🏺 Make Your Own Pottery at a 500-Year-Old Kiln Site — 2026 Cheongsong Baekja (White Porcelain) Festival!
500 years of Korean white porcelain tradition — and you can make your own piece this September! 🏺 The 2026 Cheongsong Baekja Festival runs September 11–13 at the historic kiln village near Juwangsan National Park — all white porcelain on sale at 20% off. Pottery wheel workshops and hand-painting sessions require advance booking (slots fill fast). Here's the full guide: how to reserve, getting from Seoul, and pairing it with a Juwangsan hike. ✨
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※ Check the official website (csbaekja.kr) for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The 2026 Cheongsong Baekja Festival is a 3-day artisan pottery cultural festival held September 11 (Friday) to 13 (Sunday) at Cheongsong Baekja Village (청송백자 도예촌) inside the Juwangsan Tourist Area (주왕산관광단지), Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. 🎨 The festival celebrates Cheongsong Baekja (청송백자) — white porcelain pottery with a 500-year history unique to this region — through hands-on workshops, studio tours, open-air performances, and a full 20% discount on all white porcelain sold on-site. The pottery wheel (물레 체험) and hand-painting (핸드페인팅) workshops require advance online reservation at csbaekja.kr.
Cheongsong Baekja (청송백자) refers to the white porcelain tradition of Cheongsong County, which dates back to the Joseon Dynasty (조선시대 — Korea's last royal dynasty, 1392–1910). Cheongsong's distinctive fine white clay (백토, baekto) and the mineral composition of the local soil produce a porcelain of remarkable purity and translucency, distinctly different from the blue-tinged celadon (청자) of other Korean regions. This 500-year tradition was interrupted during the Japanese colonial period and revived in the modern era — making this festival a genuine act of cultural preservation, not merely tourism. The 2026 edition carries extra significance: last year's major wildfire disrupted regional events, and 2026 marks a confident return for the festival and the local artisan community.
1. About the 2026 Cheongsong Baekja Festival
History of Cheongsong White Porcelain
Cheongsong County's white porcelain tradition ranks among the four great Joseon Dynasty porcelain traditions in Korean art history, alongside those of Gwangju (Gyeonggi), Buncheon, and Goryeo celadon. The region's abundant high-quality white clay and clear mountain water from Juwangsan provided the ideal conditions for fine porcelain production. Modern artisan studios in the Cheongsong Baekja Village continue this tradition, using historical methods alongside contemporary design — and the festival is the annual highlight where their work meets the public. The simple, pure aesthetic of Cheongsong white porcelain has influenced contemporary Korean ceramic design and is increasingly collected internationally. If you're interested in Korean traditional arts and crafts, this festival offers a depth of cultural experience that most Korea travel itineraries miss entirely.
Key Programs for 2026
The festival's highlight programs include the pottery wheel experience (물레 체험 — mulle chaeheom), where participants shape clay into vessels with guidance from a master potter; the hand-painting experience (핸드페인팅), where you decorate a finished white porcelain piece with your own design; studio tours (공방 투어) visiting active potters at work in their kilns; an outdoor performance program (마당극 — madanggeuek, traditional Korean open-air theatrical performance); and a white porcelain works exhibition. All porcelain sold on-site during the festival carries a 20% festival discount. Both the pottery wheel and hand-painting workshops require advance booking via csbaekja.kr (available until the day before the event). For enquiries, contact +82-54-874-7748 or +82-54-874-9097.
Reserve Your Pottery Workshop
📊 2026 Cheongsong Baekja Festival – At a Glance
All white porcelain 20% off! Pottery wheel & hand-painting workshops require advance booking
A 3-day artisan ceramics festival celebrating 500 years of Cheongsong white porcelain tradition, set against the autumn scenery of Juwangsan National Park, North Gyeongsang Province.
Dates: Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 13, 2026 (3 days)
Venue: Cheongsong Baekja Village, 36 Cheongsong Baekja-ro, Juwangsan-myeon, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province
Entry: Free (workshop fees apply; check csbaekja.kr)
Key Programs: Pottery wheel workshop, hand-painting workshop, studio tours, outdoor performance, white porcelain 20% discount sales
Popular workshop time slots sell out fast — book early at csbaekja.kr!
Key Festival Details
2026.09.11 (Fri) ~ 2026.09.13 (Sun)
Cheongsong Baekja Village, Juwangsan National Park area, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. Pottery wheel and hand-painting workshops can be booked until the day before at csbaekja.kr. All white porcelain 20% off during the 3-day festival. Enquiries: +82-54-874-7748 / 9097.
Popular morning slots go first — reserve your spot now!
