Jirisan National Park | Gyeongsang Guide | Rough Guides Jirisan National Park Asia » South Korea » Gyeongsang » Jirisan National Park Korea’s largest national park, JIRISAN (지리산 국립 공원), pulls in hikers from all over the country, attracted by the dozen peaks measuring over 1000m in height, which includes Cheonwangbong, the South Korean mainland’s highest. It has also found fame for its resident bear population; a park camera spotted an Asiatic Black Bear wandering around in 2002, almost two decades after the last confirmed Korean sighting. The bear group was located and placed under protection, and continue to breed successfully. Although you’re extremely unlikely to see them, it lends the park’s various twists and turns an extra dash of excitement – nowhere else in Korea will you be fretting over the sound of a broken twig. Jirisan is one of the only national parks in the country with an organized system of overnight shelters – there are few more atmospheric places to fall asleep in this corner of Korea.

This makes multiday hikes an exciting possibility; one popular route heads across the main spine of the park from east to west, and takes three days to walk. There are large peaks all the way along this central ridge, from which numerous picturesque valleys drop down to the fields and foothills below. It’s impossible to detail all of the possible hikes and sights in the park, better instead to arm yourself with the park map (available at park entrances and nearby tourist offices for W1000) and find your own lofty piece of paradise. The park actually sprawls across three provinces, with its most popular access point – the temple of Hwa-eomsa – on the west of the park, and actually located across the provincial border in Jeonnam. The eastern side of Jirisan, in Gyeongnam province, lacks such a focal point – there are dozens of entrances, but though none are particularly popular or easy to get to, this usually makes for a quieter visit than you’d get at other national parks. One of the most popular trails is up from Ssanggyesa (쌍계사), a beautifully located temple at the south of the park.

There’s little of historical note here, bar a stone tablet apparently dating from 887, but the surroundings are delightful, particularly in the early morning before the sun has risen beyond Jirisan’s muscular peaks; it may also be Korea’s noisiest temple in terms of birdlife. Daewonsa (대원사) is another pretty temple, this one on the park’s eastern fringe, and also has trails leading up to the peaks. Gyeongsang Asia: Jirisan National Park, South Korea - Physical Geography Of Global Parks Physical Geography Of Global Parks Asia: Jirisan National Park, South Korea Jirisan National Park #imgrc=ANAV-jsP9YnarM%3A About: Jirisan Naitonal Park is located at 35.2900° N, 127.6320° E. Jirisan was designated as a National Park in 1967. Its total area covers three provinces and five cities. A wide variety of animal species call this national park home. The vast amount of plant life is eye-opening. On average about 80-100 days of the year are clear and sunny.

Jirisan is also home to ten famous temples. It is great to go hiking and backpacking. Annual Temperature Ranges The annual temperature ranges from 95 degrees F to 33 degrees F as a max Temperature. For the minimum temperatures it varies from 78 degrees F to 17 degrees F. The reasoning behind the great change in temperatures throughout the year is due to the elevation of Jirisan National Park. The average elevation of this National park is 6,283 feet. As a mean it can vary between the temperatures 86 degrees F to 27 degrees F. The coldest month is December, the maximum temperature during that month is 57 degrees F. The minimum temperature during December is 19 degrees F. The warmest month of the year for Jirisan National Park is July, With the maximum temperature reaching 93 degrees F. The minimum temperature in July is 68 degrees F. Precipitation Distribution: Jirisan National Park has snowfall starting in December and ending in early march. This location has potential for precipitation all year long. Due to the elevation and location of Jirisan National Park the amount of precipitation is very small.

In the year 2014 there was no rainfall. The colder temperatures of our area due to elevation makes it hard for precipitation to occur. The types of precipitation that would occur would be rain, snow, and sleet. These types of weather would occur most during December. There is little to no precipitation at Jirisan National Park. Severe weather conditions The weather conditions between the warmest part of the summer and the coldest part of the winter are extreme in Jirisan National Park. January appears to be the the month with extremely cold weather conditions with average low temperature of around 21 F. These cold weather conditions are caused because of the influence of the expanding Siberian-High pressure zones and prevailing west winds. August on the other hand is the warmest month of the year with the average high of 84 F because of the influence of North-Pacific high pressure system. Climate type: Jirisan National Park’s climate type is Moist Continental. The moist continental climate type exists in central and eastern parts of North America and Eurasia in the midlatitudes. The moist continental climate of China, Korea, and Japan has more summer rainfall and a drier winter than North America.

