At a glance
| Dates | Expected Dec/Jan/Feb 2026–27Late December 2026 to mid or late February 2027 (the 19th season by the organizer's count). Basis: KTO's 2025–26 listing ran 24 December–22 February; the 2014–15 season ran 24 December–22 February with a partial, weather-dependent December opening and the official opening on 1 January; the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons opened on 1 January and closed on 13 February and 12–19 February. No 2026–27 dates or prices announced as of 19 October 2026. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2026: Late December 2026 to mid or late February 2027 (the 19th season by the organizer's count). Basis: KTO's 2025–26 listing ran 24 December–22 February; the 2014–15 season ran 24 December–22 February with a partial, weather-dependent December opening and the official opening on 1 January; the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons opened on 1 January and closed on 13 February and 12–19 February. No 2026–27 dates or prices announced as of 19 October 2026. |
| Admission | Paid: an all-day ticket is about ₩10,000–15,000, with a reduced rate for seniors and some other groups; sleds and activities are extra, with admission plus sled about ₩25,000–35,000 on site and online bundles a little cheaper.All-day admission (weekday or weekend): ₩12,000 · Discounted admission: ₩6,000 · Admission plus snow sled, on site: ₩32,000 (2025 prices) |
| Venue | Alps Village (Cheonjang-ri), Jeongsan-myeon충청남도 청양군 정산면 천장호길 223-35 |
| Nearest station | No rail access; see Getting there |
| From Seoul | about 3 h · BusLeave from Central City Terminal · One-way fare from ₩19,100Full route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Alps Village operating committee (Cheonjang-ri villagers)알프스마을 운영위원회 |
| Usual timing | Late December or 1 January to mid or late February, as long as it is cold enough to freeze the fountains: 1 Jan–13 Feb 2022, 1 Jan–19 Feb 2023 (KTO listing; the Korea Herald said 12 Feb) and 24 Dec 2025–22 Feb 2026. In 2014–15 the December weeks were a partial, weather-dependent opening before the official opening on 1 January. Browse December / January / February festivals. |
| First held | 2008 |
| Last checked | 21 October 2026Checked against 19 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Alps Village is the nickname of Cheonjang-ri, a farming hamlet of about 90 residents under the summit of Chilgapsan in Cheongyang County, a mountain area locals call the 'Alps of Chungnam'. In 2008 the villagers began spraying water into the winter air so that it froze into towering ice fountains around their fields, and the idea grew by word of mouth into one of South Chungcheong's best-known winter outings for families. The 2025–26 season, the 18th, ran 24 December to 22 February with about 90 large ice fountains (one for each villager), a 10 m ice pillar, an ice castle at the entrance and snow sculptures of children's characters such as Pororo, Jjangu and Tiniping. Most of the day is spent sliding: snow-sled runs of different difficulty, ice sleds, an ice bobsleigh, tube sleds and a rice-transplanter sled, plus a tin-can train, a zip track and smelt fishing. Villagers roast chestnuts and sweet potatoes over a bonfire and sell their own farm food, and LEDs light the fountains in the evening. Entry costs about ₩10,000–15,000, but sleds and most activities cost extra (about ₩25,000–35,000 for entry with sledding), so a family day adds up. Caveats: the fountains need hard frost, and in earlier seasons December was a partial, weather-dependent opening with the full programme from 1 January; this is a small village rather than a large event ground, so the car park fills even on weekdays and queues build after midday; and without a car the trip means an express bus to Cheongyang and then a rural bus or taxi.
Highlights
- About 90 giant ice fountains in 2025–26 (one for each villager) and a 10 m ice pillar, lit with LEDs after dark
- Snow-sled runs of different difficulty, ice sleds, ice bobsleigh, tube sleds and a rice-transplanter sled
- An ice castle at the entrance, an ice cave and snow sculptures of children's characters such as Pororo, Jjangu and Tiniping
- Smelt fishing and smelt scooping (about ₩3,000–12,000)
- Chestnuts and sweet potatoes roasted over a bonfire, plus dalgona, sweet-potato dumpling and injeolmi making
- Zip track and the tin-can train (about ₩5,000–10,000 each)
- The 207 m Cheonjangho suspension bridge beside the village
Who it suits. Best for families with young children who want sledding, cartoon snow sculptures and farm snacks in one place, and for photographers after frosted ice fountains lit at night; less suited to travellers without a car who want a quick, simple trip, or anyone expecting a big event ground with English signage.
