Wonju's 1,300-year-old ginkgo tree draws autumn visitors

If you're timing a Gangwon trip around fall foliage, the Bankye-ri Ginkgo Tree in Wonju is the kind of quiet pilgrimage that makes the detour worth it. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the tree is estimated to be over 1,300 years old based on analysis by the National Institute of Forest Science in 2024. Its trunk and branches spread wide and even in all directions — the kind of scale that hits different in person.

The tree sits in Munmak-eup and is open 24 hours year-round, so you can visit whenever the light hits right for photos. According to local lore, an ancestor of the Seongju Yi clan planted it from a walking stick left behind after stopping for water; the tree was believed to house a white snake and was regarded as sacred, which is part of why it survived this long. In autumn, when the ginkgo leaves turn golden all at once, locals say it signals a bountiful harvest the following year — whether you believe that or not, the visual is unmissable.

Parking is available on-site, and if you need to call ahead with questions, the info line is +82-507-1430-2808.