Forests are the dominant vegetation cover through most of the climate, including Jirisan National Park. 60.9 66.6 The average humidity for the park is 66.6%. This is a moderate to high humidity reading. Fog Only about 80-100 days out of the year in Jirisan National Park are clear and sunny. The rest of the days are a combination of heavy fog and mist. Wind Dominant Wind Direction: West Southwest Average Wind Speed: 7mph Nov-Mar: Winds are predominantly WSW Apr-Jun: Winds are predominantly SE Jul-Oct: NNW Global Wind Patterns: Jirisan National Park is located at 35 degrees North and is mostly affected by the Westerlies. Air Masses Jirisan National Park has many different air masses that affect the climate of it. South Korea has 4 seasons as Ohio does. They have short, hot, and humid summers. In the summer, continental tropical air masses have a great affect on this. It blows over from the main continent of Asia. Jirisan also is affected a little bit by the maritime tropical air masses that come from the Pacific Ocean.

Martime tropical air masses mostly affect the coasts, not really Jirisan National Park. The winter in Jirisan is long, cold, and dry. For the most part, the air mass that affects Jirisan National Park in the winter is the continental polar air masses that come from Northern Asia. Spring and Fall in Jirisan are short but pleasant, receiving mixtures of all the air masses listed above. Temperature and Precipitation Regimes The temperature regime is continental because it is not by the coast and the temperatures vary greatly throughout the year. The precipitation regime for Jirisan National Park is a high sun season maximum because they are in the Northern Hemisphere and the high sun season is summer, which is when they receive the most precipitation. Climate Affecting Plants and Animals Jirisan National Park lies in the moist continental climate type as stated earlier. Jirisan National Park contains the midlatitude deciduous forest biome in it. There are four distinct season in this region, with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Because of this, the plants and animals in Jirisan National Park have unique adaptations to their climate.

For example, the mallard duck, which is an invasive specie in Jirisan, migrates for the cold winters and comes back to Jirisan for summers. Another animal that has adapted to the climate of Jirisan National Park is the Asiatic Black Bear. The Asiatic Black Bear is considered a "medium" sized bear. They have fur and hibernate in the winters for when the weather gets cold. Since Jirisan is full of many trees, the Asiatic Black Bear has short, yet strong claws for climbing trees. A common tree that has adapted to Jirisan National Park is the Korean Winter Hazel. This tree has long, yellow flowers that fall before the winter comes and grow back in early April. This tree loses its leaves to prepare for the dry, cold winter. This tree has adapted to grow only on the side of the mountains in the park that receive the most sun and it does not grow on the rocky mountaintop. These are some of the adaptations that plants and animals make in the climate of Jirisan National Park. Environmental Threats In the park, the forest habitat has significantly dwindled due to timber harvesting, wildfire and the conversion of forests to agricultural land or for other purposes.

Fire damages occur due to rare occurrences of high winds and high temperatures or careless campers that leave unsupervised campfires open. When the fires are left open, one gust of high wind can set miles of forest on fire. Expansion of monocultures is another reason for dwindling forest. Even in protected areas, large companies are coming in and using acres of land to plant an excessive amount of one crop. Ginseng is a root that is native to the area of Jirisan. However, the land where this root is located is being dug up because of the popular want and need of the collection of it for food and medicinal purposes. An increase in air pollution is shrinking scenic views, damaging plants and spoiling the natural soils and streams in the park. The air is becoming cloudier each year due to nearby industries and power plants. What is left of the remaining Central Korean Deciduous Forest is mostly confined to the mountain and hills. The southwestern area of the region has gotten to the point where it supports almost no vegetation. Large predatory mammals such as wolves and black bears are on track to being extinct in the park due to hundreds of years of illegal hunting and aggressive agricultural practices.