Getting there
From Seoul
Express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Central City, Honam Line side) to Cheongyang: the Cheongyang–Central City run is timetabled at 2 h 24 m, ₩13,100 standard or ₩19,100 deluxe. From Cheongyang terminal take an intercity bus to Jeongsan (22–29 minutes, ₩2,700, 14 a day), then rural bus 405 or 702 to the Cheonjang-ri stop and walk about 10 minutes; a taxi from Cheongyang or Jeongsan is simpler. Allow about 3 hours each way. Driving takes about 2 h 30 m from Gangnam, leaving the expressway at Cheongyang IC.
Festival shuttle
No festival shuttle was documented. Trazy sells a winter day tour from Seoul on set weekdays, with early-morning pick-ups at Hongik Univ. Station Exit 4, Myeongdong Station Exit 3 and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 10 and a return to Seoul in the late afternoon; the season shown was 24 Dec–15 Feb (year not stated), so check the times and dates when booking.
Getting home
Cheongyang has no train station. Express buses from Cheongyang to Seoul Central City run about six times a day, with a single morning bus to Dong Seoul; times for the 2026–27 season were not verified, so check the last bus at Cheongyang terminal before the festival day. Rural buses between Cheonjang-ri and Jeongsan are infrequent, so plan a taxi back to Cheongyang terminal if you stay for the evening lights (closing 19:00 weekdays, 20:00 weekends in 2025–26).
Parking
Free, large car park at the village (blog-reported), but it filled even on weekdays in January 2022; arrive before 09:00 at weekends.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| All-day admission (weekday or weekend) | ₩12,000 | On site and through TimeTicket; sleds and activities extra |
| Discounted admission | ₩6,000 | Seniors, registered disabled visitors and national-merit holders (blog-reported); a child rate was sold on Naver booking but the amount was not found |
| Admission plus snow sled, on site | ₩32,000 | |
| Sled pass bought after entry | ₩20,000 | |
| Admission plus sled, online deal (weekday) | ₩25,600 | Social-commerce price |
| Admission plus sled, online deal (weekend) | ₩28,800 | Social-commerce price |
| Zip track | ₩10,000 | |
| Tin-can train | ₩5,000 | |
| Chestnut roasting | ₩5,000 | |
| Smelt scooping | ₩5,000 | |
| Dalgona or sweet-potato dumpling making | ₩5,000 | Each |
| Injeolmi (rice cake) making | ₩10,000 | |
| Smelt fishing, 1 hour (entry only) | ₩3,000 | |
| Smelt fishing, 1 hour with rod and bait | ₩12,000 |
- Booking
- No booking needed: tickets are sold at the gate. Cheaper admission-and-sled bundles were sold on Korean deal platforms, and admission was also sold on TimeTicket and Naver booking, which may need a Korean account. Check alpsvill.com or call +82-41-942-0797 before going.
- English on site
- No English service was documented on the pages opened. KTO data mirrors carry Japanese, Spanish and German listings, and Trazy sells a day tour from Seoul aimed at foreign visitors.
- Crowds
- Busy: the car park filled even on weekdays in January 2022, mostly with families with children. A 2026 guide says the quietest time is 08:00–09:00 and crowds build after midday.
- Best time to go
- A weekday morning at opening for sledding without queues, or late afternoon into the evening to see the fountains lit with LEDs.
- What to bring
- Thermal layers, waterproof boots, gloves and a hat; spare gloves and dry clothes for children after sledding; some cash for snack stalls and activity fees.
