Dodamsambong Peaks

Dodamsambong is a group of three rock peaks rising from the middle of the Namhangang River in Danyang, North Chungcheong. Its scenery has long been ranked first among the Eight Views of Danyang, and it was designated a national Scenic Site in 2008. The peaks are visible straight from the riverside path, so you can see Danyang's most famous view without a long walk.

How it formed

Dodamsambong is a karst landform carved as limestone dissolved and eroded. Three cone-shaped peaks stand in a deep pool where the river bends sharply, with the tallest, Janggunbong ("General Peak"), in the middle. They are made of sedimentary rock laid down in the Ordovician period, which makes them a geological highlight of the Danyang National Geopark. Around the peaks the river is about 7 m deep and roughly 150 m wide. A small pavilion on the side of Janggunbong adds to the view.

Poems, paintings and Jeong Do-jeon

Many visitors left poems and paintings of the peaks, among them the scholar Yi Hwang, who served as magistrate of Danyang, as well as Hwang Jun-ryang, Hong I-sang, Kim Jeong-hui, Kim Hong-do and Yi Bang-un. A tale about the birth of Jeong Do-jeon is also connected with this place. Jeong Do-jeon, one of the founders of the Joseon dynasty, is said to have loved the view so much that he took Sambong ("Three Peaks") as his pen name.

There is also an amusing legend. The peaks were said to have floated down in a flood from Sambongsan in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, so Danyang had to pay Jeongseon a tax every year. Then the young Jeong Do-jeon declared: "We never asked the peaks to come here, and they block the river and do us harm. If Jeongseon needs them, let it take them back." From then on, the story goes, no tax was paid.

Nearby: Seokmun

About 200 m along the river cliff from Dodamsambong is another Scenic Site, Seokmun ("Stone Gate"). It is thought to be part of the roof of a limestone cave that survived after the cave collapsed, leaving a natural arch. Through it you see the river and the village on the far bank as if in a frame. Legend has it that an old goddess, Mago Halmi, lived inside. It is said to be the largest natural arch of its kind in East Asia. Rare Chinese arborvitae trees, a Natural Monument, grow on the cliffs nearby.

The Eight Views of Danyang

Besides Dodamsambong and Seokmun, the Eight Views include Oksunbong, Gudambong, Haseonam, Jungseonam, Sangseonam and Sainam. They lie along the Namhangang River and its side valleys, roughly 8–13 km from central Danyang, so you can combine several in a day or two. Oksunbong actually lies in neighbouring Jecheon. Around Sangseonam there are many small waterfalls and old pines, and Haseonam is also called Hongam, "Rainbow Rock", because its reflection in the water looks like a rainbow. Sainam stands at the seventh bend of Unseon Gugok, the valley of the Ungyecheon stream.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours for the peaks and a walk to Seokmun. The path to Seokmun climbs some steps.
• Photos: early morning or around sunset, when the water is calm, the peaks are mirrored on the surface.
• Getting there: a car is easier than public transport; there is a car park by the river.
• Combine with: the other Eight Views of Danyang make a good day trip.