Plate Boundaries and Landforms Jirisan National Park is located in the southern part of South Koreas as stated above. It is not located close to any of the plate boundaries. The closest ones are the Filipino and Eurasion Plate Boundaries. Even these are very far away. However, that does not mean Jirisan National Park does not experience any earthquakes. In March of 2014, there was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake that hit 100 kilometers off the coast. So every so often, Jirisan does experience some minor earthquakes. These plate boundaries and rare earthquakes make for smaller mountains that one will find in Jirisan. Jirisan National Park tends to have smaller mountains with a rugged terrain and forests. The tallest mountain you will find is Mt. Cheonwangbong that stands at 1915 meters tall. This is the effect the distant plate boundaries have on the landforms of Jirisan National Park. #/media/File:Plates_tect2_en.svg Water Affecting Region: Jirisan National Park has small lakes and rivers throughout. They erode the land over long periods of time. We use the water for hydroelectric power too.

Jirisan National Park is not in a watershed so it has small rivers and lakes. Other Processes Affecting Region: Erosion, specifically in mountainous areas of the park plays a role in shaping the region, along with the aforementioned rivers and lakes flowing throughout the park. Besides this, Jirisan National Park is relatively free of external factors that may influence the region. Common Rock Types: The main rocks found in the Jirisan National Park region are granite and gneiss. Gneiss is a type of metamorphic rock as it has been changed through recrystallization by heat and pressure at depth within the Earth’s crust. Granite on the other hand is also a coarse-grained metamorphic rock and originated by the cooling and crystallization of a molten liquid, or magma but has a uniform texture which is different from the characteristic banded structure of gneiss. Moreover, Granite is the most common rock type found in the area comprising of nearly 60 percent of all rock types found in the entire Korean Peninsula and not just Jirisan national park. "How Does Elevation Affect Weather?" Science. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.

"Snow Cover : Global Maps." Snow Cover : Global Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. "Total Rainfall : Global Maps." Total Rainfall : Global Maps. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. "Weather History for Busan Airport, South Korea | Weather Underground." Weather History for Busan Airport, South Korea | Weather Underground. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. "Monthly Average/Record Temperature." The Weather Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. "Humid Continental - Climate Types for Kids." Humid Continental - Climate Types for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. Introducing Physical Geography (5th ed), Page 249. Author: Alan Strahler "Wind, Waves and Weather for Kitesurfers, Windsurfers, Surfers and Sailors." Windfinder.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2015. "Geography of South Korea." - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web.

13 Oct. 2015. "Eastern Asia: Central Korean Penninsula." WorldWildlife.org. World Wildlife Fund, 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015. "Present Page Name." Korea National Park. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015. "Almost Making It To The Top Of South Korea’s Jirisan." TheExpeditioner Travel Site Almost Making It To The Top Of South Koreas Jirisan Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2015. "Geology: How Do Mountains Form Away from Fault Lines?Frequently Asked in." How Do Mountains Form Away from Fault Lines? N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2015. Jirisan National Park – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Understand[ edit ] Jirisan National Park is the largest - and perhaps most famous - national park in South Korea . It spans three provinces: South Jeolla , North Jeolla and South Gyeongsang . Within the park is Jiri mountain, which is considered one of the three holy mountains on the Korean peninsula.

It offers some of Korea's best hiking and is the beginning of the Baekdu Deagan (백두대간) Ridge, the "spine" of Korea, which extends all the way to Baekdusan (백두산) on the border of China and North Korea. The park has 12 peaks over 1,000 m with a 40 km ridge. The highest peak is Cheonwangbong (1,915 m), which is South Korea's second largest mountain. Jirisan became Korea's first national park in 1967. Landscape, Flora & Fauna and Climate[ edit ] Jirisan National Park spreads over 320 km².

Numerous peaks are folding out like a screen in the center with the 35.336933 127.730536 1 Cheonwangbong (1,915 m), 35.319112 127.567844 2 Banyabong (1,732 m), and 35.294036 127.532042 3 Nogodan (1,507 m) peaks. Many valleys are situated between the over 20 ridges. Jirisan is the cause for the cultural differences and varieties between regions to its east and west. With 4,989 flora and fauna inhabiting its grounds, Jirisan is a treasure chest of nature. Various vegetation from warm-temperate forests and temperate central forests to cold forests populate jirisan. Continental climate is present in Jirisan National Park with strong winds along the mountain ridges. Get in[ edit ] Jirisan is best accessed by car or bus.

