The park is officially known as '1004 Island' in reference to the 1004 islands located within the Sinan administrative region.
It hosts the world's first bonsai park that integrates large-scale land art with thousands of meticulously pruned trees.
The garden contains the 'Jo Gwang-ja Gallery', which houses a specific collection of artworks focused on Korean nature and landscape themes.
The park's design philosophy deliberately preserves the local granite rock formations alongside the introduced bonsai species.
It serves as a primary site for annual regional botanical festivals, including the large-scale spring tulip displays.
1004 Island Bonsai Garden is a specialized botanical park in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, spanning over 13,000 hectares of coastal landscape. It features a curated collection of rare bonsai trees integrated with natural rock formations and waterfalls. The park is home to the Jo Gwang-ja Gallery and exhibits works by renowned artist Park Seo-bo. It serves as a hub for the Sinan International Flower Fair, specifically noted for its seasonal displays of tulips and hydrangeas. The layout utilizes the natural topography of the Aphae-eup island coast to create walking paths through pine forests and sculpted gardens. It is part of the broader Shinan County effort to promote 'island tourism' across its 1004 islands.
The elevated observation decks overlooking the bonsai terraces with the coastal sea in the background.
Bring a hat and sunscreen as the coastal location offers limited natural shade along the walking paths.
Check the official website for blooming schedules, as the park's visual appeal changes drastically between the spring tulip season and summer hydrangea season.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes as the terrain includes some gravel paths and uneven stone steps.
Do not attempt to visit in a single day alongside multiple other outer islands; the scale of the garden requires significant walking time.
Closed on Mondays for facility maintenance.
Maintain silence in the gallery areas and strictly avoid touching the bonsai specimens or stepping off designated paths.
