Camping Trip at Manisan

Located midway between Baekdusan and Hallasan, Manisan is Ganghwado's highest peak, and its summit still holds Chamseongdan, the altar said to have been built by Dangun Wanggeom for rites to Heaven. On the slopes of Manisan lies Hamheodongcheon, where the Joseon-era monk Gihwa is said to have renovated and practiced at Jeongsusa Temple; with camping facilities available, it's a great place to fully soak up the energy of Manisan.

Along the way

1. 1

   Ganghwa Armiae World

   강화아르미애월드

   Meaning 'pursuing beauty through mugwort (艾),' Ganghwa Mugwort Special Zone's Armiae World is a mugwort-themed space where visitors can experience the taste and charm of Ganghwa mugwort. It features a mugwort hanwoo (Korean beef) specialty restaurant, where premium mugwort-fed hanwoo can be enjoyed against a modern interior with an open, refreshing view; a mugwort experience hall offering mugwort footbaths, herbal steam treatments, and mugwort ball treatments; a ceramics experience hall; and a shop selling Ganghwa's branded agricultural specialty products. \nMoreLess

   

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2. 2

   Seokmodo

   석모도

   A small island lying just off Ganghwado's western sea, Seokmodo is a scenic spot where mountains, sea, fishing villages, and island charmingly come together. It's about an hour and a half by car from downtown Seoul to Oepo-ri Port at the western tip of the main Ganghwa island. Ganghwa is dotted with historic and battle sites, but Seokmodo is where you can take in several different faces of nature at once, with its outstanding island scenery, seascape, and beautiful mountains all in harmony. \nMoreLess

   

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3. 3
   Hamheodongcheon Campground

   함허동천 야영장

   Located at the foot of Manisan, Hamheodongcheon sits on a ridge extending east from the Manisan range and is one of the best-known model campgrounds near Seoul, with outstanding scenery and terrain -- a premier resort destination in the greater Seoul area, with a small but charming valley. The Hamheodongcheon model campground spans 127,000 pyeong, able to accommodate up to 4,000 daily visitors, with room for up to 1,000 small (4-person) tents. Major facilities include one each of a management office, ticket booth, observation deck, and youth training center, plus two open activity grounds for running around freely, making it suitable for group outings. Amenities include 69 fixed platforms, 47 movable platforms, and 123 chairs for resting and relaxing, and three parking areas with capacity for 200 cars.MoreLess

   

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4. 4

   Manisan (Chamseongdan Altar)

   마니산(참성단)

   Located at the southwestern tip of Ganghwado, at the center of the Korean peninsula, Manisan is equidistant from both Hallasan and Baekdusan. Manisan is said to be a famous mountain sacred enough for Dangun to have performed rites to Heaven, a place where dragons ascended to the sky and divine horses appeared, and where immortals dwell -- said to be the birthplace of 72 generations of kings, ministers, and generals. At the summit of Manisan stands Chamseongdan, where Dangun, the divine founding ancestor, is said to have performed rites to Heaven; it is the sacred mountain of the nation, from which the torch has been kindled and relayed every year for national athletic events, as well as for the 1988 Seoul Paralympics. \nMoreLess

   

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5. 5

   Jeondeungsa Temple

   전등사

   Located within Samnangseong Fortress (Historic Site No. 130) on Jeongjoksan -- said to have been built by the three sons of Dangun Wanggeom -- the exact founding date of Jeondeungsa is uncertain, but it has been known as Jinjongsa, a temple built to pray for the wellbeing of the Goryeo royal family. The present name, Jeondeungsa, is said to have originated when Queen Jeonghwa, King Chungnyeol's consort, offered a jade lamp to the Buddha there in the 8th year of his reign (1282). \nMoreLess

   

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