Changwon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Changwon | |
---|---|
Hangul: | 창원시 |
Hanja: | 昌原市 |
Revised Romanization: | Changwon-si |
McCune-Reischauer: | Ch'angwŏn-si |
Statistics | |
Area: | 292.80 km² |
Population: | 549,507 (2005)[1] |
Pop. density: | 1,803.8 people/km² |
Administrative divisions: | 1 eup, 2 myeon, 12 dong |
Changwon is a city in and the capital of South Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. The city is approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of Busan, and has a population of approximately 550,000.
It was established in 1974 to be an industrial and residential centre, as well as the future provincial capital, and has grown since this time. Unlike most other Korean cities that are just urban sprawl, Changwon has many parks and gardens throughout the city which give it a much different feel. However, Changwon bears similarities to other cities despite the urban planning. Chronic traffic gridlock occurs, a smog haze often hangs over the city and canal rivers loaded with refuse wind through the urban neighborhoods.
The city has two large department stores, Lotte and Daedong, and also an EMart and Homeplus. There are also 20 cinema screens in the city spread between three recently built western-style cinemas: Lotte, CGV and MegaLine.
Perhaps the most well-known tourist site is the Junam Reservoir which is an important bird migration site and the largest in Korea. During the peak winter season, an average of 30 to 40,000 birds a day can be seen there.
Changwon is a hub of factories for many major companies, including Samsung, GM-Daewoo and LG Electronics.
The city contains the head offices of archaeological research institutes such as the Gyeongnam Institute of Cultural Properties and the Changwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (see below) and is the centre of cultural heritage resource management and contract archaeology in South Gyeongsang.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- City government website
- Open Directory category
- Galbijim wiki page on Changwon
- Gyeongnam Institute of Cultural Properties
- Changwon National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage
Administrative divisions of South Gyeongsang province, South Korea | |
---|---|
Capital: | Changwon |
Cities: | Changwon | Geoje | Gimhae | Jinhae | Jinju | Masan | Miryang | Sacheon | Tongyeong | Yangsan |
Counties: | Changnyeong | Geochang | Goseong | Hadong | Haman | Hamyang | Hapcheon | Namhae | Sancheong | Uiryeong |