Cycling Andong to Sangju

I spent two days in the Andong area and completed the start of the Nakdonggang River Cycle Path up to Sangju. Naver Map link of the Nakdonggang River Bicycle Path (낙동강자전거길): naver.me/xcAOylhL

Click to the Four Rivers Cross-country Bicycle Path main page.

Day 1 – Andong 29 March

The bus to Andong from Dong Seoul Terminal (east) left 08:10 and arrived at Andong Chogyo (안동초교) in town at 11:15. This is the second stop; the bus waits 20 minutes at the main Andong bus terminal before going into town. I was on river by 11:30 and cycled east on the north bank to Hobanjeong (호반정) for some noodles (들깨국시(&미니비빔밥) with a mini bibimbab. Nice, although I ordered the large portion by mistake!

After the food, I went opposite to Wolyeong Park (월영공원) to see the river. Back on the bike I cycled east, intending to explore the dam, but the park leading to it was closed for construction. It was 12:30 and I headed back west, crossed the bridge to the south side, and wandered around the entrance of Andong Folk Village (안동시립박물관) (this is the smaller folk village, not the huge one further west out of town). I walked my bike up a hill to Gurume/396 Cafe (구름에 396커피) but it was really busy so I decided not to stay. It looked nice and served filter coffee; I was wondering why it was so crowded with families then realised (dumbly) this wasn’t a ‘busy Monday’ but a quiet Sunday!

Next, about 13:15, I went to Wolyeonggyo Bridge (월영교); this is apparently the longest wooden bridge in Korea (although it’s in top of a metal frame(!?). I got my Andong Dam cycle path passport stamp, then walked across the bridge. It’s a pretty cool bridge with nice views. There are a lot of trails in the area along the river, the hills, and to the folk village I’d just been to; things to do on a non-cycling trip.

I cycled west then to the south bank and to You are here cafe (유아히어카페) for an Americano. The cafe is full of plants and has a view onto the Angong river park. There were lots of very delicious looking cakes but I decided not to… At 15:00, after about 30 minutes, I started cycling ‘properly’ towards my accommodation about 30 km away.

Wanting to take it easy, I cycled slowly. It was pleasant along the river park but as the trail went inland, there were some pretty gnarly road sections (disappearing cycle lanes and two steep sections to walk up). Took rest at a pavilion with some views down to the river. There were also some farmland sections and some nice bits of cycle path.

Queen Motel is in a ‘new’ town which is supposed to be the province’s government complex. Everything is new and big, but unfortunately it already looks a bit empty and rundown. I got to the area (~17:20) after a few wrong turns. Check in wasn’t until 18:00, so I walked around a bit cheking out restaurants. After checking in, I showered then went out for some donkas pork cutlet. I saw Project Hail Mary was playing at the Megabox, so rushed there just in time. If I’d known it was a two and a half hour film, I might have waited for another time! However, I managed to stay awake and enjoyed the flick!

A few sections of Andong and Nakdonggang over the two days:

Day 2 – Andong to Sangju – 30 March

Got breakfast at around 8 am. Nothing special, toast, jam and cereal. Coffee machine wasn’t working… Packed, the was on the road by 9. Stopped at Arts Centre to look around the building. No exhibitions, mainly empty. The building was interesting though. It’s sad because a lot of effort seems to have gone into trying to make this new town for gov’t workers work as a community but it doesn’t seem to be working.

Didn’t get to the River Trail until 9:20. Quite a long way getting out of town due to a few wrong turns. Very long nice path along an embankment. Stopped by a weir for some fruit ~09:50. Lots of embankment cycling in the this section. The riverside farming infrastructure is pretty impressive.

11:00 cool raised wooden section of the trail. I liked it so much, I went back and did it again! 11:40 fire watch patrol guy gave me a banana.

Stopped for the next passport stamp at 12:15. There was a refrigerator filled with bottles of water to help yourselves to, just toss 1,000 won into a slot! It seems to be run by one of the cycle hostels in the area.