Incheon - The little big place

The new stadium was just another building site

Incheon is undergoing an Americanisation of sorts.

Big is best - bigger is better.

Everything is on the large side.

Asia's largest airport, sprawling malls, plans for the tallest tower in South Korea and even the country's largest Chinese population.

Area facts

Population: 3.81m

Province: Gyeonggi-do

Location: North-west, Seoul suburbs

Local team: n/a

Sights: Wolmi islands

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100m passengers travel through Incheon airport every year

It is all a far cry from its history, although there are distinct parallels.

The city became known around the world in 1950 when American General Douglas MacArthur led United Nations forces in a landing behind enemy lines.

A statue of MacArthur stands in Freedom Park, Korea's first western-style park.

Now the majority of visitors to the country who land here come through Incheon International Airport.

The city is a hub for all things: passengers, transporters, cargo - you name it, it passes through Incheon.

But there is more to the city than the sprawling modernity of the 21st century and the coming and going of people and trade.

There are a host of Joseon Dynasty buildings, including Incheon Dohobucheongsa, a local magistrates' office, and Hyanggyo, a Confucian school.

Further afield, Incheon is surrounded by popular island resorts including Yeongjong, Jakyak and Wolmi islands which boast superb beaches.

Eulwangi beach and Seopri beach, on Deokjeokdo, are two of the best and boats there leave from Yeon-an Pier.

And as you would expect, any city on the sea also has a wealth of seafood restaurants.

Tourist boats go out from the pier, and fishing boats come in.

Festival fun

Hwadojin Festival

Fishermen hold a worship ritual in May honouring and praying to the sea god for an abundant harvest

Hundreds dock to sell their catch at the Incheon Total Fish Market, an area that includes streets with raw fish and fields for drying fish.

Wolmido Street is the centre of life in the town and has numerous street cafes overlooking the sea.

It is the perfect place to try some of the local delicacies including kkotgetang, spicy blue crab soup, kkotgejjim, steamed blue crab or haemultang, seafood soup.

Other areas to try local food include black noodle alley, (jjajangmyeon, Bukseong-dong) homemade alley (kalguksu, Yong-dong) or cold noodle alley (naengmyeon, Hwapyeong-dong).

There is also the opportunity to indulge in Chinese food in Incheon.

The Chinatown was first established when China's Qing Dynasty established a consulate in Incheon following the opening of Jemulpo Port in 1883.

It was once a flourishing commercial centre where silk, herbal medicines and celadons were traded between Korea and China and is now designated as a special tourist zone.