Founded in 1658, under King Hyo-jong's ruling in the Joseon Dynasty, Daegu Yangnyeongsi is one of the three traditional medicinal ingredient markets in Korea next to Jeonju Yangnyeongsi and Wonju Yangnyeongsi.

Many merchants and locals of Daegu have put in efforts for multiple decades to keep the traditions going while spreading the word of its existence and pride, both nationally and globally.

This area of the city undoubtedly offers many things to see and experience from acupuncture, herbal medicine and Daegu's historical sites to healthy chicken soup and a cafe in a hanok (a traditional house), a worthy destination for travellers keen on learning about Daegu's traditions.

THE STREETS OF DAEGU YANGNYEONGSI
대구 약령시

At Yangnyeongsi, you'll see a long line of herbal medicine shops, many of them proud of running them for multiple generations.

You'll see many things in baskets on display outside each shop from tea leaves to traditional medicinal ingredients.

I stopped by at a herbal medicine shop that had tea leaves sold in bags.

I got the feeling that tea leaves were their main source of income because owners of many herbal medicine shops didn't seem enthusiastic nor excited when I inquired about them.

Traditional herbal medicine sold in bulk/wholesale is more likely their main source of income.

After asking the apathetic owner what each tea is good for and not getting a clear answer, I decided to go with a tea called 산수유 · Sansuyu · 山茱萸 simply because it looked pretty.

Inside the shop, I saw more herbal ingredients packaged in large bags stacked on top of each other, together oozing a mixed herbal scent that I personally enjoyed.

Sansuyu (cornelian cherry) tea was ₩10,000 for a 300g bag and was package in July 2020.

Sansuyu is said to appear multiple times in Joseon Dynasty's royal physician Heo Jun's book, Dongui Bogam (동의보감 · 東醫寶鑑), which is a book about medicines of the East.

A web search indicates that it is known to be good for headaches, tinnitus, fevers, hypermenorrhea, and more.

Sansuyu is famous for being sour, so naturally the tea, light pink-ish orange in colour, was also very sour.

Probably not the best place to shop for souvenirs, but no need to worry because it offers other exciting things to do!

YANGNYEONGSI ORIENTAL MEDICINE MUSEUM
한의약 박물관

The most famous (and the biggest) destination at Daegu Yangnyeongsi has to be Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Museum!

The exhibition is available on two floors; The second floor called Oriental Medicine Experience and the third floor Room For History Of Oriental Medicine.

You'll get to look into life as a herbal medicine merchant in the Joseon Dynasty and view different medicines on display.

You can also reserve hands-on experience programs like feet bathing in herbal medicine, and making herbal soap and natural air freshners. For more information and to reserve, go to their website.

They also have an outdoor feet bathing available, which seems to be a small waterway that can seat about 30 people and you dip your feet into. 

I visited in winter, so the outdoor feet bathing experience wasn't operating. But, if you visit during seasons with warm or hot weather, this is available from 11:00 to 17:00.

Don't forget to get a picture in front of the gate that leads you to the museum!

Address: 대구 중구 달구벌대로415길 49

Hours: 09:00-18:00
Closed: Mondays (Except for holidays), New Year's Day, Chuseok (Thanksgiving)

Admission: Free

DAEGU JEIL CHURCH
제일교회 기독교 역사관

The very first church to be established in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Jeil Church's exhibition is filled with Bibles, old photographs, documents and items that tell a story of how Christianity first came to the region.

This church, located right beside Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Museum, was once the place where foreign missionaries worked to spread the words of gospel and Western medicine.

The church has now moved to a new location and this location is mostly used for the exhibition.

Address: 대구 중구 남성로

Hours: Subject to change

Admission: Free

HANBANG MEDICAL EXPERIENCE TOWN
한방의료체험타운

This brand new center, which officially opened its doors in August 2020, is a great place to experience how modern technology is incorporated to Korea's old medicine.

