lake Park in case miss out this overhead bridge. 

This is also the entrance of Ilsan Lake Park where the musical fountain is. If you wish to know more about the Ilsan Lake Park, do check out the upcoming post~