Andong-si is a city in North Gyeongsang Province known for its preserved traditions, Confucian heritage, and historic villages. The Nakdong River passes through the city, while surrounding hills and wooded areas shape its landscape. Andong is closely associated with Hahoe Folk Village, traditional mask dance, and Korean scholarly culture. Its cultural identity is also reflected in historic academies, temples, traditional houses, and local crafts. The city provides a view of regional Korean life that extends beyond major urban centers, with cultural sites and everyday traditions remaining closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

Andong's cultural identity is strongly connected to Confucian learning and clan traditions. Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserves traditional houses, family compounds, pavilions, and other structures arranged within a riverside setting. The village is also associated with Hahoe Mask Dance, a traditional performance using carved masks and satire. Dosan Seowon, a historic Confucian academy, commemorates scholar Toegye Yi Hwang and reflects the importance of education, scholarship, and moral learning in regional society. These sites show how architecture, landscape, family traditions, and scholarship developed together in Andong.

Hahoe Folk Village is one of Andong's principal attractions, with the Nakdong River curving around the settlement and Buyongdae Cliff rising nearby. Traditional houses and wooded paths give the village a distinctive layout, while the surrounding river and agricultural fields remain part of its setting. Dosan Seowon offers another important cultural landscape, with its simple wooden buildings positioned near the river and forested hills. Bongjeongsa Temple, one of the area's notable Buddhist sites, adds a different perspective on Andong's religious heritage. Together, these places connect architecture with rivers, mountains, forests, and cultivated land.

Andong is also associated with several distinctive foods and local products. Andong jjimdak is a well-known dish made with chicken, glass noodles, vegetables, and a savory soy-based sauce, and it is commonly associated with the city's traditional market area. Andong soju is a traditional distilled rice liquor with a long connection to local households and brewing practices. The city also produces agricultural specialties including apples and Andong beef. Traditional food, drink, mask performance, and craft practices give Andong a strong regional identity that complements its historic buildings and cultural landscapes.