[Travel Bits] Round up of travel news from around the world

Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival

The annual Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival is a celebration of all thing lotus flowers, while also highlighting the importance of preserving wild flowers. As part of the festival celebrations, the event features a variety of programs such as lotus paper origami and flower soap making. This year’s festivities will run from July 8 to 17 at Buyeo’s Seodong Park.

Although nowhere near as popular with tourists as Seoul and Busan, Buyeo continues to strengthen its image as a tourist destination. Located near the festival grounds are a number of Baekje cultural and historic sites such as the Baekje Wangneungwon (royal mausoleum), Nakhwaam Rock and the Baekje Historical Museum. 

‘Fun Taipei’ all-inclusive discounted travel package

In an effort to promote travel to Taiwan’s bustling capital city of Taipei, Fun Taipei has unveiled a new all-inclusive discounted travel package.

The Fun Taipei travel deal offers round-trip airfare from Incheon to Taipei with China Airlines, hotel accommodation for two nights, two days of free Wi-Fi, a one-day “Easy Pass” travel card as well as a free travel guidebook, all starting at the low price of 274,000 won ($238), excluding taxes and fees.

The promotional deal will be on offer via 18 major Korean tourism agencies including Hana Tour, Mode Tour and YB Tour. Participating hotels include the Taipei Hotel Bstay, Gloria Prince Hotel, Ferrary Hotel, Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, among others.

The Fun Taipei offer will be available until Dec. 31. 

Busan Sea Festival

The annual Busan Sea Festival is gearing up for its 21st year, kicking off this year’s weeklong festivities on Aug. 1.

The festival was launched 20 years ago in an effort to promote the harbor city of Busan as a port-side tourist destination. The event has grown to become one of the city’s biggest festivals, offering visitors of all ages the opportunity to view and experience various cultural programs and performances. The festival will also feature a handful of star-filled concerts such as the Cass Summer Concert, Busan International Hip-hop Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival and the 7080 Family Love Concert.

Busan Sea Festival will be held at five beaches throughout the city: Haeundae, Gwangalli, Songdo, Dadaepo and Songjeong until Aug. 7. For more information, visit www.seafestival.co.kr. 

Moonlight Tour at Suwon Hwaseong

Similar to the Seoul palaces’ nighttime tours, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress will soon be open to visitors who want to take a nighttime stroll at the historic site.

Until July 17, the Suwon Cultural Foundation will open the UNESCO World Heritage Suwon Hwaseong and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace to the public for a nighttime program known as “Moonlight Tour at Suwon Hwaseong.” Participants can enjoy programs such as poetry readings and traditional performances.

Tickets cost 20,000 won and must be purchased in advance at interpark.com.

Boryeong Mud Festival

One of the country’s most highly anticipated festivals of the year, the annual Boryeong Mud Festival attracts the largest number of international visitors of all the country’s top festivals.

Visitors can enjoy a myriad of energetic and wild activities such as mud wrestling, mud sliding and even swimming in a mega-size mud tub. Festival participants can also take part in the marine mud-training course for some added competition and fun as well as enjoy a relaxing mud massage.

In the evening, visitors can head to the beach for a lively outdoor party with live music and fireworks.

This year’s festival will be held from July 15 to 24.