- Rain
- Everything depends on frost: in 2014–15 the December weeks were a partial opening that depended on the weather, with the official opening on 1 January.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Late December 2026 to mid or late February 2027 (the 19th season by the organizer's count). Basis: KTO's 2025–26 listing ran 24 December–22 February; the 2014–15 season ran 24 December–22 February with a partial, weather-dependent December opening and the official opening on 1 January; the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons opened on 1 January and closed on 13 February and 12–19 February. No 2026–27 dates or prices announced as of 19 October 2026. | expected | Named for a December 2026 opening, as in the 2025–26 listing. |
| 2025 | 24 Dec – 22 Feb 2026 | ended | 18th edition. KTO's listing and online ticket sales ran 24 Dec 2025–22 Feb 2026, and a February 2026 news report said it ran until Sunday 22 February; a magazine and a blog gave 1 January as the start, matching the older pattern of a weather-dependent December opening. |
| 2023 | 1 Jan – 19 Feb 2023 | ended | The 2022–23 season, the 15th by the organizer's count. KTO's listing gave 19 February as the closing date; the Korea Herald's January 2023 roundup said 12 February. |
| 2022 | 1 Jan – 13 Feb 2022 | ended | The 2021–22 season, the 14th by the organizer's count. Held during a COVID-19 surge with KF94 masks required on the grounds; the car park filled even on weekdays, mostly with families with children. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
- Cheonjangho suspension bridge (천장호 출렁다리)Before or after
A 207 m suspension bridge over Cheonjangho Lake (2009), its 16 m tower shaped like Cheongyang's chili peppers and goji berries; it sways 30–40 cm as you cross, and from the far side a trail climbs towards Chilgapsan or an easier path follows the lake to Hwangnyongjeong pavilion. Free, open 09:00–20:00 November–February: cross in daylight before or after the festival (night lighting runs only April–November). Tip: by taxi, get out at the bridge car park and walk the 1 km to the village.
Getting there: On foot, about 1 km along Cheonjangho-gil from Alps Village; free
Questions travelers ask
When is the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2026–27?
Not announced as of 19 October 2026. Expect late December 2026 to mid or late February 2027: the 2025–26 season was listed 24 December–22 February, and in earlier years the full programme opened on 1 January, with December depending on frost.
How much does it cost?
Admission is about ₩10,000–15,000 for the day. Sledding is extra: about ₩25,000–35,000 for admission plus sled on site, a little less as an online bundle. Smaller activities such as the tin-can train, smelt scooping and chestnut roasting cost about ₩5,000–10,000 each.
How do I get there from Seoul without a car?
Take an express bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Central City, Honam Line) to Cheongyang, timetabled at 2 h 24 m, then a bus to Jeongsan (22–29 minutes) and rural bus 405 or 702 to the Cheonjang-ri stop, a 10-minute walk from the village; a taxi from Cheongyang is simpler. Allow about 3 hours each way, or join a Trazy day tour from central Seoul.
What are the opening hours?
In 2025–26: 09:30–19:00 on weekdays and 09:00–20:00 on Fridays, weekends and holidays, with ticket sales ending an hour before closing. The ice fountains are lit with LEDs after dark.
Is it suitable for small children?
Yes, it is built for families: snow sculptures of cartoon characters, sled runs of different difficulty, the tin-can train and ice play. Bring spare gloves and dry clothes, as sledding gets children wet.
Is the festival held every year?
Yes. Villagers started it in 2008 and the 2025–26 season was the 18th; it went ahead in winter 2021–22 during COVID-19, with KF94 masks required on the grounds.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
21 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2026 edition. Confidence in the current facts: medium.
