The Shinan Islands – or the ‘1,004 Islands’ – are located in the southwest of South Korea, in Sinan County (Sinan-gun), which is a part of the South Jeolla Province.

In the fall, as tourism slows down on the islands, the harvest season sets in. It becomes a wonderful contemplative environment during that time, with a great display of Korean traditional rural community life. This article shows a collection of photographs of a couple days hiking and island hopping between the islands of Anjwa, Palgeum, Amtea, Jaeun and Aphae.

The Sinan County is rich in ecological resources and places of outstanding natural beauty. As the Koreans say, a visit will ‘cure your mind and body from getting tired everyday’. From sunrise to sunset the display of light in combination with the islands, the ocean, the wind, island life, and hills, effortless refreshes your mind and soul.

For the full article with a photographic essay and a few maps that will be of use to locate the islands and plan a potential trip, click on this link.

Text, Maps and Photographs by Jan Haenraets

Jan Haenraets is a Director of Atelier Anonymous Landscapes Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada