Hiking Chiaksan in Wonju, South Korea
Korea just isn't a big spot. It truly is about the scale with the condition of Minnesota for my fellow Yankees.
However you understand what they are saying: wonderful items generally are available in little packages. A person good thing about residing in this kind of a geographically compact area is the fact you may visit nearly any where from the nation in a day or about the weekend.
If you are eager for an out of doors adventure but only have only one day or weekend to spare, Chiaksan in Gangwon-do, Korea is a great selection. Read on for particulars and instructions!
A Mountain of Myth and sweetness
If we are speaking mountain ranges in Korea the very best regarded are Jirisan and Seorraksan. These are generally lovely spots to visit and worthy of their reputations, but they're typically crowded with hikers.
Chiaksan isn't really very as amazing as it's much more well-known brethren, however it continue to helps make for any worthwhile desired destination and -- bonus! -- it's much fewer crowded.
Chiaksan is found in Gangwon-do about 30km from your city of Wonju.
Like all however the most distant and abandoned trailheads in Korea, the base of Chiaksan can be a occupied spot. You can locate an variety of stores and sellers advertising anything from reliquary beads and Buddhist trinkets to kimchi pancakes and rice wine.
It'd become a excellent notion to fuel up just before your hike plus the kimchi pancakes sizzling on griddles are absolutely sure to satisfy a hungry belly.
As soon as you make your way by way of the distractions and delightful smells of this mountain bazaar you may arrive within the entrance to Chiaksan. The entry rate to Chiaksan is two,five hundred won per human being, income only.
Not significantly through the entrance is Guryeongsa Temple.
Guryeongsa Temple is often a medium-sized temple advanced designed in the course of the Silla Dynasty. Created around the aspect of a steep hill, you enter the temple elaborate by means of a pavillion, towering wood statues of your "Four Heavenly Guardians" hunting down at you, and after that climb a steep flight of stairs into Guryeongsa Temple.
Just like most Korean temples, the air will likely be faint with incense along with the rhythmic chanting of monks at their prayers will echo off of temple walls. It's a pleasing and relaxing environment to invest a few minutes right before location off on the journey.
Hiking the paths
From Guryeongsa Temple it's a 5km hike to Birobong, the height of Chiaksan. For about 50 % of that hike the trail is easygoing -- much more of the leisurely stroll than a hike, seriously.
You are able to comply with trails through forests of towering pine, by means of quiet bamboo groves, down into valleys the place the trail runs alongisde a bubbling mountain stream, or criss-cross amongst the two.
About 2km through the foundation of Chiak Mountain is Seryeong waterfall and from there the hike will get steep. I'm speaking a Jekyll and Hyde transformation through the earlier aspect in the hike, therefore if you plan on trekking for the peak of Chiaksan be certain you might be perfectly well prepared.
If you're not up to the challenge there's a beautiful botanical backyard garden positioned involving the Seryeong waterfall and Guryeongsa Temple. It is really a fantastic location to chill out and simply take pleasure in the great thing about character.
Once you want a split from Seoul, or if you're just inside the current market in your following out of doors experience, head for Chiaksan. It truly is a beauty of a mountain and one of Korea's better kept strategies.
Acquiring There
Unless you have access in your possess transportation, Wonju will probably be your base of procedure for the journey to Chiaksan.
Have a bus to Wonju. Exit out the entrance of Wonju Bus Terminal and just take nearby bus variety 2-1, 31, 33, or 35. Anyone of such busses will take you to definitely a cease identified as "sanghanjuyooso".
From "sanghanjuyooso" you'll transfer to both the forty one or 41-1. It truly is about 10 mintue journey from Wonju Bus Terminal into the transfer, and yet another 30-35 minutes to receive with the transfer to Chiaksan.
Chiaksan is definitely the final stop for the two the forty one and 41-1. Bus fare is one,200 received for every journey, but your T-Money card (a public transit card readily available from most ease shops and at most bus and practice stations -- important for anyone who is travelling in Korea!) will work also.