10 Best Natural Wonders in Pohang

Naeyeonsan Mountain is one of the three scenic spots in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and has been also selected as one of the 100 most famous mountains by the Korea Forest Service. Bogyeongsa Temple, a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple, and Sibipokpo Falls that changes scenery for each season, make the mountain a four-season recreational destination favoured by tourists and hikers. It is said that Bogyeongsa Temple was established on the site where the octagonal mirror, a Buddhist treasure, brought from India by Master Jimyeong was buried during the Silla Dynasty. After parking your car in the free carpark and enter the precincts of the temple, you will be greeted by a pine tree stretching up to the sky in the shape of a dragon ascending to heaven and a 400-year-old hardy-orange tree.

There are various hiking trails including a trekking trail that passes through the precincts of Bogyeongsa Temple and stretches along the Gapcheon Valley, and another trail that leads to the mountaintop. If you choose the trail leading to Yeonsan Falls, which is the 7th waterfall of Sibipokpo Falls, you can enjoy a leisurely walk, covering 5 km for a round trip. Around Yeonsan Falls, you can see a pond with a depth of several tens of metres, caves, and rocks in different shapes that altogether create picturesque scenery. The nearby Sogeumgang Observatory commands a three-dimensional view of the surrounding natural wonders. You can also admire the scenery of the river meandering along the valley from Seonildae, a precipitous rock cliff from across the waterfall.

Juwangsan National Park has been designated as the 12th national park of Korea, and Juwangsan is the most celebrated mountain in the Yeongnam region and one of the three major rocky mountains in Korea along with Seoraksan Mountain and Wolchulsan Mountain. It is also an excellent geological field trip destination, as the mountain is made up of welded tuff formed by the consolidation of volcanic lava some 70 million years ago and preserves the traces of the volcanic activity that occurred on the Korean Peninsula throughout the geological periods. A total of 24 geosites in the park including Giam Cliff, Yongchu Gorge, Columnar Joints, and Jusanji Reservoir have been certified by the UNESCO Global Geopark programme.

Juwanggyegok Valley, which meanders through the mountain hills, has many attractions such as Haksodae Cliff said to have been inhabited by blue and white cranes, Geupsudae Cliff that soars to the sky as if it was about to fall, and Juwanggul Cave featured in a legend of Zhou Du from the Eastern Jin Dynasty of China, who hid himself in this cave escaping the Tang Army. Also, wild azaleas in spring and maple leaves in autumn catch the eye of visitors. Visit Daejeonsa Temple built 1,300 years ago during the reign of King Munmu of Silla, and Baengnyeonam, named after Princess Baengnyeon, who is believed to be the daughter of Zhou Du. When the weather is nice, climb atop Gamebong Peak that commands views of the coastal waters of Yeongdeok in the distance, and appreciate the sea of clouds spreading across the vast mountain ridge. The hiking course leading to Gamebong Peak is hard to finish, so it is worth giving it a try.

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Arboretum is the largest arboretum in Korea located at an altitude of 650 metres above sea level. Collecting and preserving trees and plants distributed in Gyeongsangbuk-do and conducting research on the use of these natural resources, the arboretum provides visitors with the opportunity to relax their body and mind and experience nature. It consists of 26 themed gardens including the Alpine Botanical Garden, Ulleungdo Botanical Garden, and Coniferous Garden. In particular, the Ulleungdo Botanical Garden exhibits rare species endemic to Ulleungdo Island and Dokdo Island featuring unique ecological characteristics, including the beech and Ulleungdo cotoneaster.

Take a tour of this large arboretum while enjoying a leisurely stroll and resting in the many rest areas found throughout. After passing the Mugunghwa Garden, a small pond called Sammidam can be seen. Take a break at the small pavilion next to the pond and admire the colourful water lilies and the 1/110-scaled model of Dokdo Island floating on the pond. You can learn about the forest and nature in experiential zones such as the Forest Commentary and Exhibition Hall, Forest Experience and Learning Center, and Forest Ecology Observation Trail. Book a popular tailored forest commentary programme to take a guided tour by a professional forest commentator and participate in various experiential programmes.

The Blue Road is a 64.6 km coastal walking trail that starts from Yeongdeok Snow Crab Park and stretches through Chuksan Port to Goraebul Beach. It is divided into 4 sections, and also forms the 19th to 22nd sections of the Haeparang-gil Trail, a long walking trekking trail on the east coast connecting Busan and Goseong. The Blue Road consists of forest and marine sections that alternate repeatedly, so you can enjoy trekking without getting bored.

Starting with Course D that begins at Snow Crab Park, take Courses A, B, and C in turn and experience countless attractions and foods that represent each course. Each course has been given a name that represents their characteristics, including Indigo Wave Promenade, Light and Wind Promenade, Blue Snow Crab Promenade, and Mogeun Promenade of Contemplation. Walk following the yellow arrow-shaped signs and receive stamps at each section to receive a medal. If walking all sections of the trail feels burdensome for you, you can combine walking and driving to enjoy your trek, searching for various healing spots.

The Seonbau Trail covers the 2nd course among the 4 courses on the 25-km Homi Peninsula Coastal Trail, which is known for its beautiful coastal scenery. As a 6.5-km section from Ibam-ri, Donghae-myeon through Heunghwan Beach to Heunghwan Fishing Port, the trail consists of deck roads stretching along the coast with rocks in different shapes, allowing visitors to appreciate the seascape while listening to the sound of the waves.

The Seonbau Trail, which starts in a peaceful fishing village, presents spectacular coastal scenery from the milestone indicating the beginning of the road. Seonbawi Rock standing at the entrance of the deck is said to have been reduced in size after being struck by lightning, but it still captures the eyes of passers-by. As you walk along the trail, you will come across rock after rock each with different names. Starting from Pokpobawi Rock that turns into a waterfall when it rains, you will pass Sonbadak Rock resembling the palm of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, the cute Gorilla Rock, and Hindigi Hill with many white rocks, until you reach Haseondae Cliff believed to be a place where seven Taoist fairies danced and sang. Meokbawi Rock where the legend of Yeonorang who was crowned as king in Japan and his wife Seonyeo was born is also one of the attractions you can find walking along the trail.

Gapcheongyegok Valley on Naeyeonsan Mountain, which has a length of 14 km, features 12 waterfalls where natural forests, rocks, and columnar joints harmonize perfectly. It is rare in the world that a single valley has so many waterfalls. The rocks here are tuffs made of hardened volcanic ash, and the waterfalls were formed as the rocks were broken and eroded by water flowing along the crevices in multiple directions. The plunge pools created by the erosion of water falling down the waterfalls, and the caves behind the waterfalls were created as weak, soft rocks eroded over a long period of time.

The first waterfall that you come face to face with is Sangsaeng Falls, followed by Bohyeon Falls, Sambo Falls, Jamnyong Falls, and Mupung Falls. Each of these waterfalls has its own stories. The 6th waterfall, Gwaneum Falls, has been regarded the most scenic of the 12 waterfalls, so it has been dubbed “Sogeumgang” (Small Geumgang) since ancient times. Take a look around Gamrodam Pond formed by water cascading down the waterfall and Gwaneumgul Cave located behind the waterfall. Cross the suspension bridge over Gwaneum Falls, pass Yeonsan Falls, the largest of the 12 waterfalls, and climb to the top of Seonildae Cliff to admire the scenery. You will find Samyongchu Falls, a 3-storey waterfall that was once painted by Gyeomjae Jeong Seon, the master of jingyeong sansuhwa (real scenery landscape) painting in the late Joseon Dynasty.