Pocheon Art Valley 2026: Monorail, Cheonjuho Lake Fun

A place brimming with aesthetic charm.

It's a great spot to visit with kids.

Ride the monorail, then head to the Astronomical Science Center,

Snap photos at Cheonjuho Lake,

Wander through the Sculpture Park, then grab a coffee.

We were planning to go to Pocheon Herb Island,

(though truth be told, I've actually been to Herb Island more than twice already),

but since we couldn't get tickets, we postponed it for another time.

So, we decided to visit this place again, partly to ride the #Monorail, which the kids absolutely loved,

and at the #AstronomicalScienceCenter,

also to let my second child see the constellation video they were too young to watch last time.

#PocheonSinbukArtValley

This is another spot I've actually visited three, maybe even four times!

I grew up in Pocheon,

and my family home is still there.

Excluding my school days,

I visited when I was single,

when I was pregnant,

after my first child was born,

and now with my second....

So, I've been here at least four times!

I've written a separate post about the Astronomical Science Center.

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Take the monorail

start by visiting the Astronomical Science Center,

and on your way down,

be sure to check out Cheonjuho Lake and the Sculpture Park.

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Astronomical Science Center Post

Location

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Operating Hours

(Summer Season: March ~ October) 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Last entry 8:00 PM)

(Winter Season: November ~ February) 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM (Last entry 7:00 PM)

Every Monday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Last entry 6:00 PM)

Closed on the first Monday of every month

Contact

1688-1035

Parking

Parking lot available, free of charge

Admission Fees

Adults ~$3

Youth (middle/high school students) ~$2

Children (elementary school students) ~$1

Free Admission Eligibility

(Pocheon citizens, preschoolers, seniors (65+),

national merit beneficiaries, people with disabilities)

Group discounts available

If you plan to ride the monorail,

you'll need to purchase the Art Valley Admission Fee + Monorail Fare.

(You can buy your monorail ticket when you purchase your admission ticket.)

When you purchase tickets,

they sometimes give you a Pocheon Love Gift Certificate (~$1)

(You can use it at the Cheonjuho Lake shop.)

We used to get them,

but we didn't get one on our visit this time.

(It seems they only give them out while supplies last.)

If you have kids, it's an absolute must:​

I highly recommend the monorail!!!

The climb up is incredibly challenging.​

If you have plenty of time, the path down

you *could* walk down,

but even coming down can be tough... haha.

If possible, I'd suggest a round-trip monorail ticket.....

Coming down from the Astronomical Science Center,

and exploring the Sculpture Park on your way,

time just flies by,

and it can actually be quite tiring.

Entrance Area

The parking lot is quite spacious, but

even on a weekday, there were still a lot of cars.

As we came down and looked around,

the Education Exhibition Center (Creative Experience Room)

was closed,

(Operating hours: 10 AM - 5 PM)

but the Stone Culture Exhibition Hall was open.

I've never tried the Mushroom Yukgaejang (spicy beef soup with mushrooms) myself, but

the reviews seem pretty good!

I wondered what the Pocheon Tourist Information Center was all about,

and later I found out it offers travel information

and various hands-on experience programs too!​​

Monorail

We also once,

when the monorail was undergoing maintenance,

visited before,

and had to walk all the way up.

It completely drained our energy hiking up...

and took so much time...

Now, we just take the monorail!

You really should go early!​​

After waiting in line,

when you show your ticket to board the monorail,

they punch a hole in it, just like this!

Make sure to keep it safe, as you'll need to show it again when you come back down.

Riding the monorail now...

It gently ascends,

and there's absolutely nothing scary about it!

I was busy taking photos,

which is why I snapped these pictures,

but it wasn't frightening at all.

Just enjoying the outside views, you'll reach the top before you know it.

If you can, I highly recommend waiting

to snag a front-row seat!

Inside the Monorail

You'll find two cozy compartments.

Cheonjuho Lake

After exploring the Astronomical Science Museum, this is the trail that leads down to the stunning Cheonjuho Lake.​​

Lately, my family has been going through a tough time,

and perhaps it was because I carried a heavy heart...

is that why I saw things a little differently?​​

For some reason, on this day,

as I gazed upon the landscapes of Art Valley,

everywhere my eyes landed,

my heart felt a little wistful.

(Oh, what an emotional day!)

Even as I admired the beautiful scenery,

and these moments felt so lovely and joyful,

I couldn't help but wonder why it felt so incredibly 'spring-like' even with my heart feeling heavy. haha

It just means that

deep down,

my spirits felt heavy and sunken.

