Seoulstyle.com - Destination: Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (Gangwon-do)

Considered one of Korea's best winter festivals, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (화천산천어축제) offers more than enough to see and do. Whether your interests are in fishing for the sancheoneo, a type of mountain trout, or enjoying the frozen-over river, you'll need a full day to see it all.

While the crowd of thousands looks overwhelming, people quickly began to choose what their interests were.

The already-carved ice holes served as an opportunity to try and catch the sancheoneo. The river was supposedly stocked, and the number of people allowed to fish is limited - at up to 12,000 won per person I wonder how many fish you'd have to catch to be worth it. Not pictured are places nearby to grill the fish you caught; other meats were available from a freezer unit if you weren't fishing.

It goes without saying that all your fishing supplies can be conveniently purchased just a few short meters from the ice.

For those not interested in fishing, sledding and walking across the ice is lots of fun across a large portion of the frozen river. Renting a 나무썰매 (wooden sled) cost 5,000 won; sitting cross-legged or Indian style ensured better balance. Use the sticks (nails poke out the bottom) to propel yourself across the ice, and use body language to assist with turning.

One highlight: taking an ATV for a spin across a circular track. 10,000 won and a signed release form got you 20 minutes racing around the ice. While spin-outs were common, crashes were pretty rare; the tires on the front protected the ATV's from too much damage.

The slope propelled some almost the whole way across the frozen river.

Another highlight was bare-hand fishing - stock some shallow ponds with the sancheoneo and let the humans try to catch them. Two pools (the one above was smaller for the kids) were filled with cold water to try and even the odds.

A few guys thought putting the fish in your mouth as you walked victoriously to the stairs would make them look manly... Um, no, not so much...

The entire town gets into the festival - each of the murals encompass an entire wall of each house.

Our next stop is a trip to the Asia Ice Lights Square - an indoor freezer featuring a number of ice sculptures:

A miniature of the World Peace Bell - at 9,999 gwan, the real thing will have one more piece added when the two Koreas are unified.

Disneyland's Castle, lit up in brilliant rainbow style.

Slide down Disneyland's Castle back to the ground, but grab a mat from the bottom of the slide first!

Welcome to the World Winter City Plaza - 3,000 won gets you through the gate and earns you a 3,000 won gift certificate. Foreigners get the same discount as the old, the disabled, and 'man of national merit' - read into that how you will.

Name that character - made of carved ice, it's easily 15 meters wide and 4 meters tall.

An intriguing water wheel - note the icicles at an angle to gravity.

An indoor section didn't offer any warmth, but the light show is worth seeing all the same.

The ceiling of light pointed a beeline from the river back to the bus terminal.

Although it takes a full day and most of a night to see it all, it's a trip worth taking. Bundle up, and be ready for some slippery surfaces - the ice seemed less slick than some of the walkways. You still have time to catch this event - it doesn't end until January 31st.

Directions to Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival: Take an express bus to Hwacheon from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon station, line 2; 12,600 won, normally 15 buses a day) among other bus terminals around the country. You may find it easier to get a bus to the Chuncheon Bus Terminal (every 15 minutes, 7,800 won), although there are extra buses running to the area thanks to the festival. Getting in is free, but expect to pay for almost anything worth doing or seeing.