[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Daegu's 4 most scenic fall destinations

While being Korea's third-largest metropolitan city, Daegu is relatively less crowded and has more scenic getaway destinations, allowing its visitors to take a break from busy urban life during the day and enjoy the city's bustling streets at night.

The autumn foliage at Mount Palgong is a tourist attraction in Daegu. [JANG JIN-YOUNG]

Discovering new sources of joy is one of the most exciting parts of going on a trip. If you end up encountering an amazing place you were oblivious to, the experience becomes even more thrilling.

Daegu just might be the source of such thrill, especially for those who have only been to Seoul and Busan. While being Korea's third-largest metropolitan city, Daegu is relatively less crowded and has more scenic getaway destinations, allowing its visitors to take a break from busy urban life during the day and enjoy the city's bustling streets at night.

Geumho River Alluvial Island 금호강 하중도

Visitors enjoy their day at the flower field full of yellow cosmos in Geumho River Alluvial Island, or Hajung Island, in Buk District, Daegu. [NEWS1]

Daegu, despite being known as a large inland basin surrounded by hills, has a picturesque island called Hajung Island in the northern part of the city, covering an area of 223,000 square meters (55 acres).

The island, located on the Geumho River, gets extremely crowded during the fall. Once you enter it through a bridge, a vast field of 70,000 square meters — 10 times the size of a soccer field — will greet you with its cosmos flowerbeds. Shades of white, pink, yellow and orange flood the entire field and astonish the visitors.

The island's cosmos flowers are in full blossom during this time of the year, and its yellow cosmos flowers, in particular, are special in that the ends of their petals are shaped like the tooth of a saw. They last long, too, sticking around until late fall and early winter.

Apart from the cosmos flowers, there are also other types of plants on the island, such as chrysanthemums, broom cypress, silver grass and pampas grass. A chrysanthemums exhibition is currently taking place on the island and will continue until Nov. 12.

Nogok-dong, Buk District, Daegu (대구광역시 북구 노곡동)

Mount Palgong팔공산

A bird's eye view shot of the foliage at Mount Palgong. [YONHAP]

Mount Palgong, standing at 1,192 meters (3,910 feet) above sea level, is known for its breathtaking landscape, especially during the fall season, when the entire national park is painted with warm colors thanks to foliage.

This year, Mount Palgong's peak foliage season is expected to come around early November as a result of warm temperatures in the past months delaying the arrival of fall leaves.

If you are not a fan of hiking or walking long distances, hop onto a cable car that travels 820 meters in less than 10 minutes. The ride also allows you to admire the natural surroundings and appreciate the scenic beauty. At the cable car's destination, Wish Rock — a rock where people stick coins to make wishes — along with the observatory and photo zones, welcomes visitors. Wish Rock is well-known among Daegu's residents who come to pray for their wishes to come true.

Palgong Cable Car 51 Palgongsan-ro 185-gil, Dong District, Daegu (대구광역시 동구 용수동 팔공산로185길 51)Operating hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. (Time changes every season. For details, refer to the official website) Admission fee: Round trip, 13,000 won ($10) for visitors between ages 12- 64, 7,000 won for children (ages 4-11), 11,000 won for older adults (ages above 64)Phone number: 0507-1406-8801Website: http://www.palgongcablecar.com/

Dodong Seowon도동서원

The 440-year-old ginkgo tree in the front yard of Dodong Seowon in Dalseong County, Daegu. [DAEGU METROPOLITAN CITY]

Dodong Seowon in Dalseong County is sought after every fall by enthusiastic tourists seeking the ultimate Korean fall landscape. A 440-year-old ginkgo tree in the front yard measures 8.7 meters in diameter and is 25 meters tall, surrounding the venue with some yellow-gold glory.

Seowon was a private academy for Neo-Confucian scholars in the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), and many famous scholars across various domains in this era were alumni of seowon.

Dodong Seowon was designated the Unesco World Heritage in July 2019. Officially reconstructed in 1605 after a fire during the Imjin War (1592–1598) between Joseon and Japan, it keeps its respected image with its well-maintained exterior and vibrant surroundings. Walk through the historical path with golden leaves nestled in the yard at one of the most established seowon back in the past this week.

726, Gujiseo-ro, Dalseong County, Daegu(대구광역시 달성군 구지면 구지서로 726)

Suseong Lake 수성못

Suseong Lake in Suseong District lights up at night. [SUSEONG DISTRICT]

Last but not least, Suseong Lake is the perfect place to end a day in Daegu. Suseong Lake made the Korea Tourism Organization's biennial list of 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots in Korea for two consecutive times.

Stretching nearly 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) long, Suseong Lake stands out even more when the night falls. With the lights turned on and the cafes beaming vibrantly, it becomes the city's miniature cultural hub. The night view astonishes many, with the lights reflecting off the waters. If you are visiting Daegu, you may not want to miss out on spending a romantic evening either with your friends or family at Suseong Lake. Nearby streets are filled with cafes and restaurants, so check them out before visiting.

Dusan-dong, Suseong District, Daegu (대구광역시 수성구 두산동)

BY BAEK KYUNG-SEO, KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeung@joongang.co.kr]