|
Yangyang is a popular spot
for mountain hikers, known especially for the beauties of southern Mt.
Seoraksan. It is famous for such attractions as the traditional
rice-cake production of Songcheon Rice Cake Village, the cleanliness
of Donghori Beach, and Mt. Seoraksan Osaek Village. Yangyang is
particularly famous for its pine (songi) mushrooms that can be found
in the region, known for their health benefits, and displayed every
year in the Songi Festival.
Recommended Sites
-
Naksansa Temple
Address : Jeonjin 1-ri, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
Description :
Naksansa Temple is located 4 km north of Naksan Beach, and has a
history of 1,300 years. It is a temple built by Ui-Sang, the
ambassador of the 30th King of Silla Period (BC 57-AD 935), and inside
there is the Seven Floor Stone Tower, Dongjong, Hongyaemun, and other
cultural assets. It was named Naksansa Temple by Ui-Sang, at the spot
where he learned the prayer “Gwansae-eumbosal” from Bosal, after he’d
returned from studying abroad in the Chinese Dang Kingdom. It was
rebuilt several times afterwards, and the current building was raised
in 1953.
You can get to Naksansa Temple by passing through Iljumun and
Hongyaemun. When you enter the temple from Hongyaemun, you can see
black bamboo trees and tiled earthen walls on either side of the
sanctuary. North of Naksan Beach, beside the copper bell is a back
door, with a path that leads to Uisangdae Pavilliaon and Hongryeonam.
Uisangdae is a pavilion built on top of a cliff by the sea, and was
built where Ui-Sang used to sit and meditate. Hongryeonam is known as
a small Buddhist temple, built above a stone cave by Ui-Sang. Under
the sanctuary floor there is a 10 cm hole, through which you can see
the sea. Past Uisangdae Pavillion, up the path on the hill at
Sinseonbong, there is a stone statue of Buddha called Haesugwaneumsang.
It is the largest of its kind in the Orient, and can be seen from as
far as Mulchi Harbor.
Directions :
At Sokcho Bus Terminal, there is a bus to Mt. Naksansa every 10
minutes. (25 minute ride)
Information :
Mt. Naksan Park Administration Office Tel: 033)670-2518-9 (Kor) -Naksansa
Temple Information Tel: 033)672-2448 (Kor) -Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
-Admission Fee: ages 20+ : 2,000 won 14-19 : 1,570 won under 13 :
1,000 won
-
Osaek Hot Springs
Yokjangjigu
Address : Osaek-ri, Seo-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
Description :
Osaek Hot Springs is in Osaekjigu which is a part of Namseorak,
and is reputed to have been discovered by a Buddhist monk of Seongguk
temple from the Joseon Period (1392-1910). It is 20Km west of Yangyang,
5Km Southeast of Hangyeryeong, and 30km to the south of it is the
Osaek mineral spring resort. From three base rocks at the resort come
rivulets flowing with water high in iron and carbonic acid, which is
good for stomach-ailments, anemia, and neuralgia. The water
temperature is relatively low at 30 C° , and is high in sulfur as
well. The water at Osaek Hot Springs gushes from a high ground (650m
above sea level), and there is a legend that long ago, nymphs came
here to bathe and returned to the heavens. The water temperature here
is 42 degrees Celsius, and high in chloric acid, sulfur, manganese,
and iron. It feels slippery and soft, and has a slight fishy smell,
but it is so great for skincare that Osaek Hot springs is also called
Miinoncheon (beauty hot springs). After the geological examination by
Gangwon-do in 1982, it was officially designated as Osaekoncheonjigu (Osaek
Hot Springs Area).
Directions :
From inner Yangyang city, take the Galcheon-ri bound bus, get off
at the Osaekoncheon stop.
Information :
- Information : 033)672-2883 (Kor)
- Open all year
Admission Fee :
Ages 20+ : ￦1,300
Ages 14-19 : ￦ 600
Under 13 : ￦ 300
-
Uisangdae
Address : Jeonjin-ri, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun. Gangwon-do
Description :
Uisangdae is located on a seaside hill, on the way to
Hongryeonam’s Gwaneum Cave from Naksan temple. It is a small temple,
believed to be built by Ambassador Uisang (625-702) during King Munmu’s (661-681) reign during Silla Period, on the spot where Uisang
used to meditate while building Naksansa. The current pavilion was
built in 1925. Hongryeonam is a place you shouldn’t miss when you
visit the octagonal Uisangdae. Believed to be built 5 years after
Naksansa, it is also where Ambassador Uisang used to meditate. It was
named Hongryeonam because there is a legend that a red Lotus flower
bloomed in the sea during Ambassador Uisang’s 7 days of prayer. It is
built against the cliff beside a rocky cave, making it part of a great
scenery, and the sunrise from Uisangdae is absolutely spectacular.
