Choongbuk Danyang Best 8 Scenery in Korea- Tour

1.     Date and Time : Sept 30 and Oct 1, 2018 (6 hours including break one hours).

2.     Location : Danyang District at Choongbook Province in Korea.

3. Distance and Course : Tour Course by car is 60km taking 2 hours which is to start at Dodamsambong Parking Lot => Gyeranjae Hill (Gudambong Peak and Oksunbong Peak) => Sainam Rock => Hainam Rock => Jungseonam Rock => Sangseonam Rock. Separated Trail Course by walking is 4.2km taking 4 hours for round trip from at Gyeranjae Parking Lot => Junction => Gudambong peak => Junction => Oksunbong Peak => Back to Gyeranjae Parking Lot . Please refer to  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WW1fAG9iMY

4.     Access :

There is several ways to connect “Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (” by means of subway lines No. 2 at Gangbyun Station) where you should get on Intercity bus line bound for Maepo Bus Stop, non-stop and taking two hours and 30 minutes. When you get off at the Danyang Intercity Bus Terminal, you should negotiate with taxi for the tour transportation referring to above article 3 course.

5.  Overall Remarks.

Danyang Best 8 Scenery are located at Danyang District, Choongcheong Bukdo Province in Korea which spread out within 8 ~ 12 km range from Danyang Town and mostly situated at beautiful valley at branch of Namhangang River. They are Dodam Sambong Peaks, Seokmun Stone Gate, Gudambongn Peak, Oksunbong Peak, Sainam Rock Cliff, Haseonam Rock, Jungseonam Rock and Sangseonam Rock

6.  Detailed Course Information

6-1) Dodamsambong (Location: three rock islets Dodam-ri, Danyang-eup)

There are three rock islets standing in the middle of the Nam Han River: In the midst of the currents, one rock, called Husband Rock, looks like a figure of an imposing general, and north and south of it are the smaller rocks which are called Wife Rock and Mistress Rock, respectively. The jealous Wife Rock is seated with her back toward the Husband Rock who has his mistress to get a son, whereas the Mistress Rock of a pregnant woman shape looks up at the Husband Rock.

It is said that Chung Do-jeon, who was one of meritorious retainers in Joseon Dynasty, called his alias Sambong and enjoyed his life here during his young days. Originally, Mt. Sambong at Jeongsun-gun, Gangwon Province, had drifted down due to the flood and settled at Dodamsambong where it now is located. In older times, Danyang was compelled to pay taxes to Jeongsun-gun every year, but didn’t have to do so, since a boy named Chung Do-jeon had insisted that the Sambong, which stands in the way of currents, should be returned to its original place.

There is a hexagonal pavilion named Samdojeong on Janggunbong. In the autumn of the 42nd Year (1766) during the period of King Yeongjo, Danyang county chief Cho Jeong-se had constructed Neungyeongjeong, which was later ruined. In 1807, Kim Do-seong had set up a wooden square arbor, which was later washed away by deluge in 1972. Chairman Kim Sang-su at Sungshin Cement Co. reestablished a concrete hexagonal pavilion called Samdojeong in October 1976. At this peaceful resting place, anyone can feel like a poet while reciting a poem, and be absorbed in a fairytale world. Needless to say, its beautiful landscape inspired many classical scholars to create excellent poems:

The mountain is red like autumn leaves, and the water is clear like jade. The sky is aglow with the setting sun at Dodamsambong. When I sleep with my head on a hermit’s raft over a greenish rock, Golden waves are rippling under stars and moon that are shining.

6-2)      Seokmun Stone Gate (Location: Hagoe-ri, Maepo-eup)

At the left riverside about 200m upstream of Dodamsambong appears a long, rainbow shaped stone gate. Some people say fairies and hermits, who enjoyed singing and dancing, frequent it. Below the right side of the stone gate is a small cave, in which rocks on the ground are lined up like 99 watery strips of rice paddies in a farming area. A legend explains it further:

Below the right side of the stone gate is a small cave, in which rocks on the ground are lined up like 99 watery strips of rice paddies in a farming area. A legend explains it further

A little farther upstream of the stone gate, a Turtle Rock, which appears to be elaborately carved, can be seen. And thujas, growing prolifically on the cliffs around the stone gate, add more greenery beauty to the surrounding landscapes all the year round.

