Some places invite you to slow down simply by being there. In Bangye-ri, a village in Wonju’s Munmak-eup, one ginkgo spreads its branches into an immense, sheltering crown.
Known as the Wonju Bangye-ri Ginkgo Tree (원주 반계리 은행나무), it was designated Natural Monument No. 167 in 1964. Its seasonal changes give the same tree three strikingly different forms: a gold canopy in autumn, a dense green crown in summer and a tracery of exposed branches in winter.
Old enough to change your sense of time.
Its age is an estimate, not an exact birthday. A study announced by Wonju City in December 2024 used three-dimensional surveying and growth comparisons to estimate an age of about 1,317 years. Around 1,300 years is the useful perspective to carry with you, rather than treating a precise figure as a known planting date.
Leave room for the whole tree.
Start with the shape of the crown before looking for a closer detail. The summer photograph shows the scale of its green canopy; the winter image reveals the branching structure underneath. The autumn image captures one season’s colour, not a promise of what you will find on a particular date.
Stay on visitor paths and respect any barriers around the tree. Do not climb it, step into protected root areas or collect leaves from its branches. Busy autumn days call for extra space and patience around other visitors.
Before you go.
The tree is in Bangye-ri, Munmak-eup, Wonju-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. The official site address identifies parcel 1495-1 in Bangye-ri. Search for the full tree name when planning your journey.
VISITKOREA lists free admission and year-round, 24-hour access. Local controls, events or safety measures may affect a visit, so check current information before travelling. Autumn colour and leaf fall vary with the weather; these archive photographs are not a foliage forecast.
Let this be the main stop, rather than a photo to collect between other places. Confirm the journey and return transport, then leave time to look.
