Skip to content
CoreandaDiscover hidden Korea
Illustration: Andong
Gyeongsangbuk-do · inland

Andong 안동

Masks, old villages and Confucian tradition

4 places3 local dishes

Why go

Andong calls itself the capital of Korean spiritual culture, thanks to its long Confucian tradition. On the Nakdong River lies Hahoe Village, a World Heritage Site since 2010, where families still live in traditional houses. A famous mask dance comes from here and is part of talchum (탈춤, talchum), inscribed by UNESCO in 2022.

Getting there

KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni Station to Andong Station, approx. 2 hours. Some trains start at Seoul Station and take a little longer. Hahoe Village is outside the center: city buses go there, but not very often.

Travel times are approximate. Verified in October 2026.

What to see

  1. Hahoe Village

    하회마을 Hahoe Maeul

    The Nakdong River curves around the village in an S shape, which gives it its name: the river that turns. There are tiled houses of noble families and thatched-roof homes, and people still live in them, so visit calmly and quietly.

  2. Buyongdae Cliff

    부용대 Buyongdae

    A cliff across the river. From the top you see the whole village wrapped by the bend of the water, the best photo of Hahoe.

  3. Byeongsan Confucian Academy

    병산서원 Byeongsan Seowon

    An old Confucian academy facing the river and a wall of mountains. Its large open wooden pavilion is one of the most photographed in Korea. It is one of the seowon inscribed as World Heritage in 2019.

  4. Woryeonggyo Bridge

    월영교 Woryeonggyo

    A long wooden footbridge over the river in town. At night it is lit up, a quiet walk after dinner.

What to eat

  1. Andong jjimdak Braised chicken

    안동찜닭 Andong jjimdak

    Chicken braised in soy sauce with potatoes, carrots, glass noodles and a touch of chili. Sweet, salty and a little spicy. Andong's old market has a whole alley of jjimdak places.

  2. Andong salted mackerel

    안동간고등어 Andong gan-godeungeo

    Salted, grilled mackerel. Andong is far from the sea, and salting the fish was how it arrived in good shape. Today it is a signature taste of the city.

  3. Heotjesatbap Ritual-style rice

    헛제삿밥 heotjesatbap

    Rice with sautéed vegetables, fish and savory pancakes, mixed with soy sauce instead of chili paste. It recreates the food offered in ancestral rites.

Best time to go

Late September and early October, during the Andong International Mask Dance Festival. Autumn is also lovely in Hahoe, with the river and golden fields.

Tip

The village usually holds regular performances of the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori (하회별신굿탈놀이) mask dance. Days and times change by season, so check before you go.

Sources