From Busan many buses depart from Seobu Terminal - two buses daily to 35.2321389 127.6405838 1 Ssanggyesa, four buses daily (two in the early morning) to 35.292141 127.754677 2 Jungsan-ri, and one every other hour to 35.206708 127.468320 3 Gurye. From there local busses can take you (almost) to the entrance of the park. These cities can also be reached from other cities like Jeonju, Gwangju, and Daegu. In addition, consider any buses going to Hadong, Namwon, Hamyang, Sancheong, or Jinju, wherever your starting point, and take another local bus from there. Buses from the nearby cities usually run pretty regularly, but some routes stop earlier than others.

The bus from Hadong for Ssanggyesa leaves at 8:00, 9:15, 12:40, 14:00 and 15:50 and comes back at 9:10, 10:15, 15:00, 16:35, 17:00 and 18:45. If possible, call ahead or visit any local tourist information to determine the bus schedule for those cities. The return directions behaves similarly. Fees/Permits[ edit ] There can be a fee for visiting the local heritage sites (KRW3,500) which are part of the national park, e.g. when coming from Gurye. If you are convincing enough to explain that you are just visiting the national park or just overstrain the entrance post by just speaking English, they might opt for not forcing you to pay this fee. See[ edit ] 35.336933 127.730536 4 Cheonwangbong peak.

1,915 m 35.232359 127.650284 5 Sanggyesa temple. This is one the major temples in Korea. You can take a bus from the Hadong Terminal. 35.237634 127.663513 6 Buril waterfall. This waterfall is only 1 or 2 km away from Sanggyasa temple, but it is a decent climb. 35.257044 127.497580 7 Hwaeomsa temple. This is the 35.242219 127.487630 1 stop of the bus leaving from Gurye. Use it to explain your destination to reach the national park. Do[ edit ] The most scenic hike is the one between Hwaeomsa and Jungsan-ri, about 38km including Cheonwangbong peak. It can be done in 3 days and 2 nights.

Jangteomok, Seseok, Byeoksoryeong and Nogodan shelter are of high standard, only Yeonhacheon shelter is a little older. This track potentially allows for a hike down to Sanggyesa. A full list of all available routes can be found on the official website: [1] A very good map is available on the Korean park website: [2] Drink[ edit ] Water - Fresh water springs are relatively consistent along the trails. The mountain water is filtered through granite and is safe to drink, according to every Korean voraciously drinking it. Beware that some trail maps mark water springs that do not (or no longer) exist. Have an extra full bottle just in case. Tea - The area, specifically Hadong, is known for green tea. Shops and stores around Jirisan usually sell tea leaves by the bag. If you are a true tea fanatic, come in May for the Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival. Lodging[ edit ] The small villages near the park entrances offer various lodging options. You can bet on finding a minbak (room rental) for a somewhat reasonable price.

Of course, you also have the option of staying at a mountain shelter (hut). See the following list for options: [3] . Reservations must be made in advance via the park website [4] or through email: yhg2006@knps.or.kr You also need to send the fees in advance - this can be done at any Korean bank. During non-busy periods, two days notice is sufficient. However the spots fill up fast during holiday weekends, so try to plan ahead. In emergency cases (e.g. if you are a foreigner not proficient in Korean), especially in non-busy periods, shelters can be booked and payed for on sight or at the park entrance - this however is inofficial. Fees for the shelter are KRW8,000-11,000/adult, depending on time of the year and specific shelter. Camping[ edit ] There are several campgrounds at various locations. Fees are minimal (KRW1,600-2,000/adult) and reservations are not necessary. Consult the park website (see lodging chapter) for specific campground locations.

Backcountry[ edit ] Camping is forbidden within the boundaries of the national park, except on designated camping grounds. Throughout the park, signs are posted giving warnings of a KRW500,000 penalty for violations. Hike to your heart's content, but laying down to sleep is a risk. For those of you considering sneaking off trail and pitching a tent illegally, be careful for snakes and bears. Temple Stay[ edit ] Hwaeomsa Temple , ☎ +82 61-782-7600 . Check-in: 4 pm, check-out: 11 pm. A great place to experience a traditional Buddhist monk's life in Korea. You can find a fabulous programme to enjoy for one night and two days here. Meals (Dinner, breakfast and lunch) are provided for free. It is important to respect the temple Etiquette and follow the guidance of the coordinator. For more information on Temple Stay, this site is helpful: KRW40,000. (updated Oct 2015) Stay safe[ edit ] Bring appropriate shoes, gear and cloths.