6-3)      Gudambong (Location: Janghoe-ri, Danseong-myeon)

On the precipitous cliffs with rocks of strange shapes, Gudambong resembles a tortoise. It is said that during the period of King Injong in the Joseon Dynasty, Lee Ji-beon lived here in seclusion after his retirement from his office, and roamed about the mountains and rivers riding on a bull. Far away from there, Jebibong, Mt. Geumsu and Mt. Worak can be seen. The place is one of the finest sceneries for sightseeing by means of water transportation on Lake Chungju.

At dawn, the moon hangs lonely over the ridge of a mountain. What is that high hunched Gudambong pondering over? An old hermit may have hidden himself in another mountain. Only a crane and a monkey are crying, with a cloud freely passing by in the skies.

6-4)      Oksunbong (Location: Janhoe-ri, Danseong-myeon)

 The white and mossy rocks, which spring up like bamboo shoots, look like classical scholars who are integral. Rocks of strange shapes, freely making up the lines of bending and winding, appear to be in good harmony with each other. Originally, Oksunbong belonged to Cheongpung.

During the period of King Myeongjong in the Joseon Dynasty, a kisaeng named Duhyang asked Toegye Lee Hwang, who came to accede to the office of Danyang County chief, for Oksunbong to be returned to Danyang-gun. However, Cheongpung the vice envoy refused to do so. The new appointed chief engraved his writing on a stone wall, which describes Oksunbong, which was the gateway to Danyang, and the boundary between the two counties. Later, the vice envoy went to Oksunbong to know about who had drawn the borderlines. However, he was said to have been very amazed at the wonderful engraving that looked so strong and alive, and to have given up Oksungbong.

Oksunbong, nicknamed Salt River, is well known for its magnificent view. An old historic book describes how Kim Il-son, a civil minister in the Joseon Dynasty, greatly extolled the beauty of these marvelous ravines.

6-5)      Sangseonam (Location: Gasalli, Danseong-myeon)

The rocks are located 2 km upstream of Jungseonam. During the period of King Myeongjong in the Joseon Dynasty, Suam Kwon Sang-ha is said to have designated it.

Around this vicinity, tourists can experience delight in watching the ravine waters gushing through huge rocks and waterfalls that sound like thunder splashing enormous water drops in all directions. Sightseeing tourists can also enjoy seeing the weirdly shaped rocks on both banks, the clear sounds from the ever-flowing mountain streams, and birds singing in the dense forests.

6-6)      Jungseonam (Location: Daejamli, Danseong-myeon)

This scenic attraction was designated by Kim Su-jeung who was a civil minister during the period of King Hyojong in the Joseon Dynasty. Transparent streams, revealing a fantastic landscape in the summer season, skirt white rocks, which were piled up in layers. Adjacent to it are Ssangnyong Waterfalls in which two dragons rose up toward the sky and two white majestic rocks called Ogyeomdae and Myeonggyeongdae.

The writings on four counties, including Danyang, Yeongchun, Jechon and Chungpoong, were inscribed on the surface of Ogyeomdae. Against white rocks and old pine trees on Mt.Dorak granite colored sunrays and clouds in a clear sky that are vividly reflected on the waters make a wonderful view. Myriad people from have frequented the site from the Joseon Dynasty on, including as many as 300 artists and sages whose names had been engraved on the rock.

6-8)      Haseonam (Location: Daejamli, Danseong-myeon)

Haseonam is one of many scenic spots deep in the mountains, with white rocks layered on the base. A very huge round rock stands on the wide floor of rocks, which was at first called Buddha Rock and then Seonam by county chief, Lim Jae-kwang, and later Haseonam by Toegye, Lee Hwang in Joseon Dynasty. Crystal-clear streams flow through this area and a rock that is reflected on the water seems to be shining so lucidly like a rainbow that it is called Red Rock.

The place is surrounded by azaleas and royal azaleas in the spring, clouds and mist in the summer, tinged leaves in the autumn, snowy old pine trees in the winter, respectively, thus creating a picturesque backdrop against which many painters were said to have drawn pictures during the Dynasty.

6-9)      Saunam (Location: Sainamli, Daegang-Myeon)

Sainam was named after the clear streams in the valley, by Danyang County chief, Lim Jae-kwang during the period of King Seongjong during the Joseon Dynasty, since the great scholar Yeukdong Woo Tak, had visited here on pleasant excursions during his official service position of Sain (Similar to Vice Ministry nowdays) at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty.

The high stone wall induces visitors to exclaim spontaneously in amazement at the sight of it. During the Joseon Dynasty, many poets dropped by here and inscribed letters on the stone wall.