Provincial Park, Mudungsan

Mudungsan, 1,187 meters above sea level, is a lovely and magnificent mountain about 13 kilometers southeast of Gwangju City. This mountain commands a wonderful view of rocks and stones in fantastic shapes, the most famous of which are the peaks Chonwangbong, Sosok-dae and Ipsokdae.

Along the slopes of this mountain there are many natural, tourism resources, including Yongchu waterfall, and many ancient temples as Chungshimsa, Wonhyosa and Yaksa-am Hermitage which reflect the brilliant culture of the thousand-year-long Shilla Dynasty(57 B.C. - 935 A.D.). In summer, icy water gushes out from the cloven rocks and flows along the thick forested valley, alongside of which magnolias are in full bloom. In winter the snow-covered mountain makes celestial scenery one can seldom match else where. In addition, at Mudungsan they cultivate a unique kind of watermelon, once presented to kings as a famous local specialty.

In order to get to Chungshimsa, take city bus #771 at the bus stop in Chomdan Residential Area (two blocks away from the campus) and get off at the last stop.

Songgwangsa at Sunchon

This temple was not only the center for revitalization of the Chogye-jong (one of the 25 Buddhist headquarters. It was especially renowned for Sangha Temple (one of the Three Treasure Temples in Korea) producing 16 most reverend priests. The Three Treasures in Buddhism are the Buddha, the Dharma or Truth, and Sangha or Order.

This temple was originally founded by great Buddhist priest Haerin and rebuilt by most reverend priest Pojo in the late Shilla Dynasty; since then it has undergone many renovations and repairs. It is one of the largest temples among the ancient ones of its kind. This temple preserves dozens of National Treasures and Provincial cultural Assets, including Kuksajon Pavilion.

Paekyangsa at Changsong

This temple, located on the hill-side of Paegamsan, 46 kilometers north of Gwangju, is one of five headquarters of Buddhist sects in Chollanamdo. This temple is known to have been founded by Monk Yohwan in the year 632 A.D., Paekche Dynasty. The Scenic beauty of colorfully tinted autumn leaves and maples in the vicinity of this temple constitutes a most favored natural tourism resource, and at the entrance to this temple there stands a noted stupa called Pudojon.