In winter the temperatur along the ridge can be far below 0°C and the strong wind adds an additional burden. Crampons can be meaningful, but considering that also in winter the tracks are very busy, most of it will be cracked up properly by other people's crampons, leaving enough powder to cope easily with well-profiled hiking shoes. Most of the huts are heated, but even then it might not be enough for a good night sleep. Consider bringing a good sleeping bag (-2°C) in winter. There are also blankets available for rent for KRW2,000. Since sleeping is on the floor, you might want to bring a self-inflating mattress. Go next[ edit ] This park travel guide to Jirisan National Park is an outline and needs more content. It has a template , but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow ! Jirisan National Park - East - Lonely Planet Jirisan National Park - East Books Welcome to Jirisan National Park - East This park offers some of Korea’s best hiking opportunities, with 12 peaks over 1000m forming a 40km-long ridge.

Many peaks are over 1500m, including Cheonwang-bong (1915m), the country’s second-highest mountain. There are three principal entrances, each with a temple. Two of the three temples, Ssanggye-sa and Daewon-sa, are in Gyeongsangnam-do. From the west, Hwaeom-sa is accessible via Gurye in Jeollanam-do... Read More Top experiences in Jirisan National Park - East Sights in Jirisan National Park - East Jirisan National Park - Travel2Next Travel2Next Photos: Christina Pfeiffer Escape to Jirisan National Park for stunning mountains vistas, waterfalls and temples. My guide is bursting with energy as we make our way up Mount Jirisan. In her 10 years as a tour guide in South Korea , this is one of the few places that she has never had the chance to visit. And for her, a hike up the mountain is an experience all her friends will be envious of. Nogodan trail “I’ll catch up,” I tell her as I stop to inhale a lungful of air.

My heart is beating wildly and I’m not completely convinced that I have the stamina to trek all the way to the top. We’re only a third of the way up the Nogodan trail and the route is gradually becoming steeper. Then the concrete walkway ends and I’m forced to concentrate on placing each foot steadily on large uneven slabs of rock. The steady uphill walk is slowly chipping away at my resolve. School children bounce along happily past as I stop to catch my breath again. A group of elderly ladies, brandishing serious walking staffs, march past at a cracking pace. Young lovers stroll along hand in hand, the woman in a pair of high heeled shoes unsuitable for hiking. Their enthusiasm invigorates me and I put on another spurt. As South Korea is a mountainous country, it is not surprising that mountain hiking is one of the nation’s favourite pastimes. South Koreans are attracted to mountain hiking like fish to water. And Mount Jirisan National Park is revered. Jirisan National Park Although it was the first national park in South Korea, the area hardly registers as an international tourist destination.

The park straddles three southern provinces: Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do. And is the largest mountain park in South Korea, occupying an area of 440,485 square kilometres. Its highest peak, Chonwangbang, is 1,915 m above sea level and is often referred to as the pillar of heaven. You can book a room in one of the many farms, local inns or temples for a genuine South Korean countryside experience. For hikers, the Nogodan trail is one of the most popular. Around two thirds of the way up, there’s a viewing station and a drinks kiosk. I stop to wash my face and refill my water bottle with water from the clear mountain stream next to the kiosk. A group of students are snapping photographs of each other with their camera phones, proof that they made it this far up the mountain. I’m focused on catching up with my guide so I continue upwards. The final section of the ascent is the most difficult and the climb seems endless. The rocky steps are uneven and difficult to clamber over. When I finally reach the top, I throw myself on a flat rocky ledge feeling elated.

