Wollyubong Peak

Leave the small town of Hwanggan and follow the river, and a row of sheer, knife-cut peaks suddenly rises from the water's edge. The Chogangcheon river makes a wide bend beneath them, and a tiny pavilion perches on the tip of a riverside rock. Wollyubong, "the peak where the moon lingers", is a summit in Yeongdong said to look its best on moonlit nights.

The name and the Eight Views of Hancheon

The name is said to come from the way the moon seems to slide along the ridge like flowing water. At 407 m it is not high, but because its cliffs rise straight from the river it looks far grander than it is.

Eight scenes in the area are known together as the Eight Views of Hancheon, and Wollyubong is the first. The others include Sagunbong, Sanyangbyeok, Yongyeondae, Hwaheonak, Cheonghakgul and Beopjonam; sources differ on the last, either Naengcheonjeong or Hancheon Jeongsa. Most of the names describe different faces of Wollyubong itself.

Where Song Si-yeol stayed

The mid-Joseon scholar Song Si-yeol (1607–1689) once lived here for a time, building a small study, pursuing his learning and teaching students. Below the peak stand Hancheon Jeongsa, built in his memory, and a memorial stone marking his former residence.

What to see

• Wollyujeong Pavilion: set on the tip of a rock reaching into the river. The classic Wollyubong photo is this combination of cliff, river and pavilion.
• The bend of the Chogangcheon: the river loops around the foot of the cliffs. You see the whole scene best from the opposite bank.
• Rock strata: the peak is made of Cretaceous quartz porphyry and sedimentary layers of the Yeongdong Group. Road cuttings show the stacked layers up close.
• Wollyubong Dulle-gil: a walking trail along the river and villages below the peak, with changing views along each section.
• Hancheon Jeongsa and the memorial stone: reminders of Song Si-yeol's stay.

Through the seasons

In spring azaleas and royal azaleas colour the cliffs, and in autumn the foliage is reflected in the river. Autumn also brings many hikers for the foliage. True to its name, many people come in the evening to watch the moon rise.

Nearby

• Hwanggan town: a small town close to Wollyubong, handy for a meal or a break.
• Finding the Eight Views: most of them describe different faces of Wollyubong, so walk the trail and try to spot Sagunbong, Sanyangbyeok and the rest.
• Hancheon Jeongsa: the memorial hall to Song Si-yeol below the peak, an easy add-on.

Tripto tips

• Admission: open at all times and free, with parking and toilets.
• Photos: for the pavilion and cliffs together, stand on the opposite bank. Sunset and moonrise give the scene its namesake atmosphere.
• Time needed: 30 minutes for photos at the viewpoint, around 1.5 hours if you walk part of the trail.
• Take care: the riverside rocks can be slippery if you go down to the water.
• Information: Yeongdong County tourism office, tel. 043-740-3633.