Cheonggyesan Mountain

Cheonggyesan Mountain is located on the border of Seoul, Seongnam-si, Gwacheon-si, and Uiwang-si in Gyeonggi Province. The mountain range extends southwest to Baegunsan, Moraksan, and Obongsan in Uiwang-si, and connects northwest to the Oknyeobong peak in Gwacheon-si, generally running in a north-south direction. Cheonggyesan is also called Cheongnyongsan because it is said to be where a blue dragon ascended to heaven. In feng shui geography, Gwanaksan is considered the White Tiger and Cheonggyesan the Blue Dragon, interpreted as the concept of left blue dragon and right white tiger. The green mountain range surrounding Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Land, and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is Cheonggyesan. Cheonggyesan is a popular family hiking destination with lush forests, cozy valleys, Seoul Grand Park, Cheonggyesa Temple, and a forest bath, featuring numerous diverse hiking trails. Seen from Gwacheon, Cheonggyesan appears gentle and mild like an earthen mountain, but Manggyeongdae, viewed from Seoul Grand Park, is surrounded by rocks, looking rugged and imposing. Manggyeongdae (618.2m) is the summit of Cheonggyesan, but it is inaccessible for hiking due to government facilities. Climbing from Juam-dong toward Manggyeongdae, you encounter Oknyeobong, where the grave site of Kim No-gyeong, the biological father of Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, was located. Passing through Hyeoleupjae, which the Joseon scholar Jeong Yeo-chang crossed while shedding tears of blood, and going just below Manggyeongdae, you find Geumjeongsu, a spring where Jeong Yeo-chang once lived in seclusion. It is said that when Jeong Yeo-chang was executed, this spring turned blood-red and then changed to a golden color. Walking along the grassy mountain path, wild chestnut trees, acorn trees, wild grapes, and hardy kiwi often catch the eye.