Wonju Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree 2026: Peak Foliage & Live Updates

🍁Autumn Travel in Gangwon Province, Korea🍁​

The Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree in Wonju

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Every autumn, my mind drifts to one magnificent golden ginkgo tree: the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree (반계리 은행나무) in Wonju (원주).

The sight of this ancient ginkgo turning brilliant yellow is truly spectacular, making it a highly sought-after destination for autumn travel in Gangwon Province (강원특별자치도).

However, the timing of the fall foliage changes slightly each year. There have been times when I traveled a long distance only to find the leaves still green, or, conversely, arrived too late after all the leaves had fallen, leaving only bare branches.

That's why today, I'm sharing photos from my personal visit to the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree in 2025 📷. I'll cover everything from last year's peak foliage timing to how you can check its real-time status for 2026 👀.

🍁Autumn Travel in Gangwon Province🍁

About the Wonju Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree!

Estimated to be around 1,300 years old, this is one of Korea's oldest ginkgo trees!

This tree has stood in the same spot for centuries, and when autumn arrives and its leaves begin to turn golden, it becomes one of South Korea's most beloved autumn destinations.

I visited on 11/16/2025, and the sight of the massive tree adorned with yellow ginkgo leaves was incredibly impressive. Its wide-spreading branches made the golden hue even more striking.

While its presence is considerable even from afar, standing close and looking up, I was completely overwhelmed by the ginkgo tree's sheer size and majesty.

What's more, the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree is a male tree, meaning it rarely bears fruit, so there's **absolutely no unpleasant smell**. I was initially concerned about the typical ginkgo smell, but there were no fruits and no odor at all.

The Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree in 2025

📅 When was its peak?📅

Although the 2025 Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree Festival began on 11/02, the leaves changed color later than average. On the opening day of the festival, only about 50% of the leaves had turned yellow.

Since the festival schedule and the actual peak foliage period don't always align, I highly recommend checking the real-time status before your visit.

Below, I'll show you how anyone can easily check the real-time conditions.

The Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree in 2026

👀 How to check its real-time status 👀

First Method: Check the official Wonju City real-time video

1️⃣ Search for 'Wonju Tourism' online and access the official page.

2️⃣ Look for the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree real-time video.

Wonju City does a great job! On the official Wonju website, you can view a real-time video of the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree's front side for about 20 seconds.

As of 10/27/2026, there are **no yellow leaves visible yet**.

🔻Go to check the official Wonju City video 🔻

Second Method: Check the surroundings with Naver Map CCTV

1️⃣ Search for 'Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree' on Naver Map (네이버 지도).

2️⃣ Activate the CCTV display on the map screen.

3️⃣ Select and view the CCTV for National Road 42, near Ban-gye IC (반계 IC).

The second method is to check the area around the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree using the CCTV available on Naver Map. However, the tree is only barely visible on the far left, so I don't recommend this method. Please use the Wonju Tourism website instead.

The 2026 Wonju Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree Festival

💛 Enjoying Autumn Together 💛

The Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree Festival, which started on Oct 25, 2026, runs for two weeks.

Near the Ginkgo Tree Plaza, you'll find various activities including cultural arts performances, food stalls, and a flea market, making it a romantic and exciting way to enjoy the autumn season.

As of 10/27/2026, while the Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree Festival has begun, it's still difficult to see the full golden yellow spectacle. Why not use the real-time checking methods I've shared to time your visit perfectly and enjoy both the peak foliage of the 2026 Banagyeli Ginkgo Tree and the festival?