KUMGANGSAN SIGHTS

Kumgang-San is divided in Inner, Outer, and Sea Kumgang. In the 40 by 60 km area are beautiful mountains, streams, falls, springs, a lake, many Buddhist temples and a museum. Maps can be obtained in the hotel. The most important activities in Kumgang-san are walking, trekking, hiking, climbing and rafting.

Sea Kumgangsan

Onjung-ri The village Onjung-ri can be reached by foot from the Kumgangsan Hotel in 15 minutes. It can be visited without a guide. You will see traditional Korean houses with small vegetable gardens.

Egg-shaped Rock Behind the village is a big egg-shaped rock on top of a few smaller rocks. A legend says that here a general once with his sword killed a snake that wanted to eat an egg. In front of the rock is a stone shaped as a cut snake.

Kumgangsan Hot Springs Near Onjung-ri, about 300 meters from the Kumgangsan Hotel. The clear water has a temperature of 37 to 44º C.

Sujong Valley Not far from Onjung-ri, via Onjong Pass a walk of 2,5 km, you will get into Sujong Valley. At the entrance you will see a 30 meters high rock, forming falls in the rainy season. A bit further are falls, operating only in summertime, where the water comes down in three steps for hundred meters. Via a steep path, having a view on Sujong Peak, Pigeon Peak and Sonsu Rock, you will get to Sujong Gate, the biggest rock gate in de Kumgangsan. Going up a little more you will get on Kangson Rock. On this round, flat rock the fairies come to play according to old stories. Using a suspension bridge you will reach Chonmang Rock from where you will ha a magnificent view. North of Sujong Peak is Kumgang Cave, inside is a spring. A bit further you can climb a steep slope to get to Pari Peak, a round and flat rock looking like a bowl upside-down.

Samil Lake This lake (also called Samil Lagoon) is 12 km east of ten Onjong-ri, in an area full of pine forest. Samil means "three days"; according to legend once the king visited the lake and like it so much that he stayed for three days.

The lake in the past used to be connected to the sea. The lake is 9-13 meters deep and has a circumference of 8 km. Boats are for hire to make a trip on the lake. At the lake-side is Tanpung Restaurant, and many visitors have lunch here. Around the lake are Ryonghwa (Lotus) Rock, with a pavilion on five big rocks, Mong Spring at the northwestern shore and hundred meters further the 6 meters high Kumgang Gate.

Outer Kumgangsan

Between Inner and Sea Kumgangsan is this area, in which the Kuryong Falls are the main sight.

Kuryong Lake From the Kumgangsan Hotel it is 12 km, 15 minutes by car, to the Mongnan Restaurant near Mongnan Bridge. The road goes through a cypresses forest. From the balcony of the restaurant you will have a view on the Samnok River. From the restaurant it is a 4½ km walk on foot-paths, rocks and suspension bridges to the falls.

Changto Pine Forest Three kilometers from the Kumgangsan Hotel is the Changto (Storehouse) Forest. The building itself has vanished.

Samnok River From Mongnan Bridge a path goes up. You will pass Turtle Rock and Frog Rock and you will see the Samnok flowing along the path. The Turtle Rock also called Rabbit Rock has a story connected. A heavenly rabbit got permission from the King of Heaven to go and see Kumgangsan. Because o the beauty of the landscape he did not return in time. Therefor he changed into a turtle and transformed into rock.

Kumgang Gate A bit further you will get tot this stone gate formed from big rocks. After the gate the view is spectacular.

Ongnyu Shortly after Kumgang Gate the path becomes quite steep. After a bend you will have a view over Ongnyu Valley, with the 600 m² big Ongnyu Lake and the Ongnyu Falls where the water goes down for 50 meters.

Ryongju After crossing the bridge in Ongnyu Valley and after the next bend you will see the two blue Ryongju Lakes above each other and above them Ryongju Falls (3-4 meters high).

Pibong Falls A little above Ryongju is a resting place with a platform. You will have a view on Pibong Falls, one of the four biggest in Kumgangsan. The falls should look like a rising phoenix. It is 139 meters high and the water falls into the Ponghwang Lake. Above Pibong is Mubong Falls (30 meters high).

Kuryong Falls After Muyong Bridge and continuing along the path up you will get to the famous Kuryong Falls. The roaring water falls down 100 meters. The falls are 4 meters wide and 74 meters high. Ther is a platform, the Kuryong Pavilion, where you will have a good view on the beautiful falls. Under the falls is Kuryong Lake, which is 13 meters deep. From Kuryong Lake you can go down a bit, than cross Ryondam Bridge and than climb for 700 meters to Kuryong Rock. Her you will have a view on a deep valley and many lakes. The aight big lakes are called the Upper Pal Lakes.

Manmulsang Manmulsang is a beautiful area with its many strange rocks and many cliffs. From the Kumgangsan Hotel it is a ride of more than 10 km.

Mansang Pavilion Near the entrance to Manmulsang, 600 meters above sea level, is this pavilion and next to it the Mansang Spring. Behind the spring is Samson Rock and a bit further is Kwimyon Rock, a big rock with a small one on top.

Manjang Spring If you continue the path up you will see the Ansim Rocks that are supposed to look like horse saddles. After that you will gete to Manjang Spring, where you can enjoy the water and, like in the myth, become younger by that.

Chonil Gate A bit further up is Chonil Gate. On the rocks is written "The most beautiful view of Kumgang". If you pass the gate the view certainly is very beautiful.

Chonson Rock Left of Chonil Gate you will get Chonsun Rock, the place where according to the myth fairies from heaven came to play. On the rock are four pillars and the rock also is an observatory. Ten men can stand her and look out on the peaks of Outer Kumgangsan. Northwest of the rock, halfway the cliff, is the Fairies Lake, the place where the fairies washed themselves before rising into heaven again.

Inner Kumgangsan

Inner Kumgangsan can only be visited with a special permission, because it is near to the demarcation line with the South. This permission should be arranged well in advance. From the Kumgangsan Hotel it is a two hours drive. On the way there are many military checkpoints.

Inner Kumgangsan is a beautiful mountain area, with a temple, many falls and higher up a small hermitage where a monk used to live.

Kwanum Temple In the temple there are about 10 monks living, some of them since 1972. You can attend a service and in return a small donation is appreciated.

Nine Dragons Pool The pool is located in a very nice part and it is a beautiful walk gong there.