Fall in Love With Autumn
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Savor Stunning Fall Foliage in Korea’s Mountains
``Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower,'' French philosopher Albert Camus once said.
While nature offers lush greens and fresh pastel hues during spring, autumn is a season of dramatic reds, oranges and yellows. Autumn always brings some of nature's most stunning scenery. Mountains are covered with brilliant crimson leaves, sharply contrasting with the clear blue skies. The beautiful fall foliage, coupled with the mild weather, is just one of the reasons why many choose to travel around the country during the autumn months.
The best places to experience the exquisite colors of the changing autumn leaves are in the mountains. Many go on hiking trips to Korea's numerous mountains during mid-October to early November, when the autumn leaves are at the peak of their color transformations.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) the peak of autumn leaves will be between mid-October to early November. The peak day is around the time that 80 percent of the leaves in the mountains have turned crimson and yellow.
The peak of autumn leaves will be seen at Mount Jirisan on Oct. 15, Mount Odaesan on Oct. 18, Mount Seoraksan on Oct. 20, and Mount Naejangsan on Nov.5.
Fall Foliage
One of the most favored fall foliage destinations is Mount Seoraksan. Autumn leaves have already started turning here, and the reddish-gold foliage is spreading like wildfire throughout the trees of the different peaks, ridges and around the waterfalls.
Many guidebooks recommend taking a hike through the picturesque route through Cheonbuldong Creek, Osaek Springs, Jujeongol, and Baekdam creek. If you are looking for a great view of the scenery, you can find it at the Daeseung Falls, one of Korea's top waterfalls, and the Jeombongsang Jujeongol.
To get to Seoraksan, take a bus to Sokcho at the East Seoul Bus Terminal (Subway Line No. 2, Gangbyeon Station). The trip takes three hours and 30 minutes. From Sokcho Bus Terminal, board the city bus no.7 and get off at the Mount Seoraksan entrance.
Another mountain famous for its brilliant autumn colors is Mount Odaesan, located in Gangwon Province. Many hikers love to trek through the mountain during the fall season to see the amazing view from the mountaintop. Mount Odaesan has a smooth ridgeline that connects its five peaks.
The most popular hiking course to take is from Sangwonsa Temple to Birobong, or from Woljeongsa Temple to Dongdaesan. If you visit the Woljeongsa Temple, there is a one-kilometer walking route from Iljumun Gate lined with 100-year old fir trees.
To get to Mount Odaesan, take the bus to Jinbu from East Seoul Bus Terminal (Subway Line No.2, Gangbyeon Station). The trip takes two hours and 15 minutes. Then take a bus bound for Odaesan at the Jinbu Bus Terminal, and you can get off at Woljeongsa Temple; or a city bus to Sangwonsa Temple.
Mount Jirisan, located in South Jeolla Province, is one of the most famous mountains. With a vertical mountain path through Namwon to Silsangsa Temple, it is the highest latitude of all mountain paths in Korea, providing a spectacular view of the autumn leaves.
Piagol Valley, considered one of the most beautiful places in Mount Jirisan, holds a Crimson Leaves Festival every year. The festival gives visitors a chance to experience the essence of autumn by appreciating Piagol's famous autumn foliage. A Confucian scholar of the Joseon Kingdom, Jo Shik has said ``People who have not seen the red-tinted leaves in Piagol, dare not say they know red-tinted leaves.''
From Yongsan Station (Subway Line no. 1), get on the train bound for Gurye. Take a bus to Gurye Bus Terminal, where you can board a bus bound for Piagol Valley.
Mount Naejangsan, located in Jeongeup, Jeolla Province, is another must-see destination during autumn. Naejang, which means ``many secrets,'' is said to rival Mount Geumgangsan in the beauty of its autumn scenery. The mountain boasts of its 600-year old nutmeg trees and famous waterfalls such as Dodeok Falls.
To get to Mount Naejangsan, board the bus to Jeongeup from East Seoul Bus Terminal. The trip takes three hours and 20 minutes. At the Jeongeup Bus Terminal, take the bus No. 171 bound for Naejangsan National Park.
Temple Stay
For those looking to combine a trip to nature with spiritual enlightenment, a temple stay may be a good choice. A temple stay gives visitors a chance to experience the spiritual life of monks and traditional Korean Buddhist culture.
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism's Temple stay Division lists 43 temples offering temple stay programs. Since most temples are located in national parks, the templestay provides visitors the chance to enjoy the environment and ``a magnificent chance to relax, reflect and revitalize themselves in the tranquility of nature.''
Temple stay programs range from the basic 24-hour program (overnight) to half-day program (three and a half hours) to even extended four-day stays. A temple stay usually includes activities such as attending the early morning Buddhist ceremonial service, Zen meditation, tea ceremony, Barugongyang (Buddhist monastic meal with four bowls) and temple tour.
A handful of temples offer special training in meditation, Buddhist martial arts, lotus lantern making, prayer bead making and other activities. ``You'll come back home richer at heart, more fully alive, more fully awake, more fully at peace. You'll hate to leave,'' the Web site said.
Some of the temples have English translation services for foreigners. This includes Golgulsa Temple in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province; Magoksa Temple in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province and Jakwangsa Temple in Yuseong, Daejeon.
For the complete list of temples offering temple stay experience, check out www.templestaykorea.net (Korean) or eng.templestay.com (English).
Lake Cruise
Take the time to ride a ferry and enjoy the autumn scenery around Chungju Lake, located in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. The lake was formed when the Chungju Multipurpose Dam was built in 1986.
You can board a ferry at the Chungju Ferry Terminal to several destinations, Mount Woraksan National Park, Cheongpung Cultural Center and resort town of Danyang. You can enjoy the many stunning rock formations, including the granite cliffs of Oksun Peak, the rocky peaks of Gudambong. Danyang is also the location of spectacular rock formations known as ``Eight Sceneries of Danyang.''
To go to Chungju, take a bus from Seoul's Central City Bus Terminal. The trip takes two hours. For information about the lake tours, check chungjuho.com.