Daegu (formerly spelled "Taegu") is the fourth-largest city in South Korea and the capital of the Gyeongsangbuk Province. Lying at the junction of the Geumho and Nakdong rivers, the city has always served as a transportation hub for the region. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was the capital of Gyeongsang-do. Located in a basin surrounded by low mountains, the climate in the city is generally hotter in the summer than the rest of the peninsula. In the winter, the basin is also colder.

In recent years, the South Korean government has made an attempt to develop Daegu's textile and fashion industry, modeling it loosely on the city of Milan. Although Daegu hasn't really caught on as a "fashion city" as hoped, textiles are one of the major contributors to the economy. The city is also well known for the apples grown on its outskirts. The extremes in temperatures and the geographic peculiarity of the area may make the city uncomfortable at times for the residents, but it is apparently very comfortable for apples. Christian missionaries in the early part of the 20th century grafted their imported apples to the local crab apple trees, resulting in a delicious hybrid fruit.

Daegu's economy is driven by the metal and machine industries centered here. Of more interest to visitors is the city's reputation for its Oriental medicine herb market in the central area. Although it is a major city, Daegu still retains some of its small-town charms. It is also a good place to base your exploration of surrounding attractions, such as Haeinsa and Gayasan National Park.