The atmosphere is charged with excitement. A team of hikers is ripping into packs of food in preparation for the next leg of their journey down the other side of the mountain and a few hours of hiking through the valley. I sit and stare at the pristine 360-degree views of the surrounding area. For me, climbing this trail provides the chance to experience nature in South Korea and to appreciate the fighting spirit of the people of this country. Nestled deep in the valley, I can just make out the Hwaemsa temple enshrouded by a mysterious mist. From here, the temple is a five-hour hike on foot. Although the monks of the Cho-ge sect often hike the mountain paths before dawn, it’s a little too far for me to tackle today. Later, I follow my guide back down the way we came up and we drive through the valley to visit the temple. All around Korea, the Cho-ge Zen Buddhist sect has thrown open their temple doors letting visitors from all over the world in to stay, experience or just observe their daily routines. The temple is a peaceful hideaway in the forest and the monks are welcoming. Accommodation is provided in separate halls for men and women.

We’re shown to the women’s hall where we’re given thin bedrolls and a pillow each. The bathroom facilities are communal. In the morning, I’m awakened by the sound of the gong which signals the morning devotion. It’s three am and the sky is as black as ink. I follow the sound of chanting into the prayer hall and watch the monks praying. After devotions, I join them for a simple vegetarian breakfast. Our next stop is Samseonggung, a hobbit-like rock monastery in the mountains built as a shrine to honour Korea’s three mythological founders: hwanin (the tiger), hwanung (the bear) and tangun (the first ancestor). Hikers and monks are not the only people who are enticed by the energy of Mount Jirisan. Also tucked away in the mountains is the Chonghakdong (blue crane) village. It’s like stepping into a historic time portal where villagers go about their daily chores dressed in the plain white or grey hanbok (Korean national dress) of long-gone era. Boys and girls in the village wear their hair in long pigtails.

Married men knot their hair and women fashion their hair into a chignon just like you see in traditional Korean folk paintings. We knock on the door of a village elder, Kim Deuk Jun. Dressed in his traditional white hanbok, the spritely 78-year-old is delighted to see us. He brings out complex charts of the earth and begins to talk enigmatically about the villagers’ commonly ascribed philosophy. “We try to live our lives on a higher plain where materialism is no longer important,” says Kim. The charts he shows us were passed on to him through several generations of family members. They look like a university professor might have prepared them and reveal a philosophy based on astrological calculations that predict world changes. “The good news is the wheel is about to turn and will soon bring prosperity to many countries in Asia Pacific,” says Kim. I’m glad of that. A dose of good fortune is just what we need. Best Hike in Korea - Review of Jirisan National Park, South Korea, Asia - TripAdvisor Review of Jirisan National Park “Best Hike in Korea” Reviewed August 6, 2014 Lots of different routes.

We did a 2 day hike that involved staying in pension in the mountains. The hike it self was pretty special and gave a good opportunity to mingle with the locals. Make sure you check with the tourist office about which routes are open and bring your own cooking equipment. Visited June 2014 Ask Scott123804 about Jirisan National Park This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. 23 reviews from our community Visitor rating Reviewed March 3, 2014 via mobile I thought I'd spend the day in Jirisan so took a bus to Gurye. When I got to the bus station, there were no maps, except for the usual unhelpful large comic book affair on the wall with a couple of teddy bears. There were no English leaflets in the leaflet holder, no one spoke any English or could tell me how to get to the park entrance or the bus to get. When you step outside of Gurye bus station, there is a small collection of buildings but I couldn't find any minbaks or motels so I guess they must be somewhere else the area.

After getting thoroughly pissed off with this for an hour and trying to find out basic tourist information, I went and got a ticket to Busan. I hope S Korea gets its act together for the Winter Olympics in four years, but not having basic information available easily in its main tourist attractions around the country, even if it is just a simple leaflet with 'you are here' and 'this is how you get to the park entrance' is going to cost local businesses money. Visited February 2014 “Largest, Most Wild National Park in Korea” Reviewed January 13, 2013 Jirisan National Park stretches into 3 provinces, and is by far the largest national park in Korea that doesn't include ocean. Jirisan is famous within Korea for its long history as a sacred mountain and its role during the colonial period as a hub of resistance. While most national parks in Korea can be experienced in a day-hike, I feel this is not sufficient here. Jirisan is far more remote and expansive than you might expect. My experience in Jirisan was largely focused around Hwaeomsa Temple.

