[WEEKEND GETAWAY] 4 sunny spots to enjoy spring's early blossoms

As spring approaches, regions in Korea are preparing for their spring flower festivals. From Daegu's Eworld Blossom Picnic to Gurye's Sansuyu Festival, there are various events offering cultural experiences and beautiful blossoms.

Gwangyang in South Jeolla holds the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival every year, this year from March 7 to 17. [YONHAP]

Spring is nearly here, and so are the spring flower festival updates. Despite the fluctuating weather, warmth is approaching faster and the temperatures are rising higher. Provinces and cities have announced earlier openings for the spring flower festivals to keep up with the quicker blooming dates.

Sunny weather is a great excuse to hop on a journey to a different city to explore the area's culture and celebrate spring's beauty.

If you are eager to visit different spots away from the greater Seoul area to enjoy the earlier spring, here are the four regional spring recommendations compiled by the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Eworld Blossom Picnic이월드 블라썸 피크닉

Eworld in Dalseo District, Daegu gets masses of cherry blossoms every spring. [YONHAP]

Daegu is one of the warmest cities in Korea and often the first city where the cherry blossoms bloom. Eworld, a theme park in Daegu, displays beotkkot, cherry blossoms in Korean, in large volumes that are equivalent to as much as three times those found in the Yeouido Han River area.

Cherry blossoms flood Eworld from mid-March through early April and attract visitors who want a package deal of appreciating the spring scene and the excitement of going on rides. This year, Eworld Blossom Picnic welcomes people from March 16 to April 17.

In the daytime, the rosy shades take over the view, and at night, the lights turn on, changing the colors of the flower petals into darker shades. You can grasp the most of the spring atmosphere at 83 Tower Road, also dubbed as Tower Beotkkot Road and at the red two-story bus on the fourth floor of the tower.

83 Tower is one of the main landmarks in Daegu, located in Eworld. The 1.5-kilometer (0.93 mile) Tower Beotkkot Road is the major photo spot for visitors during the cherry blossom seasons, with petals and trees embroidering the sides of the path. This is where the lights turn on at night, with rainbow lights coloring the petals.

You can also find mask parades, spring markets and photo-taking events throughout your walk at Eworld.

Eworld is running multiple discount promotions for entrance tickets on its official website. Beotkkot Early Bird online promotion is offering visitors a one-day pass for 22,900 won ($17.6) until March 10. A longer event RaRa Land is running until May 31, and runs jointly with Eworld Blossom Picnic, so check out the details on the official website.

@eworld.official200 Duryugongwon-ro, Dalseo District, Daegu대구광역시 달서구 두류공원로 200Duration: March 16 to April 7Operation time: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Phone number: 053-620-0001Website: https://eworld.kr/

Gurye Sansuyu Festival 구례산수유꽃축제

Gurye in South Jeolla hosts the Gurye Sansuyu Festival, welcoming visitors with yellow sansuyu (Cornus fruit) flowers. [BAEK JONG-HYUN]

Gurye County in South Jeolla runs a Sansuyu Festival from March 9 to March 17. Sansuyu, cornus fruit in Korean, is famous for its bright yellow flowers that mark spring's arrival. Sansuyu and its flower used to be exchanged as gifts between young couples in Gurye as a token of promise of unchanging and everlasting love. The fruit is also recognized for its beneficial effects on the liver and kidneys.

For nine days, numerous performances will take place at the festival venue including a traditional instrumental performance, busking and cultural heritage nongak, Korean instrumental farm music. Also, if you are fond of promenades, there are some walking courses to choose from, ready with a short 15-minute course or up to a 30 or 40-minute path. There is no admission fee, but be ready to spend a few dimes on the food trucks and flea markets awaiting the visitors.

If you are searching for a place with less of a crowd but still has plenty Cornus flowers, try the Icheon Baeksa Sansuyu Flower Festival in Icheon, Gyeonggi. The festival runs for three days from March 22 to March 24.

@gurye_official45 Sanggwan 1-gil Sandong-myeon, Gurye County, South Jeolla구례군 산동면 온천관광지 일원 (산동면 상관1길 45)Duration: March 9 to March 17Phone number: 010-2079-4546Website: https://www.gurye.go.kr/en/subPage.do?menuNo=174001000000

Gwangyang Maehwa Festival광양매화축제

Gwangyang Village full of maehwa, plum blossoms. [YONHAP]

Every spring, Gwangyang in South Jeolla gets excessively crowded with visitors flocking to the city for the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival. Maehwa, plum blossom in Korean, is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring in the country, its shades slightly darker than the cherry blossom. This year, the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival is held for 10 days from March 8 and lasts until March 17.

The city has come up with new plans to enrich the festival this year, including a 5,000 won entrance fee to be exchanged for a voucher with the same amount of money and more experience-based activities inspired by maehwa. Multiple activities and experiences await the visitors, including making a maesil — or plum — highball, making maesil rice balls, getting on Seomjin Riverboats and walking barefoot along the path near Seomjin River. You can check out the full list of activities and the details on the official website.

Also, for safety and organization, there will be no vehicles allowed inside the festival venue, apart from buses, residents' cars and event buses. Shuttle buses will operate between the parking lot and the main event area to prevent inconveniences.

@gwangyang_tour55 Jimak 1-gil Daap-myeon, Gwangyang, South Jeolla전라남도 광양시 다압면 지막1길 55 Duration: March 8 to March 17Admission fee: 5,000 won, exchanged for a regional voucherPhone number: 061-797-2921Website: https://gwangyang.go.kr/tour/

Jinhae Gunhang Festival 진해군항제

Jinhae Gunhang Festival held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, attracts visitors with cherry blossoms and cultural festivities. [YONHAP]

Often referred to as Jinhae Gunhangjae, Jinhae Gunhang Festival is a well-known cherry blossom festival held in Jinhae District, Changwon in South Gyeongsang every spring to commemorate General Yi Sun-shin. He was a beloved admiral from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and had led multiple victorious battles against Japan using strategic turtle-shaped battleships, geobukseon.

This year, the 62nd Jinhae Gunhang Festival runs from March 23 until April 1, with the eve event taking place on the evening of March 22. Jungwon Rotary at the heart of Jinhae District is where cultural performances take place. During the festival, Friday evenings and the weekend are not to be missed as the Jinhae Military Band and Honor Guard Festival takes place. Apart from the military band's performance, you can witness traces of the Marine Corps through other attractions and activities such as the military band marching and the geobukseon display. When you visit, make sure to take a snap of an old Korail train near Yeohwacheon Stream, a famous photo spot with cherry blossom trees surrounding the aged installment.

@jgfestivalJungwon Rotary in Jinhae District, Changwon, South Gyeongsang창원시 진해구 중원로타리 등 진해구 일원Duration: March 23 to April 1 (Eve event on March 22)Website: https://www.jgfestival.or.kr/

BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]