MYOHYANG SIGHTS

HYANGSAN

Hyangsan village is located where the Myohyang River comes together with the Chongchon River. Hyangsan only has one main street, with traditional Korean houses on both sides.

MYOHYANG RIVER

Myohyang River flows through some valleys, getting water from side-rivers, into the Chongchon River. Tha valleys are: Sangwon Valley, Manpok Valley, Chontae Valley and Chilsong Valley.

Not far from Huangsan Hotel there is a Youth League Camp. It comprises an area of 8000 m². In April - November many secondary school students come here for a short holiday.

International Friendship Exhibition (IFE) Center

The Friendship Center is situated near the Myohyang River, in a beautiful area of forested hills. The location is about 4 km from the Hyangsan railway station, about 1½ km from the Hyangsan Hotel, and opposite the entrance Sangwon Valley. The six stories building was built in 1978 in tradional Korean palace style. From the outside it looks like a wooden building with windows, but in fact there are no windows. The roofs are covered with blue tiles. Inside the building there are marble stairs, huge bronze doors and thick carpets. There are no windows, every room has climate-control.

In the IFE Center presents that have been given to Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are shown. The gifts are ordered according to country. Each gift has a sign with an explanation in English. There are objects of art, like pottery and paintings, but one can also see the bulletproof car that Stalin gave to Kim Il Sung. The center is regarded to be a place to pay respect. Before entering you will have to take off your shoes. A guide in traditional costume will show you around.

Pohyon Temple (Pohyon-sa)

Not far from the IFE Center, opposite the Mohyang River, is Pohyon Temple. It originates from 1042, but has been rebuilt often since. The temple derives its name from the is Pohyon Boddhissattva.

You will enter the temple through Chongye Gate. In the first court is the Pohyon Temple Monument. Through Haetal Gate you will reach the next court, containing nice trees. Chonwang Gate leads to another court. There you will find a square, nine stories pagoda and the Manse Pavilion. In the next court is an octagonal, 13 stories and 8.60 meter high pagoda. Behind the pagoda is Taeung Hall. On the right side is Kwanum Temple. The main hall has several Buddha images. Behind Kwanum Temple is Mansu Pavilion. Right from the temple is Ryongsan Hall. Next is Suchung Temple. Here in the past there were memorial services for the monk Sosan, leader of the Just Volunteers who in 1592-98 defended Korea against the Japanese invaders. Then you will come at the temple museum. Inside is an exhibition of wooden printing plates for making Buddhist scriptures, an enormous project of 80,000 wooden blocks with the most complete collection of its time. Along the Taranisok Auditorium, the Bell Tower and the Haejangwon you will finally return to Chogye Gate.

SANGWON VALLEY

The road up and, via another path, down is about 14 km long, but it will be almost a full day's trip.

Stupa’s At the entrance to the valley, west of Pohyon Temple, are 44 stupa’s of different shape and height. They are the graves of famous monks.

Sangwon Gate A big rock with a narrow passage under it is called Sangwon Gate.

Kumgang Gate A little further along the road there is a big rock that fell from the mountain somewhere in the past and lies against another big rock, leaving a small passage which is called Kumgang Gate.

Kumgang Falls 1,8 km from the entrance to the valley you will reach a reclining rock from which the water falls down 2 meters and than flows away over the slope.

Kumgang Pavilion Left of the falls there is the Kumgang Pavilion on a big rock.

Taeha Falls Continuing your path at the left side a further kilometer and you will reach Taeha Falls. The water falls down along an enormous rock into a hole, forming a silver waterscreen.

Ryongyon Falls Another 500 meters up and you will reach some high cliffs. Here you will the Ryongyon Falls, high 84 meters. The falls derived its name from the Ryong (Dragon) Pool on the rock above.

Sanju Falls Fifty meters from Ryongyon is Sanju (Pearl Necklace) Falls. It is 29 meters high and derives its name from the bouncing waterdrops.

Iho Rock Left of Sanju Falls you will see a ‘monster-like’ shaped rock and on top of it a pavilion. This is Inho Rock. There is a story connected about a tiger that once showed a traveler who lost his way the way up.

Inho Pavilion From the pavilion on Inho Rock you will have a nice view on the valleys of the Myohyang Moutains and on the three falls.

Sangwon Hermitage A short climb above the falls will bring you to the Buddhist Sangwon-sa. It is not clear how old the temple is, but there was a sanctuary here already in Koryo (936-1392). The present buildings date from 1580. There is a sign: "The highest temple in Hyangsan"; here you are at the height of 565 meters. In front of the temple there are some very old trees. The temple has two pavilions. The Su Pavilion contains the source called "Milk of Buddha"; the water is supposed to heal. The Chilsong Pavilion was built with four pillars, made from one piece of wood, and has a 11.8 m-long frontal beam not supported by any pillars in between. From Sangwon Hermitage you can continue either to the right, to the Chuksong Temple, or go further up.

Chonsin Falls Behind Sangwon Hermitage is Chonsin Falls, the "water falling from heaven". The falls are 86 meters high and 4 meters wide. From Inho Pavilion you will have a good view on these falls.

Tubu Rock Behind Chonsin Falls is a white rock, Tubu Rock. According to legend the rock is a big piece of doufu (tahu) turned into stone.

Manmul Rock If you go around Tubu Rock and cross a stream you will reach Manmul Rock.. The view is very nice here.

Nungin Temple Two kilometers from Sangwon Hermitage there is at the height of 1000 meters the highest temple in the Myohyang Mountains. The present buildings date from 1780, but long before there was a cloister here. The view is magnificant. You will see the peaks and valleys of the Myohyang Mountains and the countryside through which the Chongchon River flows.