Songgang Jeongcheol, who was a poet from the mid Joseon Period
(1392-1910) expressed his feeling on the spectacle of sunrise from Uisangdae like this: “After the pear-tree flowers have fallen and when
the cuckoo cries sadly, beyond the hill east of Nak Mountain at
Uisangdae, I get up in the middle of night to see the sun rise. The
auspicious clouds look like they are blooming, and the sun look as if
it is being held up by six dragons. As the sun rises majestically from
the sea to the sky, the whole world shakes and the sun rises swiftly,
shining more brightly than a thousand candles.” That is how much
wonder the view of sunrise from Uisangdae has created from long ago.
Directions :
From Yangyang, take the Naksan bound bus. 10 minutes distance.
Information :
- Naksan Provincial Park Office
033)670-2518-9
Naksan temple 033)672-2448
- Admission Fee :
Ages 20+ : ￦2,000
14-19 : ￦1,570
under 13 : ￦1,000
- Open : sunrise to sunset
-
Hajodae Beach
Address : Hagwangjeong-ri, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do
Description :
South of Naksansa, along the seashore, is the Hajodae Beach, with
0.5-1.5m water depth, and 1.5km of beach with fine, white sand. It is
13km south of Yangyang-gun, and 1km north of the 38th parallel.
There’s a pine forest behind the beach and if you follow the seashore
from the entrance of the beach for about 1.5km, there is a pavilion on
top of a cliff. That hexagonal pavilion is Hajodae, where it is
believed the retainers of the Joseon Period (1392-1910) named Haryun
(1347-1416) and Jojun (1346-1405) spent their last years in hiding.
The flat bottom and low depth of the beach make it a suitable place
for family vacations. It first opened in 1976, and is now operated as
a camping ground and beach. In the area there’s also Osaekoncheon (hot
springs), Osaekyaksu (natural springs), Naksansa, Seoraksan National
Park, Odaesan National Park, Tongiljeonmangdae (reunification
observation platform), and Hajodeungdae (lighthouse), etc. Across from
Hajodae there is a rock indicating the 38th parallel. Fresh-water
flows into the right side of the beach, the south side is great for
fishing because of its bulwark, rock island, and Giamgoiseok
(fantastic rocks and stones), and you can see Jo island to the right.
On the left side of the beach there is an unmanned white lighthouse.
This lighthouse is open from 9am to 7pm and you can see the scenery of
the whole area from the top.
Directions :
-Hajodae bound limousine bus from Gangneung departs every 10
minutes, 40 minutes distance.
-Hajodae bound bus from Yangyang departs every 10 minutes, 15 minutes
distance.
-Hajodae bound bus from Sokcho departs every 8 minutes, 50 minutes
distance.
Information :
Yangyang-gun Department of Tourism:
033)670-2251
Hyeonbuk-myeon Office: 033)670-2604 (Kor)
- Open : July 10 - August 20 / 06:00-24:00
- Admission Fee : Free (￦3,000-￦8,000 for camping)
-
Mt. Naksan Provincial
Park
Address :
Hyeonbuk-myeon,
Sonyang-myeon, Ganghyeon-myeon,
Description :
Mt. Naksan Provincial Park has 24km of shoreline that extends
through the Seonsa relic area, Dongho Beach, Hajodae Beach, etc. and
is centered round Naksansa Temple and Naksan Beach of Yangyang. At Mt.
Naksan Provincial Park, there is Hongryeonam, Uisangdae Pond,
Giamgoeseok, and a shoreline cliff of pine trees, trees which have
endured for a very long time. Near the beach, Namdae stream, which
flows from Mt. Seoraksan, forms a lake. Hajodae, where traces of Ha-ryun
and Jo-jun (retainers of the Joseon Period (1392-1910)) remain, is
famous for Giam cliff and lighthouses on high cliffs. Naksan Beach is
a famous recreational area, with its amusement parks and various other
facilities. It`s a sandy field surrounded by 4km of thick pine forest.
The beach is safe due to its shallow waters, and nearby is Uisangdae
and Naksansa Temple, some of the most famous sites of Gwandong.
Directions :
From Yangyang, take any bus that goes to Mt.Naksan. (10 minutes)
Information :
Naksan Park
Administration Office
Tel: 033)670-2518 (Kor)
- Hours: sunrise to sundown
- Open all year
- Admission Fee: ages 20+: 2,000 won
14-19 : 1,570 won
under 13: 1,000 won
(There`s no separate fee for the provincial park, it`s included in the
fee for Naksansa Temple)
|
Information provided by Korea National Tourism Organization.
