Hwangaksan 1,111m

Why it is one of the 100 famous mountains

Selected for its dense forests and scenic valley landscapes featuring waterfalls and pools flowing down its eastern slopes despite its overall gentle mountain shape. Neungyeo Valley, which extends from Cheonryongdae 200m west of Jikjisa Temple, is especially famous for azaleas, cherry blossoms, and mountain magnolias in spring.

About Hwangaksan

Hwangaksan gently embraces Jikjisa Temple, centered on Birobong Peak (1111.4m) alongside Baegunbong Peak (770m), Sinseonbong Peak (944m), and Unsubong Peak (740m). The mountain shape is flat and gentle like soft silk, and old pines and oaks lining both sides of the valley at the entrance cover the sky in a magnificent view. This mountain is located along the Baekdudaegan ridge, 12km west of Gimcheon-si. Since ancient times, many cranes visited so it was also called Hwanghaksan, but it is written as Hwangaksan on the temple signboard of Jikjisa Temple and in Taengniji.

It features lush forests, deep valleys with crystal-clear water, autumn leaves, and winter snowscapes. From the summit, Minjujisan is visible to the west, Sudosan and Gayasan to the south, Geumosan to the east, and Poseongbong Peak to the north. Ridges stretching eastward from Hwangaksan's main and surrounding peaks form Naewon Valley and Unsu Valley, and Jikjisa Temple sits where the two valleys meet, evoking a sense of gathering the mountain's vital energy.

Hwangaksan is located 12km west of Gimcheon-si.

Historically called Hwanghaksan due to the frequent presence of cranes, it is designated as Hwangaksan on Jikjisa Temple's signboards and in Taengniji. It is noted for dense pine forests, deep valleys with jade-clear streams, autumn foliage, and winter snow blossoms. The area has been designated as a national tourist site and further developed.

While the overall mountain topography is gentle without dramatic features, it is covered in dense forest, and valleys flowing down the eastern slopes form scenic waterfalls and pools. In particular, Neungyeo Valley, stretching from Cheonryongdae 200m west of Jikjisa Temple, is its representative valley, renowned for azaleas, cherry blossoms, and mountain magnolias in spring, as well as splendid foliage in autumn.

Looking down on Jikjisa Temple from the summit of Hwangaksan, numerous side ridges merge and taper into the valley until two final ridges embrace the temple on both sides, harmonizing the mountain and the temple. Hwangaksan's high 1111m peak and the valley spreading like a crane's wings flow east through a narrow watercourse, right where Jikjisa Temple stands.

Jikjisa Temple looks almost like a unique flower bud formed by the spiritual energy of Hwangaksan. As indicated by the large plaque on its newly built main gate reading 'First Temple of the Eastern Country,' it is one of the ten most prominent grand temples in Korea.

Public transport

The starting point is Gimcheon.

From Gimcheon Station to the Jikjisa Temple entrance, regular bus (No. 11) and seated bus (No. 111) run every 10 minutes from 06:00 to 22:40. Takes 20 minutes.