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror, Japanese) — 名品七甲山氷噴水祭りkto — 2025–26 listing dates 24 Dec 2025–22 Feb 2026, venue Alps Village, address 천장호길 223-35 (postcode 33349), coordinates 36.4098/126.9142, phone 041-942-0797, organizer Alps Village operating committee, Japanese name
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror, Spanish) — Festival de la Fuente de Hielo del Monte Chilgapsankto — 2022–23 listing 1 Jan–19 Feb 2023, general admission ₩8,000 sold online, day hours 09:00–18:00, night 18:00–22:00 weekdays and 18:00–21:00 weekends and holidays, ice fountain and sculptures at the village entrance
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 알프스마을kto — Alps Village address, phone, homepage alpsvill.com, hiking trails, Cheonjangho suspension bridge, zip track ₩10,000, ice fountain festival held every winter
- 여기유 (KTO-sourced listing, registered January 2026) — 청양알프스마을 얼음분수축제other — 2025–26 prices: admission ₩12,000, admission plus sled ₩32,000, extra sled ₩20,000, online bundles ₩25,600/₩28,800, zip track ₩10,000, can train, chestnuts, smelt scooping, dalgona and dumplings ₩5,000, injeolmi ₩10,000, smelt fishing ₩3,000/₩12,000; weekday hours 09:30–19:00, ticket sales close one hour before
- TimeTicket — 칠갑산 얼음 분수 축제 (청양)other — 2025–26 ticket validity 24 Dec 2025–22 Feb 2026; all-day admission ₩12,000 on weekdays and weekends
- Kyungbuk Maeil 2026-02-12 — 청양 알프스마을 칠갑산얼음분수축제news — 18th edition, began in 2008 from villagers' idea, 90 ice fountains for 90 residents, 10 m ice pillar, ice bobsleigh, tube sledding, rice-transplanter sled, can train, bonfire chestnuts and sweet potatoes, LED night opening, runs until Sunday 22 Feb
- Herald Economy 2025-12-31 — 겨울이면 T맵 검색창에 '불난 호떡집' 되는 이곳news — Ice castle at the entrance, tall ice fountains, snow sculptures of Pororo, Jjangu and Tiniping, sled courses of varying difficulty, ice bobsleigh, can train, smelt fishing, bonfire snacks, LED night lighting; 'Alps of Chungnam'
- ELLE Korea 2026-01-31 — 겨울 축제 소개 (칠갑산 얼음분수축제)news — 2026 run from 1 Jan to mid-February, fountains sprayed around the village, illumination, smelt fishing, sleds, zip track, village in front of Cheonjang Lake
- Ajunews 2022-01-30 — [겨울, 이 여행]② 청양 알프스마을news — First held 2008, open until 13 Feb 2022, KF94 masks required, hours 09:00–18:00 and night 18:00–20:00 (21:00 weekends), tiger, Pororo, Elsa and igloo sculptures, indoor bobsleigh, Cheonjangho bridge 207 m with 16 m tower, car park full on weekdays, families
- Korea Herald via Daum 2022-01-21 — [Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Koreanews — 2021–22 season 1 Jan–13 Feb 2022, admission ₩7,000, hours 9 a.m.–6 p.m., sledding, bobsledding, ice fishing, zip line, horseback riding
- Korea Herald via Daum 2023-01-20 — [Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Koreanews — 2022–23 season 1 Jan–12 Feb 2023, tickets ₩8,000 via Naver Booking or on site, hours 9 a.m.–8 p.m., activity list, ice fountain, ice artwork and ice cave
- Gangnam-gu Office notice — 제7회 "名品" 칠갑산 얼음분수축제municipal — 7th edition 24 Dec 2014–22 Feb 2015, official opening 1 Jan with a weather-dependent partial opening in December, 50 ice fountains, sled and activity list, phone 041-942-0797~0798
- Gangnam-gu Office notice — 제8회 명품 얼음분수축제municipal — 8th edition planned 24 Dec 2015–14 Feb 2016 (53 days) at Alps Village
- travelmapjourney — 2026 청양 칠갑산 얼음분수축제 완벽 가이드blog — 18th edition, hours 09:30–19:00 weekdays and 09:00–20:00 Fri–Sun and holidays, discounted ₩6,000, free parking and arrive before 09:00, bus from Central City, Jeongsan rural buses 405/702 to Cheonjang-ri and 10-minute walk, about 2 h 30 m by car via Cheongyang IC, quietest 08:00–09:00
- Cheongyang Intercity Bus Terminal departures (third-party mirror of the national bus timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-18)other — To Central City 07:20, 09:40, 11:40, 13:40, 16:10 (arrives 18:34), 19:40 (arrives 22:04), 2 h 24 m, ₩13,100 standard/₩19,100 deluxe; 06:40 to Dong Seoul; to Jeongsan 14 a day, ₩2,700, 22–29 min