The 4th floor called ICT Korean Medicine Experience Hall consists of games and testings done through augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). It's a fun way to learn and experience traditional medicine free of charge!

The 5th floor is called Korean Medicine & Beauty Experience Room.

₩5,000 gets you 2 hours on this floor where you can try out many interesting activities from a heated massage bed (my favourite) and measuring blood pressure to getting a consultation from a Korean medicine doctor and getting acupuncture.

Their beauty room was doing a free scalp testing, so I got to find out that my scalp is a bit dry and requires a steam session from time to time! You can also paint your nails, but some parts don't come with the entrance fee and have to be purchased separately.

Remember your passport and/or foreigner's ID card in Korea is required to get acupuncture and moxibustion here.

The 6th floor was the foot bath experience room. I reserved my spot a week in advance. It was the most relaxing 30 minutes ever!

Address: 대구 중구 중앙대로77길 45

Hours: 10:00-17:30
Last Entry: 17:00
Closed: Mondays, New Year's Day, Chuseok (Thanksgiving), a day after any holiday that falls on Monday

Prices:
Korean Medicine & Beauty Room: ₩5,000 for two hours
Foot Bath Room: ₩5,000
Parking: ₩1,000 for the first 30 minutes, ₩500 for every additional 30 minutes

Reservation: Required

OLD HOUSE OF LEE SANG-HWA
이상화 고택

This hanok house is tucked away just minutes from the city bustles. A step into the house, you realize it's especially calm and tranquil.

It was a house of none other than a nationalist poet Lee Sang-hwa (1901-1943), who wrote of resisting the Japanese colonization. He participated in the March 1st Movement (3.1 운동), an event demanding Korea's independence, in 1919.

Address: 대구 중구 계산동2가

Hours: 10:00-17:30

Admission: Free

OLD HOUSE OF SEO SANG-DON
서상돈 고택

Just across poet Lee Sang-hwa's house, you'll find late Seo Sang-don's house.

He was an entrepreneur and an activist who is most well-known for proposing Gukchae Bosang Undong · 국채보상운동, a movement to pay off a national debt Korea owed Japan.

Address: 대구 중구 서성로 6-1

Hours: 10:00-17:30

3.1 INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT ROAD
3.1. 만세 운동길

It's a historical road where students secretly assembled and rallied down during the March 1st Independence Movement. You'll find old photos with their significance written below.

Around the area, you'll also find homes of Christian missionaries from the US, Jeil Church's current building and Cheongna Hill, all very beautiful for snapping photos and learning bits about the region's history.

Address: 대구 중구 동산동

YAKJEON HANBANG SAMGYETANG
약전한방삼계탕

Out of many mouthwatering food options in Daegu, this was a local recommended eatery that serves up delicious samgyetang · 삼계탕, a whole chicken cooked in a stone pot with healthy ingredients like date, ginseng and chestnuts.

I visited during lunch and it was packed with patrons devouring their food, some groups were even showed to the tables on the second floor. Through the crowded noise, I was able to order a serving of Hanbang Samgyetang (₩14,000). 

Every samgyetang comes with ginseng liquor · 인삼주, which you can drink as shots or pour into your soup for added flavours.

Address: 대구 중구 달구벌대로415길 56

Hours: 09:00-21:00

Price: ₩14,000 and up

LA MIA EMILY
라미아에밀리

If you need a cup of coffee or a bite of creamy cake in between your day around Daegu's traditional sites, this popular hanok cafe is the place for you.

This cafe boasts multiple rooms decorated in different themes as well as a large courtyard full of colourful flowers and outdoor tables.

Address: 대구 중구 달구벌대로 2061-2

Hours: 11:00-22:30

Price: ₩4,000 and up

Daegu's modernity surely offers a lot to see, but touring around these traditional and historical sites is also a meaningful experience that opens up a new perspective of the city.

Take a day out of your time in Daegu and explore these places, it's worth it.