Spring Blooming on History

Popular cherry blossom travel destinations in Iksan include the Jewelry Museum, Wanggung-ri Historic Site, and Songcheon Village. The Jewelry Museum houses and exhibits over 118,000 rare gems and minerals. Just outside the Jewel Palace, a jewelry sales center next to the museum, awaits Hambeokjeong Pavilion. Cherry blossoms glisten like jewels below Hambeokjeong Pavilion, and the cool breeze blowing from Wanggung Reservoir brings the fragrance of spring flowers. Don't miss out on camping and the feast of cherry blossoms at Ungpo Tourist Site.

Along the way

1. 1

   Hambeokjeong Pavilion

   함벽정

   This building was built in 1920 by Song Byeong-u to commemorate the completion of the embankment of Wanggung Reservoir here, and it is quite large for a pavilion with a hipped-and-gabled roof in the yiikgong (two-bracket) style. In particular, while the bracket sets on top of the pillars follow the yiikgong style, the soeseo (ox-tongue projections) of the bracket sets on the flat pillars usually project only forward, but in this building they also project in diagonal directions to the left and right, forming a unique shape assembled like the bracket-framing technique on corner pillars.MoreLess

   

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2. 2

   Jewelry Museum

   보석박물관

   Established to promote Iksan, a city famous for its Baekje cultural heritage and jewelry production, this is a world-class jewelry museum located within the Wanggung Jewelry Theme Park. Nearby, the Fossil Museum and the precious metal exhibition and sales hall 'Jewel Palace' are open, offering visitors a chance to explore a vast array of jewelry products.MoreLess

   

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3. 3

   Ungpo Tourist Site Campsite

   웅포관광지 캠핑장

   Ungpo Tourist Site Campsite is located in the lower reaches of the Geumgang River, where the sunset sinking into the river against the choreography of migratory birds forms a spectacular sight. Looking down at the Geumgang River from Deogyangjeong Pavilion above the campsite, it resembles the shape of a bear opening its mouth to drink water, earning it the name Gomgae. The campsite accommodates a total of 75 parties and consists of auto-camping and standard camping sites to meet various traveler needs. Every year on the last day of December, the Ungpo Sunset Event is held, offering a place to experience diverse activities and make resolutions for the New Year. MoreLess

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4. 4

   Mireuksaji Temple Site, Iksan [UNESCO World Heritage]

   익산 미륵사지 [유네스코 세계유산]

   In constructing Mireuksa Temple, the largest Buddhist temple of Baekje, it is presumed not only that the contemporary cultural level of Baekje—including its architecture and crafts—was demonstrated at its pinnacle, but also that the technologies of the Three Kingdoms were brought together, as evidenced by records in the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) stating that King Jinpyeong of Silla sent skilled craftsmen to assist. It is clear that Mireuksa Temple was the focal point of Maitreya faith in Baekje Buddhism, contrasting with Hwangnyongsa Temple, the largest temple in Silla, which served as the hub of Avatamsaka (Huayan) thought. Unlike Hwangnyongsa, which featured a layout of one pagoda and three main halls, Mireuksa adopted a layout of three pagodas and three main halls. While Hwangnyongsa embodied Avatamsaka thought centered on the king within its compound, Mireuksa embodied Maitreya thought. Mireuksa is rooted in the Maitreya belief of guiding the general commoners into the world of the Dragon Flower (Yonghwa).MoreLess

   

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