- Yeogi Eottae travel magazine 2026-08-21 — 청양 알프스마을 겨울 여행other — Held every year from late December to mid-February; about 3 hours from Seoul; 2025 season from 1 Jan to mid-February with ₩9,000 admission (unverified)
- Trazy — Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival & Cheongyang Alps Village day tour from Seoulother — Day tour pick-ups at Hongik Univ. Exit 4 06:30, Myeongdong Exit 3 07:10, Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Exit 10 07:20, arrival 09:50, departure about 14:30, back 17:00–18:00, season 24 Dec–15 Feb, Cheonjangho bridge walk
- KTO tourist data (ktriptips mirror, English) — Cheonjangho Suspension Bridgekto — Built 2009, 207 m; 16 m tower shaped like goji berries and red peppers; sways 30–40 cm; free; 09:00–18:00, evening hours to 20:00 November–February; open all year; parking; trail to Chilgapsan summit and lakeside walk to Hwangnyongjeong; homepage www.cheongyang.go.kr/tour.do
- 여기유 (KTO-sourced listing) — 천장호 출렁다리other — Night lighting April–November on Fridays and Saturdays 19:00–22:00; address 천장호길 24-23; Cheongyang Alps Village about 1 km away
What we could not confirm
- 2026–27 dates and prices are not announced; the official site alpsvill.com could not be opened from here, and no Cheongyang County or KTO page for the festival could be read directly.
- Whether the 2026–27 season opens in late December (as in KTO's 2025–26 listing) or on 1 January (as in the 2022 and 2023 runs and some 2026 guides); if it opens on 1 January 2027, the expected edition should be renamed 2027.
- Dates and prices of the 2023–24 (16th) and 2024–25 (17th) seasons were not found; a travel magazine says the 2025 run was 1 January to mid-February with ₩9,000 admission.
- Child and discounted rates for 2025–26 come only from a blog (₩6,000 for seniors, disabled and national-merit holders); the child price was not found. Weekend hours are garbled in the KTO-derived listing.
- Only the Cheongyang-to-Seoul bus timetable could be read: Seoul departure times, the frequency and fare of rural buses 405/702, and taxi time and fare from Cheongyang or Jeongsan are not documented.
- KTO's Chinese names were not found (Trazy uses 七甲山冰喷泉节); the Japanese name follows KTO's 名品七甲山氷噴水祭り without the 名品 ('premium') prefix.
- The festival is not in the site's TourAPI snapshot and its KTO contentId was not found.
- Card acceptance, English signage, restrooms and accessibility on the snowy village grounds are not documented.
- Last bus back on the festival dates under the timetable in force that day (Cheongyang→Seoul Central City in the 2026–27 season); the October 2026 times came only from a third-party mirror of the national bus timetable feed, and the Trazy tour times are of an unstated year.
- Before or after the festival: the walking time between Alps Village and Cheonjangho bridge (about 1 km per a KTO-sourced listing) and the bridge winter hours were not confirmed on a Cheongyang County page; Chilgapsan hiking trails were dropped (a separate half-day hike).
Changes: 2026-10-19 — Added to the site: fact-first record (dates, hours, prices, getting there, sources). · 2026-10-19 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-20 — Bus class corrected from the timetable: the fare listed as premium is deluxe (우등). · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed unverified last-bus times from Cheongyang (October 2026 timetable, third-party mirror) and the day-tour pick-up times of an unstated year; the page now tells visitors to check the last bus at Cheongyang terminal. · 2026-10-29 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: no change (no train or bus clock times in the text; visitors are told to check the last bus at Cheongyang terminal); prices: 2025–26 admission, sledding and activity fees replaced with rounded ranges without a year label.
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