Busan Trip - Day 4: Fortress & Temple

On Saturday, December 31, we headed to the hills for some time out in nature. First we traveled up a very windy road to Geumjeongsanseong (Mt. Geumjeong Fortress). It's the largest fortress in South Korea and was built in 1703 to prepare for further invasions from Japan. (The Korean Peninsula has constantly been invaded by Japan or other surrounding nations.) There is only a 4km section left from the original fortress, but it's being rebuilt and the mountain is crisscrossed with hiking trails and dotted with small villages. As we bounced back and forth on the switchback road, we caught glimpses of the city below us between the bare forest trees. At the top we had a bit of confusion as to where we should go. We found an English map of the mountain and decided to hike down one trail for a bit to get to one of the four fortress gates. After reaching the East Gate and taking some pictures, we turned around and went back to our starting location and then kept going up to the Daeryukbong, just one of the peaks on the whole Geumjeong mountain range.

Arriving at the East Gate

A view of the mountains and a small village from the East Gate

Trail along the fortress wall

Daeryukbong peak

Busan is a very sprawling city (click to see full-size)

So much haze we couldn't see the harbour

We made it to the peak!

Newly-built section of wall

After relaxing at the peak for awhile and eating some sandwiches we'd brought along, we hiked back down to the windy mountain road. From back down in the north part of the city, we searched for the right bus to get to Beomosa Temple. After walking up and down the street looking for at least half an hour, we figured out our mistake and went up a perpendicular road rather than a parallel one that we'd assumed it would be on. It was only a quick walk to the bus stop after that and then a short drive up a one-way circular road to the temple entrance.

Walkway to the temple grounds

Colourful, festive lanterns (we weren't sure if they were there just for New Year's or all year round)

Entrance to the Beomosa Temple

Apparently turtles mean something in Buddhism, but we're not sure what exactly

The three strings encircling the entire temple museum were made of small wooden balls, each displaying the name of a temple benefactor

Small bamboo forest

Monks leaving a worship service (Ali thinks their clothes look quite comfy and warm)

More benefactor names on all these lanterns

Rooms/bathrooms for people doing a temple stay - sleeping overnight at the temple for an interesting experience and a small sum

For pictures and commentary about our other days in Busan, click the links below.

Day 1: Haeundae Beach

Day 2: Yongdusan Park

Day 3: Busan City Bus Tour
Day 4/5: New Year's in Busan
Day 5: Sunrise Festival
Day 5: The rest of New Year's Day