Janghoe Naru Danyang: Chungjuho Lake Cruise & Cafe

After an exhilarating visit to Mancheonha Skywalk, my travel companions and I hopped into a taxi, making our way to Janghoe Naru. While exploring smaller towns in Korea can sometimes be a bit tricky for those relying on public transport, Danyang surprisingly offers readily available taxis, especially around tourist spots. The only catch? The cost can add up, but for convenience, it's often worth it!

This stop wasn't originally on our itinerary. Our first day in Danyang had already taken an unexpected turn, and one of my friends was particularly keen on seeing this spot, so we decided to go for it. Plus, it offered a fantastic way to experience both Oksunbong Peak and Gudambong Peak, two of Danyang's Eight Scenic Wonders, all at once! Conveniently, there's a rest area right by the Janghoe Naru dock where you can grab a quick bite before or after your cruise.

The main attraction we sought out at Janghoe Naru was the Chungjuho Lake Cruise. It's easy to get confused with the "Chungjuho Sightseeing Boat" nearby, but their routes differ, so it's best to check which one aligns with your desired experience before you arrive. Luckily, I did a quick search on my phone in the taxi on the way over.

Several options popped up, but we opted for the "Chungjuho Lake Cruise" (the one in the red box in my search results). We were able to use our tickets right away! If you book through Naver Reservations, you can snag a 15% discount, bringing the price down from ~$10 to ~$9, plus you even earn Naver Pay points. Here's a little insider tip: it seems they don't always fully commit to the Naver Reservation slots. We had booked a later time because our preferred slot was sold out, but we still managed to board an earlier boat when we arrived. Score!

One thing we hadn't anticipated was the need for identification! When you fill out and submit your boarding declaration, you also need to present a valid ID. Thankfully, I happened to have mine with me, but I often don't carry it, so that was a close call. Imagine traveling all this way, not even driving yourself but taking a taxi, only to be denied boarding because you forgot your ID. That would have been a real bummer!

We descended these stairs, eager to board our cruise.

As soon as we boarded, we walked past the indoor seating area...

...and headed straight for the open deck. The cruise lasts about an hour, so standing for the duration was perfectly fine. Most passengers gravitated to the second-floor deck, so we had the lower deck mostly to ourselves, which was great for enjoying the views undisturbed. However, the motor noise was quite loud, making it impossible to hear the announcements, so about halfway through, we decided to join everyone else upstairs.

Up on the top deck, the expansive, unobstructed views were truly spectacular.

If the water level rises to that point, it becomes quite dangerous.

The scenery was magnificent. My only minor regret was that the onboard announcements weren't clearer; it would have been nice to hear more about the sights.

As another cruise or sightseeing boat passed in front of Gudambong Peak, with the lake sparkling under the sun, the scene was utterly captivating.

It was incredible how quickly the weather had changed! Earlier, at Mancheonha Skywalk, dense fog had enveloped everything, but now the skies were perfectly clear and bright.

Cheongpungho Lake

Once we ascended to the second-floor deck, it was clear where everyone had been hiding!

I snapped a photo of the majestic scenery with the Korean flag (Taegeukgi) fluttering proudly in the breeze. I also tried to grab a selfie amidst the crowd, and serendipitously, Oksun Bridge appeared perfectly in the background.

A quick photo together!

Oh, I remember that at the time of our visit, the Oksunbong Suspension Bridge had just opened, and it was still free to cross. However, we heard from others that it was incredibly, overwhelmingly crowded, making it nearly impossible to even get close. So, we were quite content to admire it from the cruise instead.

Oksun Bridge. Next time, I definitely want to hike up Oksunbong Peak to see it from a different perspective. And Jeokseongsan Mountain, and Gudambong Peak... honestly, I want to climb them all!

Our hour-long journey around the lake flew by. The weather truly made for a perfect day.

Janghoe Naru Cafe, also known as Cafe Naru. After getting off the boat, the sun was shining brightly, making it a bit warm. Plus, we needed to call another taxi to continue our journey. So, we decided to head up to the cafe on the second floor of the building. It offered a unique and fantastic view!

(Perhaps a humorous sign or decoration in the cafe) "Visited by a Joseon Dynasty traveler, LOL!"

The sun streamed in beautifully, making it a little warm, but I loved how the photos turned out.

Since our Danyang trip was planned around walking and taxis, we hadn't initially focused on seeing all of Danyang's Eight Scenic Wonders. We simply came to Janghoe Naru because we heard good things. But encountering Oksunbong and Gudambong Peaks was truly wonderful and inspiring. It made me want to hike them myself, and now I'm eager to explore the other Danyang Eight Scenic Wonders firsthand. Janghoe Naru and the Chungjuho Lake Cruise were definitely a highlight! Yay!