Seonimgyo Bridge
Encyclopedia
Seonimgyo Bridge is an arch bridge
on Jeju Island
over Cheonjeyeon Waterfall
that has seven nymphs carved on both sides. It crosses from east to west over the stream between the second and third tiers of Cheonjeyeon waterfall. The bridge is also called Chilseonyeogyo (칠선녀교) or Seven Nymphs Bridge. The nymphs symbolize the Korea
n legend of the descent of seven beautiful nymphs from heaven
at night. Seonimgyo Bridge is the first bridge with Ojakgyo (오작교) design in the region. It was completed in 1984, and cost the Korea Tourism Organization
about 400 million won
to construct. There is a fee for tourists who use the bridge. There are 100 guard rail
s and 34 stone lantern
s which light up at night. On the bridge's steel columns, there are 14 nymphs, 7 on each side with each nymph about 20 m in length. All the nymphs are playing their own musical instrument
s.
Seonimgyo Bridge is 128 m (419.9 ft) in length, 78 m (255.9 ft) in height, 4 m (13.1 ft) in width, and 230 tons in weight.
It is a tourist attraction
on Jeju-do
. The bridge connects Cheonjeyeon
with the Jungmun Tourist Complex, and is intended for pedestrian
use.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
on Jeju Island
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
over Cheonjeyeon Waterfall
Cheonjeyeon Waterfall
Cheonjeyeon Waterfall, not to be confused with the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, is a three-tier waterfall located on Jeju Island. Cold water flows out of the ceiling of a cave to make the waterfall. Between the precipice of the waterfall and the lower clay layer, water springs out. In first cascade, the...
that has seven nymphs carved on both sides. It crosses from east to west over the stream between the second and third tiers of Cheonjeyeon waterfall. The bridge is also called Chilseonyeogyo (칠선녀교) or Seven Nymphs Bridge. The nymphs symbolize the Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n legend of the descent of seven beautiful nymphs from heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
at night. Seonimgyo Bridge is the first bridge with Ojakgyo (오작교) design in the region. It was completed in 1984, and cost the Korea Tourism Organization
Korea Tourism Organization
The Korea Tourism Organization is a statutory organization of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and is commissioned to promote the country's tourism industry.-Overview:...
about 400 million won
Korean won
The won was the currency of Korea between 1902 and 1910. It was subdivided into 100 chon .-Etymology:Won is a cognate of the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen.-History:...
to construct. There is a fee for tourists who use the bridge. There are 100 guard rail
Guard rail
Guard rail or guardrail, sometimes referred to as guide rail or railing, is a system designed to keep people or vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limits areas...
s and 34 stone lantern
Lantern
A lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
s which light up at night. On the bridge's steel columns, there are 14 nymphs, 7 on each side with each nymph about 20 m in length. All the nymphs are playing their own musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s.
Seonimgyo Bridge is 128 m (419.9 ft) in length, 78 m (255.9 ft) in height, 4 m (13.1 ft) in width, and 230 tons in weight.
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
on Jeju-do
Jeju-do
Jeju-do is the only special autonomous province of South Korea, situated on and coterminous with the country's largest island. Jeju-do lies in the Korea Strait, southwest of Jeollanam-do Province, of which it was a part before it became a separate province in 1946...
. The bridge connects Cheonjeyeon
Cheonjeyeon Waterfall
Cheonjeyeon Waterfall, not to be confused with the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, is a three-tier waterfall located on Jeju Island. Cold water flows out of the ceiling of a cave to make the waterfall. Between the precipice of the waterfall and the lower clay layer, water springs out. In first cascade, the...
with the Jungmun Tourist Complex, and is intended for pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
use.