Cheongwansan 724m

Why it is one of the 100 famous mountains

Selected for its magnificent scenery and commanding viewpoints, ranking among the five celebrated mountains of Honam, and its designation as a Provincial Park in 1998. It is also famous for Cheongwansa Temple founded during the Silla period, its camellia forest, and a natural recreation forest.

About Cheongwansan

The mountain resembles a chicken coop woven from bush clover stems. Looking at the mountain's structure based on the 400-meter contour line, there are as many as twenty such ridges radiating out like wicker spokes. Together, they form a gigantic dome that overwhelms onlookers.

It is renowned for its silver grass, enough to hold a Silver Grass Festival on the first weekend of October. This is likely because the sea winds prevent trees from growing tall. Even though it is concentrated only on the main ridge between the main summit Yeondaebong Peak and Hwanhuidae, crowds gather from all over the country.

When visiting by land, Gwansan-eup serves as the trailhead, so it is often recognized as Gwansan's mountain, but originally it likely shared closer ties with Hoejin in Daedeok-eup. This is because it was also called Cheonpungsan, meaning the mountain of west winds.

This port at the tip of the Jangheung Peninsula has been an important stronghold along southern sea routes since ancient times. King Geunchogo of Baekje is believed to have met here with allied troops to conclude their campaign when occupying the Jeollanam-do region, thus giving rise to the name meaning "meeting port." Later, as Gwansan grew, the name was likely changed to Cheongwansan after the rocks along the summit ridge resembling a traditional gat hat.

Composed of rugged rocks with peaks piercing the sky, Cheongwansan is counted among the five celebrated mountains of the Honam region alongside Jirisan, Wolchulsan, Naejangsan, and Naebyeonsan.

Dozens of uniquely shaped rocks and craggy peaks—such as Agibawi, Sajabawi, Jongbong, Cheonjubong, Gwaneumbong, Seonjaebong, Daesebong, Seokseonbong, Dotdaebong, Guryong, Galdaebong, Dokseongam, and Ayuktap—protrude dramatically near the summit. It is said to have been named Cheongwansan because its appearance resembles the jade-adorned royal headdress (Cheongwan) of an emperor.

Public transport

The starting point is Jangheung. Buses bound for Hoejin via Gwansan run at 30-minute intervals. Express buses to Jangheung run 4 times a day from Seoul Gangnam Terminal. Since direct buses are scarce, another option is to travel to Gwangju first and transfer. There are 57 buses from Gwangju to Jangheung. From Busan to Jangheung there are 20 departures, from Yeosu 38 (via Suncheon), and from Mokpo 29.