[Things to do in Gyeonggi/Hwaseong with kids] Encountering the Baekje Dynasty in the vast fields? No, dinosaur eggs from the Cretaceous period! - Exploration of the Hwaseong Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site

Hello! Today, I want to share my special time travel experience from last weekend, when I visited the Hwaseong Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site with my 10-year-old daughter. It was a day that was a bit hot, but very enjoyable, as we went on a journey to find real dinosaur traces in the vast fields beyond Sihwa Lake. 1. The start of the time travel, passing through Sihwa Lake to the vast fields

Hello! Today, I'd like to share my special time travel experience with my 10-year-old daughter last weekend, our visit to the Hwaseong Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site. It was a day filled with heat, but also a lot of fun, as we ventured into the endless fields beyond the Sihwa Barrage, searching for real dinosaur traces with our daughter.

1. The Beginning of the Time Travel, Across Sihwa Lake to the Vast Fields

The Hwaseong Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site is located near the Sihwa Barrage connecting Ansan and Hwaseong. As we drove across the barrage, I felt a sense of openness from the vast scenery of Sihwa Lake. Upon arriving at the destination, stepping out of the car, it was exactly as described by blog friends — a truly wide and open plain. This area, once an ocean, became land through the Sihwa Lake reclamation project, offering a landscape that felt like another world.

Although the day was quite hot, the wind blowing across the fields made it comfortable for walking. My daughter was also happy in the open space and walked ahead cheerfully.

2. Meeting Real Dinosaur Egg Fossils!

As we walked along the trail for a while, we finally came across the rocky hills where dinosaur egg fossils were found. This site is designated as a natural monument, and the protected area was marked with iron chains.

Listening to the guide's explanation, I carefully looked at the rocks and found, as I had only seen in books, round dinosaur egg fossils scattered here and there. "Mom, look! It's a real dinosaur egg!" My daughter's eyes sparkled with amazement. It's amazing to think that this place was a huge nest for dinosaurs over 100 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Just imagining it made my heart swell.

Most of the dinosaur eggs found here are believed to be from herbivorous dinosaurs. Observing the size and shape of the eggs with my daughter, we imagined the appearance of the dinosaurs that lived here, which was a great natural history education.

3. Looking for Koreaceratops! Visiting the Exhibition Center

After finishing our fossil site exploration, we headed to the visitor center (exhibition hall) at the entrance. Here, we could learn in detail about the special dinosaur found in Hwaseong, "Koreaceratops hwaseongensis."

As the name suggests, this dinosaur was first discovered in Hwaseong, South Korea, and is considered an important ancestor of the ceratopsians (horned dinosaurs). The exhibition hall displayed actual tail bone fossils as well as life-sized models, which were easy for children to understand. "Our country had such a cool horned dinosaur!" My daughter was very amazed.

What was most enjoyable was not just looking at the fossils, but also learning about what kind of dinosaur it was and how it lived, making the experience much more interesting and educational.

Ending the Exploration

Although I was a bit tired from walking across the wide fields under the hot sun, I felt proud that I could enjoy an exploration that transcended time and space with my daughter. The Hwaseong Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site, where I could feel the vivid history through the fossils in front of me, not just textbook knowledge! If you want to create special memories with your children, I highly recommend visiting here.

Travel Tips:

Since it's an open field with almost no shade, be sure to bring a hat, umbrella, sunglasses, and cool drinks. Wearing sneakers is essential.