Bonghwasan (Seoul)

Bonghwasan is an independent hill protruding from the flatlands, located in the northeastern outskirts of Seoul, bordering Sangbong-dong, Junghwa-dong, Muk-dong, and Sinnae-dong in Jungnang-gu. Its summit elevation is 160.1m. Except for the main ridge of Achasan to the east, it offers clear views northward to Buramsan, Dobongsan, and the Yangju area, and to the west and south, where there are no high mountains, providing good visibility of Namsan and the areas south of it. Bonghwasan, also called 'Bonguje', was incorporated into Seoul from Gyeonggi Province on January 1, 1963. This site once housed the Achasan Beacon Station, which received signals from Hanisan in Yangju to the north and relayed them to Mokmyeoksan (Namsan). The beacon station was restored on November 7, 1994. Slightly south of the summit of Bonghwasan is the Sansingak (Mountain Spirit Hall), a shrine for the mountain. About 400 years ago, residents held Dodang-gut (village shamanic rituals) and mountain spirit rites here. The current Sansingak was destroyed by a fire in the summer of 1992, and a new building made of red brick and cement now stands in its place.