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Since 2005, the river area has been undergoing a surprising facelift, stretching from Gwangju's most famous food, clothing and furniture market, Yangdong Market, all the way out of the city in a southeasterly direction. The river edge is beautifully lit at night, and with its colored lights and shopping areas nearby, is rapidly becoming a symbol of Gwangju - the City of Light and Culture.
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광주향교 - Gwangju Hyanggyo
The Gwangju Confucian School, which played a key role in Confucian education during the Joseon Dynasty (1329–1910) and served as a kind of national university at the time, today offers a “Confucian university” program through which participants can experience diverse aspects of traditional culture.
대인시장 (Daein-sijang)
A night market opens on every Saturday with artists, professional and amateur, showing and selling their creations on moving stands. The eye-catching goods include silver accessories, ceramics, handmade soaps, artisanal cutting boards, wood crafts, and paintings. The best selling items include bowls of hot soup with rice, pancakes made of mung beans or seafood and scallions, and pan-fried seasoned pork. Among the “fusion” options are dessert macaroni, noodles that sell for only ₩1,000 per serving, and skewered octopus.
518민주화운동기록관
The 5.18 Archives systematically preserve and manage photos and images related to the May 18 Democratic Movement, which was listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World on July 27, 2011. The archive is located at the former Gwangju Catholic Center building on Geumnam-ro Street, where the pro-democracy demonstration took place. The collection includes photographs, films, and videos.
어여쁘다 궁동; Beauteous Gungdung
Eoyeoppeuda-Gungdung is an art party held on Art Street on Saturday. The festival features a variety of programs for citizens and children to enjoy, such as puppet show, magic show, bubble show, and more.
예술의거리 (Yesuruigeori)
A back street near downtown spanning approximately three blocks. It is full of artists and their works in galleries and nicely decorated store windows. In the evenings, it is lit up especially beautiful and provides a nice quaint walk a stone's throw from the most hectic pedestrian area in town. For artists seeking supplies, many of the stores also carry very affordable materials.
금남로 & 충장로
These two streets form the pedestrian area of downtown, which is large when compared to other downtown areas with the exception of Seoul and Busan. Any given night these streets will be packed, though the crowds die out around midnight. From restaurants to karaoke rooms, to DVD rooms, pool halls, clubs, bars, movie theaters, and shopping can be done here. Several foreign food restaurants have established themselves here too and two foreign grocers (Western products and a Philippine market) are in this area too. Just about neighborhood has a bus that eventually ends here and taxi drivers will understand "Geumnam-ro". The main landmark is the YMCA, which is handy to ask for as well if using a taxi. The subway makes three stops (Geumnamno 4&5 and Asia Culture Center) all within a short distance, covering the two ends and the middle of the downtown district. Don't miss the underground shopping areas, which spans those three subway stops as well.