(Sigh...)

Nevertheless, I made my way down to Cheonjuho Lake in Art Valley.

When you think #ArtValley, this is the iconic spot!

The media façade show

is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

(It's a show that uses beam projectors at night

projecting stunning visuals.)

Since it was a weekday, I missed out on it.

Pocheon Art Valley

was originally, from the 1960s,

a granite quarry.

I suppose they quarried the granite because it's both beautiful and incredibly sturdy!​​

This lake formed as granite was quarried,

with spring water and rainwater filling the excavated pit.

It's said to have first-grade water!

(I learned this from a guide)​

Apparently, many dramas, movies, and variety shows have been filmed here too!

Think 'The Legend of the Blue Sea,' 'Moon Lovers,' 'Hwayugi,' and more!

After exploring Cheonjuho Lake, we headed towards the Sculpture Park.​

On the way, we stopped at a small shop

to give the kids a sugar boost!

(I couldn't get my Pocheon Love Gift Certificates that day....

but if you happen to have them, this is a great spot to use them!)

I bought them a 'Ppangppare' (ice cream) for ~$1.​​

Path to the Sculpture Park

This is the path to the opposite side of Cheonjuho Lake, where the lakeside performance hall and a cafe are located.

There's Course 1, which goes up,

and Course 2, which passes through the Sculpture Park.

I've never tried Course 1

(the stairs coming down on the other side are just too steep for me!)

After their sugar boost, the kids were buzzing with excitement,

and let me tell you, the Sculpture Park was absolutely brimming with breathtaking, soulful scenery!

The sky was so open and clear...

And oh, the sky was just incredibly beautiful....

Once you pass through the Sculpture Park, you'll emerge on the opposite side of Cheonjuho Lake!

#CafeValley is nestled up above.

The other side of Cheonjuho Lake is quite fascinating too!

Coffee Shop - Coffee Valley Cafe

After exploring for a while, ​

we stepped into a coffee shop to take a break.

There's also a restroom right next to Coffee Valley.

The Interior​​

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The Menu​​

The drink prices seemed pretty standard.

I guess I asked for a lot of paper cups;;

(~$0 if purchased separately)

They don't provide complimentary water, but they do sell bottled water.

Throughout the cafe, you'll find calligraphy and

paintings by various artists.

It had a charming, cozy, and

warm atmosphere.

However, I must admit, the chairs weren't the most comfortable;;;;​​

They also had artworks by artist Song Soon-ok

available for purchase.​​

It looks like even Mr. Trot F4 came here!

Here are the drinks we ordered that day:

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Grapefruit Ade (Iced) ~$4

Green Tea Latte ~$4

Chocolate Latte ~$3

The Grapefruit Ade wasn't too sour and tasted pretty typical.

The Green Tea Latte, though... I recall it being both sweet and a bit bitter.

As for the Chocolate Latte, it's naturally sweet!

Sculpture Park Photo Zone

After leaving the coffee shop,

we made our way through the Sculpture Park

to catch the monorail.

Of course, we stopped to snap some photos at the picture-perfect spots scattered all around!​​

Whenever I see things like this,

my husband always comes to mind

for some reason.

Guess that's what happens when you're partners in crime! Haha.

Now, it's time to hop back on the monorail!

As evening rolled around,

the lights turned on, making everything look so beautiful!

Stone Culture Promotion Exhibition Hall

Having already explored the Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark Center,

this place felt quite familiar!

It's a smaller exhibition,

and since there's a restroom inside,

we decided to quickly browse while waiting our turn.

It looked like a fascinating place to explore!

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On the way home,

I spotted some fascinating sculptures,

so I decided to check them out.

The sun was slowly setting,

so it felt a little eerie,

and the sculptures were larger than life!

When I got closer,

they looked so realistic

it was actually a bit spooky!

It looked like they were in the process of creating the sculptures,

perhaps preparing for an exhibition.

It seems like it would be worth a visit once it opens!

These sculptures seemed to be made from recycled materials.

What incredible talent to create such pieces!

As I started heading back home....

I spotted 'Cheonjusan BBQ'!

Cheonjusan BBQ was apparently near Art Valley!

I heard you can grill unlimited meat outdoors,

and that they even have a salad bar.

After hearing about it,

I had really hoped to visit it.

But even so, I truly made the most of my day today.

And the soul-stirring scenery

seemed to offer some comfort

to my slightly heavy heart. ​​