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2. Venue & Location Overview
Cheongsong Baekja Village (Main Festival Venue)
The main festival venue is Cheongsong Baekja Village (청송백자 도예촌) at 36 Cheongsong Baekja-ro, Juwangsan-myeon, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. The village is situated within the Juwangsan Tourist District, making it easy to combine the festival with a hike in nearby Juwangsan National Park (주왕산국립공원). By car, enter "청송백자 도예촌" or "36 청송백자로" into your navigation. Parking is available on-site. By public transport from Seoul, see the transportation section below.
Juwangsan National Park – Nearby Attraction
Juwangsan (주왕산, "King Juwang's Mountain") is a dramatic national park known for its vertical basalt cliffs, narrow canyon trails, and waterfalls. In early September, the park is in late summer green with the very first autumn colors beginning to show on the higher slopes. The Juwangam Trail (주왕암 코스) — approximately 4km round trip, 2 hours — is a comfortable beginner hike passing three waterfalls and ending at the Juwangam hermitage (주왕암), a small Buddhist hermitage (암자 — amja) perched dramatically against the cliff face. National park entry fee: 3,500 KRW (about $2.50 USD) for adults. Combine a morning hike with an afternoon festival visit for the ideal Cheongsong day.
For transport to Cheongsong from Seoul, refer to the Korea express bus and intercity transport guide for schedules and booking options.
3. How to Book Workshops – 4 Steps
Step 1 – Visit the Official Website
Go to csbaekja.kr and navigate to the reservation section (체험예약). Select your preferred workshop: pottery wheel (물레 체험) or hand-painting (핸드페인팅). Both workshops are open to all ages and require advance online reservation until the day before your visit. For questions, call +82-54-874-7748 or +82-54-874-9097.
Step 2 – Select Your Date & Time Slot
The festival runs September 11–13. Popular morning slots (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) typically fill first — book as early as possible to secure your preferred time. Evening slots and later afternoon times tend to have more availability. Workshop durations range approximately 30–60 minutes depending on program (confirm exact duration on the website).
Step 3 – Confirm Booking & Prepare
After completing your online booking, you'll receive a confirmation via text or email. Bring this confirmation to the workshop venue on your visit day. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to complete the check-in process. For the pottery wheel workshop especially, wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting clay on — an apron is provided, but it's not full coverage.
Step 4 – Explore, Shop & Hike
After your workshop, browse the white porcelain exhibition and studio tour areas, then shop in the on-site sales hall where all pieces are sold at 20% festival discount. Studio-quality bowls, tea sets, and decorative pieces range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of KRW. If time allows, add a Juwangsan hike before or after the festival — the combination makes for one of the most distinctive cultural-nature day trips available in fall Korea.
Reserve Pottery Workshop
4. Nearby Food & Accommodation
Cheongsong's Signature Food – Apple & Dalgiyaksutang
Cheongsong County is one of Korea's premier apple-growing regions. Festival visitors can purchase fresh Cheongsong apples directly from roadside stalls at local prices (around 20,000–30,000 KRW / ~$15–22 USD per 10kg box). Cheongsong is also famous for Dalgiyaksutang (달기약수탕) — a mineral spring water renowned for its natural carbonation — and the surrounding restaurants serve 약수 백숙 (mineral spring water herbal chicken stew), a local specialty priced approximately 15,000–20,000 KRW (~$11–15 USD) per person. This is a genuinely unique regional dish you won't encounter in Seoul.
Accommodation near Juwangsan
For a 1–2 night stay, the Juwangsan Tourist District has guesthouses and pensions (민박 / 펜션) in various price ranges. International travelers can find options on Agoda or Booking.com by searching "Cheongsong" or "Juwangsan." Book at least 2–3 weeks in advance for the festival weekend (September 12–13 is the peak Saturday), as rooms near the park fill quickly. Budget approximately 60,000–100,000 KRW (~$45–75 USD) per night for a comfortable private room or pension unit.
Cheongsong Town Restaurants
Cheongsong town center (about 10 minutes by car from the festival venue) has a small but reliable selection of local Korean restaurants. Look for 한정식 (hanjeongsik — Korean multi-course set meal) restaurants or traditional noodle shops. Prices are lower than Seoul, with lunch averaging 10,000–15,000 KRW (~$7–11 USD) per person.
