Chollipo Arboretum consists of 60 hectares, ranging from forested mountains and an island of 5 hectares to cultivated farm fields, rice paddies and sand dunes. The seven major land areas that make up the site are unfortunately not contiguous but they are all very near each other. These areas provide various habitats for a wide range of plants.

 
 

   This is the main area where the arboretum originally started, and it contains good mixture of plant species and cultivars of both woody and herbacious plants. There are 10 buildings including several traditional Korean style houses and an office building that is unique with its simulated, thatched roof. There are 2 ponds once rice paddies, which serve an important function as water reservoir as well as creating an excellent habitat for waterside plants. Seven greenhouses are used as propagation and holding areas for both new accessions and less hardy plants. The seashore adjacent to the Main Area provides wonderful scenery.


 

   The Main area is being developed as a display and service area. It is located at the south end of Chollipo village next to the beach. Most of mature specimens grow here where the beginning of Chollipo Arboretum took place back in the early 1970s. Regardless of being the area nearest the sea, comprehensive collection of trees and shrubs has been made with the aid of well-built windbreaks of black pine (Pinus thunbergiana).

   This area is right in the middle of the village near the small port. The soil here is basically pure sea sand and makes an interesting habitat for sand dune plants such as Viburnum bitchuense, Rosa rugosa, Vitex rotundifolia, and Lathyrus japonica. Recently some plants have been planted for a test to be continued with more plants added to find those adaptable to the environment. There is a plan to set up a nursery and a research station with a library in this area.

   There is an island right across the sea approximately 400m away from the Main Area. At low tide the island becomes a peninsula. The island, originally Talk (Chicken) Island, renamed Nangsae-som or Blue Rock Thrush Island by Mr. Min, is being planted exclusively in native plants, mostly the broad-leaved evergreens which are thought to have originally covered the many offshore islands in the West Sea (Yellow Sea). The present cover is primarily Pinus thunbergiana and to a lesser extent Pinus densiflora. These are being replaced with Machilus thunbergii, Machilus japonica, Neolitsea sericea, Neolitsea aciculata, Quercus mysinifolia, Ilex integra, Ilex rotunda, Ilex x wandoensis, Ilex cornuta, Distylium racemosum, Actinodaphne lancifolia, Camellia japonica, Pittosporum tobira, Raphiolepis umbellata, etc.

 
 

   This is an area with a good collection of conifers mainly higher up on the hill and a good collection of Corylopsis species lower down. The lower land, which has been cultivated for many years, is used as a nursery bed for small plants. When trees or shrubs are of sufficient size they are moved elsewhere. The plan for this area is to create a pinetum mainly with conifer species. Located a short distance away from the sea, it has a splendid view looking down toward the beach and the island.

   This deep valley provides one of the best habitats found in the Chollipo area. Numerous woody and herbaceous plant species thrive here all the way up to the peak of 120m above sea level. There are good colonies of Adonis amurense, some species of violas, arisaemas, Hepatica asiatica, Primula sieboldii, Cimicifuga heracleifolia and many woody plants such as Meliosma oldhamii, Meliosma myriantha, Picrasma quassioides, Styrax japonica, Styrax obassia, Tilia mandshurica, Tilia amurense, and Acer mono. Only a very few trees have been planted at the outskirts of the area; otherwise it remains as natural vegetation. We consider this area very important as a good natural habitat and protect it as it is.