The Southern Gateway to Ganghwa Island: The Actual Route Across Choji Bridge

A 1.2 km arch bridge connecting Gilsang-myeon’s Choji-ri and Yakam-ri

Choji Bridge is an arched, four-lane, two-way land-connected bridge linking Choji-ri, Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon Metropolitan City, with Yakam-ri, Daegot-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. The bridge is approximately 1.2 km long, and its key role is serving as transport infrastructure connecting Ganghwa Island with the mainland.

Incheon Metropolitan City began construction in 1996, and Choji Bridge was completed in August 2002. A 900 mm water-supply pipe and a 300 mm city-gas pipe were also installed along the bridge, making it infrastructure supporting daily life in southern Ganghwa rather than a tourist viewing facility.

Why it became a gateway to southern Ganghwa after opening in 2002

After Choji Bridge opened, travel time from western metropolitan areas, including Gangseo-gu in Seoul and Bucheon-si and Gimpo-si in Gyeonggi-do, to Ganghwa Island was reduced by approximately 30 minutes compared with using the original Ganghwa Bridge. Thus, Choji Bridge changed the access route to tourist destinations in southern Ganghwa Island.

Ganghwa County describes Choji Bridge, since its opening in 2002, as a key transport hub connecting the metropolitan area with southern Ganghwa. However, traffic repeatedly becomes congested during commuting hours, weekends, and peak tourist seasons. Rather than treating the bridge itself as the destination, visitors should calculate both their arrival time and their next stop.

How to get from Ganghwa Bus Terminal to Choji-jin Bus Stop

No direct route from a subway station to Choji Bridge is provided. For public transportation users, Ganghwa Bus Terminal is the easiest starting point to understand. Bus service information for routes 53, 53A, 71, and 700-1 is displayed for the nearby Choji-jin Bus Stop.

The distance between Choji-jin Bus Stop and the Choji-jin-bound stop at Choji Bridge is listed as approximately 443 m. The latest bus intervals could not be confirmed in publicly available materials, and the stop is indicated as inaccessible to low-floor buses, so wheelchair users should make separate preparations regarding vehicle accessibility.

• Route 53: Ganghwa Bus Terminal–Onsu-ri
• Route 53A: Ganghwa Bus Terminal–Hwangsando
• Route 71: Ganghwa Bus Terminal–Incheon Asiad Main Stadium (East Gate)
• Route 700-1: Ganghwa Bus Terminal–Jonghap Bus Terminal Station

Open at all times, but “walking on the bridge” requires separate confirmation

Choji Bridge is listed as open at all times, and no regular closing day for the bridge itself could be confirmed. However, publicly available information does not confirm whether the pedestrian path on the bridge is currently open, where pedestrians can enter, or whether photography on the bridge is restricted.

No toll or admission fee for Choji Bridge itself could be confirmed, and no information is provided about a dedicated parking lot or parking fees. Therefore, even if you enter the address Incheon Metropolitan City, Ganghwa-gun, Gilsang-myeon, Haeannam-ro 334, 1st Floor, as your navigation destination, you should not assume that you can stop your car on the bridge or enter it on foot.

Ganghwa County’s official tourism website is https://www.ganghwa.go.kr/open_content/tour/, and no main telephone number for Choji Bridge itself could be confirmed. The inquiry number for nearby Choji-jin is 032-930-7072.

What the 2026 traffic improvement plan reveals about congestion periods

As of March 20, 2026, Ganghwa County stated that it had secured an Incheon City budget of KRW 800 million for improving the traffic environment around Choji Bridge. The project is scheduled to begin in April, continue for approximately two months, and be completed in June. This shows that congestion around Choji Bridge is not a temporary issue but a recurring traffic phenomenon requiring ongoing management.

The plan includes expanding the left-turn lane toward Donggeom-ri from one lane to two, and installing guide lanes on the section from Onsu-ri toward Choji Intersection. Full resurfacing of the roads around Choji Intersection and repainting of lane markings and guide lines are also included.

Under the signal operation plan, signals in the direction of traffic entering Ganghwa will be extended from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., while signals in the outbound direction will be extended from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. In the long term, the section has been reviewed as requiring a grade-separated intersection, namely an underpass, so it is safest to allow extra time in your schedule during these periods.

An itinerary linking Choji-jin, the coastal road, and Jeondeungsa Temple

After crossing Choji Bridge, turning right lets you follow the coastal road toward Deokjinjin Fortress, Manisan National Tourist Site, and the migratory bird habitat in Hwado-myeon. Rather than returning after seeing only Choji Bridge, it is easier to understand the locations if you make Choji-jin your first stop and connect it with the tourist attractions along the coastal road.

Ganghwa County’s suggested two-day, one-night itinerary includes Choji-jin, Jeondeungsa Temple, Bunori Ferry Terminal, Ganghwa Luge at Ganghwa Seaside Resort, Dongmak Beach, and the Janghwa-ri sunset viewpoint, starting from Choji Bridge. The same itinerary also includes Seokmodo Bridge and Bomunsa Temple, so if you plan to visit Seokmodo, you should place Choji Bridge as the first gateway of your trip.

Nearby Choji-jin has been open free of charge since July 1, 2021, and its inquiry number is 032-930-7072. Do not confuse admission information for Choji-jin with traffic information for Choji Bridge. Free admission refers to Choji-jin and does not mean that Choji Bridge has a separate admission ticket.

A 13.5 km coastal loop cycling route from the Old Ganghwa Bridge

For those who want to travel along the Ganghwa coast by bicycle instead of car, Ganghwa County provides information on a coastal loop route running from the Old Ganghwa Bridge to Choji Bridge. The route is 13.5 km long and is introduced as part of Metropolitan City Road No. 70.

Tourist attractions around the route include Gapgot Dondae, Yongjinjin Fortress, Hwado Dondae, Gwangseongbo Fortress, and Choji-jin. However, whether the pedestrian path on Choji Bridge is open has not been separately confirmed, so do not assume that bicycles can cross the bridge. Follow the official route information together with traffic signs at the site.

This bicycle route differs from an itinerary focused simply on taking a photograph of the bridge. Because it incorporates several coastal fortifications and Choji-jin along a 13.5 km coastal section, it is better suited to visitors who want to see Ganghwa’s coastal defensive heritage in sequence than to travelers seeking only a brief stop.

Limitations wheelchair and stroller users should know in advance

Tourist information indicates that Choji Bridge has no accessible restroom, elevator for persons with disabilities, or designated accessible parking space. A step at the main entrance is also indicated, making it difficult to expect a flat route after getting out of a vehicle near the bridge.

Wheelchair and stroller rental services are also indicated as unavailable, and convenience services for visitors with visual or hearing impairments are likewise listed as unavailable. Considering this together with the lack of access for low-floor buses and the lack of direct subway access, visiting Choji Bridge alone may not be suitable for people with mobility needs who rely solely on public transportation.

The availability of English information or an audio guide, restrictions on photography on the bridge, and walking limitations caused by seasonal or weather conditions could not be confirmed in publicly available information. The main feature of this location is vehicle traffic and connections to nearby tourist attractions rather than indoor sightseeing, so visitors coming to take photographs should secure a safe stopping point separately.