While the hiking here is far from the most famous natural feautures of the park, the setting is serene and the the temple is full of national treasures. I desperately want to return to explore the entire park. Visited May 2012 Hiking Korea’s Treasured Jirisan ParkDestinAsian | DestinAsian By Rachel Will - March 4, 2014 Cho Hoe-eun, owner of the Persimmons Flower in May guesthouse. Paper lanterns at Silsangsa temple. Prayer halls on the grounds of Silsangsa temple. A view of the Jirisan range on the climb to Baraebong Peak. Namulbap (rice infused with mountain herbs) with beef patties, deodeok root, and condiments at Jirisan Namulbap restaurant in Inwol. Hikers on the section of trail between Inwol and Unbong. Tracing country roads and old village paths, the Jirisan Dullegil comprises a diverse range of walking routes, though trekkers looking for untamed wilderness can easily veer onto the mountain itself. The writer inspects a sign on the trail. A bridge pavilion at Cheoneunsa temple.

Ornate carvings adorn the roofs of temples. Click image to view full size A trail network encircling the foothills of Jirisan National Park provides adventurous walkers with a steady diet of bucolic scenery, rural hospitality, and farm-fresh food, all set against the rugged backdrop of South Korea’s second-highest mountain By Jonathan Hopfner Photographs by Craig C. Lewis Even in a country covered with mountains, some peaks loom larger in the imagination than others. Over years of visiting and living in South Korea I had climbed ridges overlooking the frozen border with the North, scrabbled up volcanic cones on subtropical Jeju Island, and hiked the densely wooded slopes of the peninsula’s interior. But I had studiously avoided Jirisan, the highest mountain on the South Korean mainland. Beloved by trekkers for its scenic beauty but notorious for its grueling trails, Jirisan, the only place in the country with a native bear population, had always struck me as a tad too wild. Then I got wind of the Jirisan Dullegil, a recently completed, 300-kilometer-long circuit of walking trails that rings the mountain’s base, rolling gently through Korea’s largely rural southwest.

Promising abundant scenery, quaint farming villages, and some of the tastiest food in the country, a stroll on the Dullegil sounded like the perfect way to experience Jirisan’s natural wonders—from a respectful distance. And so I find myself on a high-speed train from Seoul, hurtling toward the southern city of Namwon on a warm autumn day. Returning to Korea is always a pleasure for me, but never more so than in fall, when, as the local saying goes, the “sky is high and the horses are fat.” As Seoul’s gray sprawl gives way to a vast dome of blue sky and rice fields ripened to a burnished gold, the expression couldn’t be more apt. Just under three hours by rail from the capital, Namwon is one of several gateways to Jirisan National Park, whose 472 square kilometers range across three different provinces—North Jeolla, South Jeollanam, and South Gyeongsang. The park was established in 1967 as South Korea’s first such preserve, a rare acknowledgement of the possibilities of leisure by the development-obsessed dictator then running the country, Park Chung-hee.

Jirisan also marks the southernmost point of the massive Baekdudaegan (White Head Great Ridge) range, a chain of peaks that stretches all the way to North Korea’s border with China. For those expecting the train doors to open onto untrammeled wilderness, Namwon’s drab cityscape can be a bit of a letdown. But after climbing into a taxi and enduring a few minutes of blaring horns and crowded roundabouts, Hong Kong–based photographer Craig Lewis and I are zipping eastward down a highway into the bucolic district of Sannae (literally, “inside mountain”), overshadowed by an undulating wave of tree-thick hills. Pulling up to a quiet cluster of houses a stone’s throw from a somnolent-looking town hall, we get our first taste of local hospitality when the owner of the minbak (guesthouse) we’ve booked, the lyrically named Persimmons Flower in May, races out to meet us, fussing over our bags and pelting us with offers of food and refreshments.

After reassuring her that we aren’t on the brink of starvation, Cho Hoe-eun ushers us through sturdy wooden gates to an 80-year-old house that embraces a courtyard and an unruly garden. The house’s walls are of the yellow earth (hwangto) favored in the oldest Korean homes, supported by rough-hewn timber and scrawled with flowers and other motifs. Sliding doors open onto small rooms where bedding is rolled out on the floor, warmed from underneath by a wood-burning furnace. It’s cozy, unassuming, and a little ramshackle. In other words, perfect.

Question: Jirisan National Park lies in which Asian country?
Answer: South Korea