tourism

Mt Myohyang is not only a celebrated mountain of Korea but also a world-famous mountain. With unique and graceful physical features, it is blessed with many trees giving off lingering scent all the year round, as its lovely name suggests.

Shortly ago, I visited the mountain along with tourists to cover its charming scenery.

Our cicerone said the mountain, which has been called Eighty-Four Thousand Peaks from ancient times, evokes pleasant mood as everything there goes well with each other, ranging from the magnificent and curious-looking peaks to delicate rocks, deep valleys, high cliffs, crystal-clear water and waterfalls, thick forests, beautiful autumnal tints, murmurs of streams and chirps of birds. Listening to her explanation, we headed for the area of Sangwon Valley.

We went through the Sangwon Gate, which was said to have come into being as a rock rolled down on an existing rock in the rainy season over 40 years ago, and climbed up for a while and there appeared the Sangwon water site.

According to the cicerone, in the place where a poet of old days composed an impromptu poem as the water was so clean, a foreign businessman said that there he was relieved of all fatigue and aftereffects of pollution he had suffered from for more than 60 years, adding that if the clear water and air were sold in his country in plastic bags, it would bring in handsome profits. Her remarks provoked the laughter of all tourists.

After a long climb through forests, we arrived at Inho Rock commanding a breathtaking view which is known as one of the eight scenes of Mt Myohyang.

The cicerone told us that it is rare in the world to find such a place which commands the scenery of peaks and valleys of Mt Myohyang and three different waterfalls.

On the rock, everything looked like a picture, ranging from Ryongyon Falls, which look like a dragon wriggling up to the sky, to Sanju Falls, which pours down millions of pearl-like water drops, Chonsin Falls, which remind you of the silk raiment of fairies from heaven, Pobwang, Oson and many other peaks, which are called Myriad-shaped Peaks of Mt Myohyang, and many other things at the foot of the mountain including the International Friendship Exhibition House.

Opposite Inho Rock is Sangwon Hermitage.

Built in 1580, the hermitage boasts of not only the long history but also the surrounding scenery which has been referred to as “Golden Palace in Heaven”. 

The following day, we went to Manphok Valley renowned for waterfalls.

The valley was named in the sense that it has as many as ten thousand waterfalls since crystal-clear water from Hyangro Peak forms so many waterfalls and ponds as it strikes rocks and cascades down.

There are Sogok Falls named thus meaning the prelude to a “symphony” of ten thousand waterfalls, Murung Falls which were named by comparing it to an earthly paradise alive with peach blossoms, Pison Falls which rock the valley with the sound of millions of “beads” flowing down vertically and Kuchung Falls cascading down the nine tiers on the rock lying obliquely, where the scenery contest between the waterfalls comes to a climax.

While trekking around Manphok Valley, we also relished the challenge of climbing steep cliffs and rocks.

As I passed below a large rock whose one side is raised like a hat, while stepping on rock grooves holding on to safety chains, I felt a thrill as I feared that the rock might collapse in an instant.

The following day, my fatigue vanished without trace, thanks to the clear water and air of Mt Myohyang and we hiked to the area of Hyangbiro Peak which is the highest in the mountain.

The cicerone said that the trek to Hyangbiro Peak might be an impressive long tour which we could savour the real taste of sightseeing because the terrain there is the most steep and rugged in the mountain.

After passing through the primitive forests, the Piro Gate resting place, Turtle Rock and Sochon Falls, we toured the area of Chonthae Valley. We felt the fantastic pleasure of floating on clouds on Paegun Rock, the best place to have the sight of peaks in the mountain, and enjoyed the exquisite view of “scarlet-tinged leaves from Paegun Rock”, one of the eight scenes of Mt Myohyang.

There, we scaled precipitous cliffs to reach the top of Jingwi Peak where rare alpine plants are said to grow in large numbers, before reaching the summit of Hyangbiro Peak 1 909 metres above sea level.

We could feel once again the beauty of Mt Myohyang blessed with unsurpassed scenery on the peak offering the superb view of the magnificent and graceful mountain boasting many picturesque peaks.

The days in the mountain will remain as a lingering fond memory.