Popwang Peak From the Nungun Temple is is only one kilometer up to the 1,389 meters high Popwang Peak. The slope is very steep and the path goes up and up, therefor it is not an easy climb to be able to enjoy the view from the top.

Chuksong Temple From Sangwon Hermitage via Ryonggak Rock you can reach the Chuksong Temple. The temple with its wooden front dates from 1875.

Puryong Monastery About 2 km down from Chuksong Temple, along Oson Pavilion, you will get to the Puryoung Monastery, which was rebuilt in 1700. In front if the monastery there is a big flower garden.

If you continue down for 970 meters, you will get back to the Kumgang Pavilion.

MANPHOK VALLEY

The entrance to the 'Valley of Falls' is, via the road along the Myohyang River, 4½ km from Hyangsan Hotel. From the entrance to the valley there is a 2.6 km long path leading up to the Nine Falls and another 3.6 km long path is going down and back. The path up begins just after the path down.

Myohyangsan Source Near the entrance to Manphok Valley is a source providing mineral water that is supposed to offer cures for several kinds of diseases.

Sogok Falls The path up brings you after 400 meters at the Sogok (Prelude) Falls. It is the ‘prelude’ to the ‘symphony’ of the many falls in the valley.

Murung Falls 250 meters further is Murung Falls. The water at first flows over a sloping hill and than falls down for 27 meters.

Unson Falls A little further along the path is the 75 meters high Unson Falls, where the water flows along a hole in the rocks.

Pal Pools Further on are the eight pools called the Friends Pools after a classical legend about eight fairies who came bathing here.

Manphok Rock Via steps in the rocks and with the help of a steel bar along the steps, you can climb up. From the top you will have a view over Manphok Valley.

Yuson Falls Yuson Falls are 66 meters high and provide the water for the eight pools. The stream is spanned her by the 30 meters long Yuson Bridge.

Jangsu Rock Climbing further up you will reach the 40 meters long, 15 meters wide and 20 meters high Jangsu (General) Rock.

Pison Falls About 300 meters from Yuson Fals are the Pison Falls. The water falls down from 46 meters high cliffs. It was here that the fairies came to play and they used the rainbows caused by the waterdrops to climb up to heaven.

Pison Pavilion From the base of the falls there are steep steps going up Pison Rock. There you will find Pison Pavilion (Pisonjong), that will give you a view on the falls.

Kuchung Falls From Pison Falls it is about one kilometer to Kuchung (Ninefold) Falls. It got its name because the water flows over nine steep steps before falling down.

Undok Pavilion Behind the falls is the Undok Pavilion.

Hyangno Pavilion From Kuchung Falls there is a path leading west. After descending 700 meters you will get to the Hyangno Pavilion. Here is a path leading southwards back to the entrance of the valley or you can go to the north, further up.

Tangun Cave Going further up you will soon reach Tangun Cave. According to legend Tangun, in 2333 BC the founder and first king of Kojoson, was born here. The cave is 16 meters wide, 12 meters long and 4 meters high.

Tangun Rock Behind the cave is the rock with the same name. From here you will have a magnificent view.

Hyangno Peak Further up is Hyangno Peak.

Mujigae Rock From Tangun Cave down after a while you will get to the Mujigae (Rainbos) Rock. It is supposed to look like the rainbow along which the fairies came down from heaven. The rock is 30 meters long, 5 meters wide and 2 meters high.

Hwajang Temple Another 2 km down you reach the Buddhist Hwajang Temple, dating from Koryo (936-1392). In the temple is a mural from the 17th century, called "Flying Fairies".

CHILSONG VALLEY

At the end of Chilsong Valley is Piro Peak, the higest peak in the Myohyang Mountains. The entrance to the valley is 5½ km from the Hyangsan Hotel.

Habiro Temple 2,3 km from the entrance of the valley, where the Chontae River comes together with the Chilsong River, is the Habiro Temple. The temple dates from before the 17th century, but was rebuilt in 1882. Around the temple are the Poryon Temple, the Sansin Pavilion and the Chilsong Pavilion. In front of the Habiro Temple is Poryon Rock.

Chontae Valley From the Habiro Temple there is a path goning north into the Chontae Valley. After 400 meters you will get to Chontae Falls. Another 200 meters along the path is Isonnam Falls, 22 meters high. Left of the falls on a rock is Sonnam Pavilion with its three pillars.

Chungbiro Temple After the Habiro Temple there is a path going north up to a height of 1200 meter where the Chungbiro Temple is located. Behind the temple are the Paegun Peak and the Paegun Pavilion, on the side is a clear spring. Here you will have a broad view on the peaks of the Myohyang Mountains. The vegetation is becoming alpine at this height.

Wonmang Peak The path goes further up. It is 2 km to Wonmang Peak (1825m).

Piro Peak From Wonmang Peak you can go to the right. After 2 km you will reacht Piro Peak (1909m). In July and August in this area the blooming flowers are very beautiful.

From Piro Peak ther is a 9 km long path goning down tot the Habiro Monastery. On the way you will pass Chilgang Falls, Chilsong Falls, Chilsong Pool, Unsil Falls, Saja Falls, Pidan Fall and Mangyong Falls.

From Habiro you can take the path via Pirobong (rest place) and the Kumgang Cave back to the entrance of the valley.

RYONGMUN CAVE

The 6-km long cave consists of two main caves and 30 small caves. The highest ceiling is 40 meters high and the maximum width is 60 meters. There are many multi-farious stalactites and stalagmites. The huge lime cave is located in Ryongmun Workers' District, Kujang County, 28 km from Hyangsan. From the Kujang Bridge it can be reached by a 12 km side-road.