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| Korea's Maple Leaf, the Beauty of Autumn |
| Korea has four distinct seasons. Korea's fall with its maple leaves is famous for its unmistakable weather and deep blue sky. It provides the scenery that¡¯s hardly found in other countries.
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When fall arrives in Korea, the mountains are covered with red and yellow maple leaves, and the plains turn to yellow. Since it has adequate climate and sunshine and beautiful maple leaves in fall, many picnics and events take place.
The changing colors of the leaves in fall are caused by a biological reaction within plants when weather turns cold. This biological phenomenon is a kind of preparation for survival through the cold winters and it also means they are aging. The maple leaves have only about 15 to 20 days left to live before they fall. When there is no nutritional substances left in the leaves, then they finally fall. The leaves change colors starting from the closest part of the stem to the farthest away from the stem. Through this process of aging, trees can keep re-growing.
Hiking Mountains with Maple Leaves
There are several mountains, which are famous for maple leaves in Korea. Some of the famous National Park Mountains which are at the top of the list for their famous maple leaf sites are: - Mangyeongdae, Daecheong Peak, Hwachae Peak (Mt. Seolaksan), Mt. Odaesan, Guryongsa Valley (temple of Mt. Chiaksan), Songyudong valley (Mt. Gayasan), Baemsagol Valley and Piagol (Mt. Jirisan) and Mt. Naejangsan. These mountains have their own distinct beauty during each season. However, its magnificent maple leaves highlight the beauty in fall.
Mt. Bukhansan (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Goyang city)
The Maple leaves of Mt. Bukhansan starts from Baegundae at the top of the mountain. Both Doseonsa Temple-Baegun, Mountain Villa-Gaegundae course and Doseonsa Temple-Yongammun Baegundae courses are notoriously crowded with people hiking at this time of season. Another choice is a course towards Nozeok Peak. This course can be less crowed. You can also see maple leaves around mid October to early November on Mt. Bukhansan.
Mt. Soyosan (Dongducheon city)
This mountain has the best scenery of maple leaves near Seoul. Mt. Soyosan (559m) in fall is harmonized with five colored leaves, cultural sites and astounding rocks. The scenery it creates is rather like an oriental painting. Mt. Soyosan (559m) located 5km away from Dongducheon City has many rocks and maple leaves. It's very good for hiking in fall. It is neither very high nor steep, which makes it very suitable for families to have a nice and easy hiking day through the beauty of fall.
Mt. Myeongjisan (Gapyeong) is a huge mountain with many beautiful valleys. Mt. Myeongjisan's is very famous for Ikgeunni valley. You will see many colored leaves here because maple leaves surround it. Especially, the point where Ikgeunni valley meets Gapyeong, here there are many trees with maple leaves.
Mt. Yongmunsan (Yangpyeong)
Yongmunsa temple of Mt. Yongmunsan has an 1100-year-old Gingko tree. It turns to a radiant yellow in fall. The valleys between the great rocks, the clear waters and the colors of the autumn leaves along the valleys attract many people.
Streets of Maple Leaves and Falling Leaves Selected by Seoul.
Seoul selected and announced the 'streets of maple leaves and falling leaves' for the public to be able to feel The Fall. Seoul selected 36 places including Deoksu-gung road with its long stone fence. The total distance of every street is 98 km. Seoul allows the fallen leaves to stay on the streets unlike other cities therefore people here can have a beautiful fall.
First is Samcheong road this starts from Gyeonbok-gung (Gyeongbok-gung station, subway line number 3) and stretches to Samcheong Tunnel. It is 2.9km long and colored by 200 yellow Gingko tree leaves.
Moreover it has Gyeonbok-gung, Samcheong Park, art galleries and restaurants closeby so you can have great time with your family or friends here. The road along Gyeonbok-gung stone fence needs no explanation! It is already a famous road in Seoul. Jangchungdan road and Sowolro between the Hilton and Hyatt Hotel are also selected as brilliant streets of fall.
Hwarangno from Taeneungipgu (Taeneungipgu station, subway line number 7 to Samyukdae is 8.6 km way with 1,200 trees on each side. The trees form a very natural and beautiful tunnel. It has been selected as the most wanted road to walk along. The other streets also selected are Mt. Namsan a circular road, the entrance road of Mt. Gwanaksan and Mt. Cheonggyesan, Seokchon Lake's street, Yangjae citizen's Park (forest) and Seoul Grand Park outside the circular road. Finally, there is Gangdong-gu Seongnaero, which also has plenty of fruit trees.
Streets of Maple Leaves and Falling Leaves
Jongno Samcheong-dong street Dongshipjagak~Samcheong tunnel
Deoksu-gung's street
Jangchungdan's street
Yongsan Sowolro Hilton hotel~¡©Hyatt hotel
Seongdong Songjeong Jebang (Riverbank)
Gwangjin Neungdongno Children's grand park station~¡©Gunja station
Walker hill's street Guuisuwonji¡©~Walker hill
Dongdaemun Jungrangcheon Jebang (Riverbank)
Hoegiro/ Dobong Mt. Dobongsan's street
Jungrang Jungrangcheon Jebang Muk-dong Gyo~Ewha Gyo
Seokbuk Mt. Bukaksan's street Seongbuk-gu center~ Octagonal hall
Nowon Hwarangno Taeneungipgu~Samyuk Univ.
Eunpyeong Tong-il Gogae Bakseok Gogae~Gupabal artificial water fall
Seodaemun Hongje riverside drive
Mapo Yeonnamro
Yangcheon Mok-dong main road
Sculpture street inside Ujanggeunlin Park, Gangseo-gu
Banghwa Geunlin Park's walk
Dongjak Hyeonchungno
Gwanak Mt. Gwanaksan main approach
Seocho Heonneungno Yeomgok crossroads~Heoninno
Mt. Cheonggyesan approach
Gangnam Yangjaecheon street Yeongdong 2gyo~Yeongdong 6gyo
Songpa Uiryeseong street Olympic Park~Ogeum-dong Shigye
Seokchon Lake's street
Gangdong Godeok-dong street Godeok subway station~¡©Sang-il station
Sang-il back street Sang-il I.C~Entry of Gangil-dong
Outer circular road of Seoul Grand Park
Walk of Children's Grand Park
Octagonal hall of Children's Grand Park ¡©Back gate
Main gate of Children's Grand Park~Animal's Performance stage
Northern beltway of Mt. Namsan Park
Boramae Park
Yangjae citizen's Park (Forest)
For more information Landscape Architecture Dept. of Seoul City Hall 02-3707-9655
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| 20-10-2001 |
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