"Procession of Large Granite
Rocks Create a Superb View"
Mt. Bukhansan, situated in the
northern part of Seoul, is beautiful throughout the
year. Designated a national park in 1983, the mountain is
78.45km wide, has 6 districts and extends out into
Gyeonggi-do. The name Bukhansan means "big mountain" in
the north, and it is also called
Mt.Samgaksan.
Mt.Bukhansan has such smooth curves
that the large granite rocks sometimes look as if they would slide
down the mountain, and the sharp peaks provide contrast to the
dozens of valleys and rivers flowing below. The mountain's main peak
is Baekunbong, and it has many different kinds of peaks. The granite
peaks blend in well with trees, and there are about 1,300 kinds of
animal and plant life living on the mountain. Among the
granite peaks, the best one is Insubong Peak's Giam. The world
famous granite rock peak Insubong is over 200m above sea level, and
there are about 100 mountain paths leading to the
rock. When you stand on Baekundae and look down,
sometimes you can see clouds and Seoul and the Hangang River all
together.
Mt. Bukhansan has a rich history as well,
not lacking in the cultural treasures it possesses.
From the
King Jinheung's Sunsubi on Bibong Peak, the Bukhansan seong Fortress
built along the mountain's ridges, Sangunsa Temple built by the monk
Won-Hyo, and numerous other temples occupy the mountain
areas. Bukhansan seong Fortress is also a must-see tour
site if you are visiting the mountain. Bukhansan seong
Fortress was built with about a 8,500m long wall, built specifically
to stop foreign invasion, and is one of the representative mountain
fortresses of the Joseon Era. In the fall, especially,
the view you can get from the fortress of the mountain is exquisite.
Temples also are representative of Mt. Bukhansan's cultural
heritage, and among the many of them, Seungasa Temple on the east
Bibong Peak, where Seokgayeorae Ma-aebuls are carved onto 5m granite
rock, and Munsusa Temple, located halfway up the Munsubong peak,
have famous mountain water dripping from the ceiling of Munsugul
Cave. Thus, Mt. Bukhansan, with its granite rocks, and
Bukhansan seong fortress, is perfect for hiking for all
seasons. In the spring, all kinds of flowers bloom, and
in the summer, thick forest and valleys spread out. hiking path
along the valley is perhaps the best summer mountain climbing course
there is. The fall is an especially fit time for visiting
the temples and the pavilions in their autumn colors. In
the winter, the snow-covered mountain scenery is very beautiful.
Bukhansan National Park has many mountain tour attractions and
beautiful sceneries, and near enough to the city, that many come to
visit. The average number of visitors to this place is about five
million which has the honor of being on the Guinness Book of World
Records for being the national park with the highest number of
visitors per square foot. It is especially crowded during
the weekends.
Travel TIPS
If you are new to Bukhansan or new to mountain climbing,
the best path to take is to follow the regular road. It is wide, and
easy to climb. But the road has restaurants and other stores in the
middle of the mountain, and the cars keep coming on the road. The
noise of the cars and car emission could take away from the pleasure
of mountain climbing. If you take the valley route, you can enjoy
the mountain and the valleys more. The Valley route follows the
valley where Bukhansan swimming pool is also located, and in the
summer you can rest at the valley river well.
Local
Transportation
Dobong Area: Take Seoul Subway Line 1, get off at Dobong
Station, and go to Exit No. 2. Then, walk 10 min or get on a bus
No.141.
Bukhansan Fortress: Take Seoul Subway Line 3, get off at Gupabal
Station and go to Exit No. 1. Then, take City Bus No.704. and get
off at the entrance of Bukhansan Fortress. (10 Min. Intervals, 20
Min. Travel Time)
Ui Area : Take subway No.4 line, get off at Suyu station and go
to the exit No. 4. Then, take City Bus No.130, 1217. Get off at the
Doseonsa Temple at Ui-dong bus stop. (10 Min.
Intervals)
Detailed Info
Inquiries: Bukhansan
Mountain National Park Administration Office
Tel.
+82-2-909-0497~8 (Korean/English) Website: http://bukhan.knps.or.kr
(Korean/English) Admission:
Classification
Age 19 or older
Ages 13 ~ 18
Ages 7 ~ 12
Individual
1,600 won
600 won
300won
Group(30 or more
people)
1,400 won
500 won
250
won
* Group: 30 or more people
** Age 6
or younger, Age 65 or older: Free Hours: From Sunrise to Sunset
*
Admission fee is collected during the ticket box is
operated. Ticket Box: Weekdays
7:30 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. / Weekend & Holiday 7:00 a.m. ~ 6:00
p.m. Closed:
None
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