5. Pottery Wheel vs. Hand-Painting Workshop – Quick Comparison
| Category | Pottery Wheel (물레 체험) | Hand-Painting (핸드페인팅) |
|---|---|---|
| What You Do | Shape clay on a rotating wheel with master guidance | Paint your own design on a finished white porcelain piece |
| Difficulty | Medium (instructor-guided) | Easy (suitable for anyone) |
| Duration (approx.) | 30–60 min (confirm on website) | 20–40 min (confirm on website) |
| Best For | Adults and older children who want a hands-on craft challenge | Families, beginners, and younger children |
| Advance Booking | Required (until day before, csbaekja.kr) | Required (until day before, csbaekja.kr) |
6. Tips for Foreign Visitors – 5 Things to Know
Tip 1 – Book Your Workshop Slot as Early as Possible
Saturday (September 13) morning slots are the most popular and will sell out well before the festival weekend. If you have flexibility, a Friday (September 11) or Saturday afternoon visit gives you more availability. Book at csbaekja.kr as soon as you confirm your travel dates. Contact +82-54-874-7748 if you have questions about the English booking process.
Tip 2 – The 20% Discount Is Applied Automatically in the Sales Hall
No coupon or code is needed — the 20% festival discount on all white porcelain in the on-site sales hall is automatic during the September 11–13 festival period. White porcelain pieces (cups, bowls, tea sets, vases, decorative works) make extraordinary gifts and are far lighter than you might expect for travel. Bubble wrap packing is usually available on request.
Tip 3 – Getting to Cheongsong from Seoul
Cheongsong is not served by KTX. From Seoul's Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울터미널 — Gangbyeon Station, Line 2), take an intercity bus directly to Cheongsong (청송) — journey time approximately 3.5–4 hours. Alternatively, take KTX to Dong-daegu Station (Daegu, ~90 min from Seoul Station), then a regional bus to Cheongsong (~1.5 hours). A rental car or private transfer is the most flexible option for a festival+hiking combination trip. From Incheon Airport, this journey requires approximately 5–6 hours total using public transport — an overnight stay in Cheongsong (or Andong, 40 min away) is strongly recommended.
Tip 4 – Wear Clay-Friendly Clothes for the Pottery Wheel
The pottery wheel workshop will get clay on your hands and likely your forearms — an apron is provided but does not cover everything. Wear comfortable clothes, not your travel outfit. Closed-toe shoes are also better than sandals on the workshop floor. September temperatures in Cheongsong average 23–27°C (73–81°F) in the daytime and drop to around 14–18°C (57–64°F) in the evening — bring a layer.
Tip 5 – Combine with a Juwangsan Hike for an Unforgettable Day
Juwangsan National Park is one of Korea's most dramatic mountain landscapes — narrow basalt gorges, cascading waterfalls, and hermitages tucked into cliff faces. The Juwangam Trail (4km, 2 hours) is manageable for most travelers and requires no special equipment. Morning hike → afternoon festival is the ideal schedule. Entry fee 3,500 KRW (~$2.50 USD). This combination of natural landscape and cultural craft experience is genuinely unique in Korea.
For more mountain hiking experiences in Korea, check out the Bukhansan Cloud Garden Trail 2026 guide — Seoul's best urban hiking trail with sky bridge and panoramic views. For other scenic Gangwon and Gyeongsang Province travel ideas, see the Seoraksan Cable Car 2026 guide.
Curious about more Korean festivals & events?
View All Korea Events & Festivals →Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why does the pottery wheel workshop require advance booking?
A. The workshops have limited participant capacity, and popular time slots fill up quickly. Book online at csbaekja.kr until the day before. Enquiries: +82-54-874-7748 / +82-54-874-9097.
Q2. How do I get the 20% white porcelain discount?
A. The 20% festival discount applies automatically on all white porcelain in the on-site sales hall during September 11–13. No coupon needed.
Q3. How do I get from Seoul (or Incheon Airport) to Cheongsong?
A. From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2), take an intercity bus (~3.5–4 hrs). Or take KTX to Dong-daegu (~90 min from Seoul Station) then regional bus to Cheongsong (~1.5 hrs). An overnight stay is recommended for visitors from abroad.
Q4. When and where is the 2026 Cheongsong Baekja Festival?
A. September 11–13, 2026 at Cheongsong Baekja Village, 36 Cheongsong Baekja-ro, Juwangsan-myeon, Cheongsong County, North Gyeongsang Province. Official site: csbaekja.kr
More to Explore
2026 Gumi Local Food Festa — free food market at Seoul Plaza, Hanwoo beef 29% off, September 9–10.
Traveling to Cheongsong by express bus? Check schedules and booking options here.
Soo Blog
Korea travel, events, and festivals expert — 5 years of field experience
Every guide is based on firsthand visits and verified booking experience.
koreaeventmap.jhs29.com
Korea travel, events, and festivals expert — 5 years of field experience
Every guide is based on firsthand visits and verified booking experience.
koreaeventmap.jhs29.com
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