Kumgangsan

KŭGeumgangsan ("Diamond Mountain")
Korean Name
McCune-Reischauer	Kŭmgangsan
Revised Romanization	Geumgangsan
Hangul	금강산
Hanja	金剛山
Statistics
Height	1638 meters
Location	Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region, North Korea

Kŭmgangsan ("Diamond Mountain") is one of the most well-known mountains in North Korea, with a height of 1638 meters. It is located on the east coast of the country, in Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwŏn Province (38.58N, 128.17E). Kŭmgangsan is part of the Taebaek mountain range which runs along the east of the Korean peninsula.

from korean article

Kŭmgangsan has been known for its beauty since antiquity. It is covered in forests, and the area around Geumgangsan has some of the highest levels of precipitation in Korea. The mountain not only features a landscape formed by erosion, but also a great number of deep ponds and waterfalls.

The mountain consists almost entirely of Granite and diorite, which have been weathered over centuries to create a wide variety of shapes. There are a great number of picturesque stone formations, ravines, cliffs, stone pillars and peaks. Over 12,000 such stone formations have been counted. According to the North Korean Government's promotional video, nobody knows who counted them, or when.

Kŭmgangsan an der koreanischen Ostküste - from german article

Kŭmgangsan is commonly divided into three areas: Inner KŭGEumgang, Outer Kŭmgang, and Sea KŭGEumgang, each with different geological and topographical features. Inner Kŭmgang is noted for its views. The Manpok ravine is popular with tourists. Outer Kŭmgang is noted for the large number of peaks. Jipson Peak (rock of ten thousand forms) is known for its many waterfalls. The Sea Kŭmgang area is known for the lagoons and stone pillars.

There are many old temples around Kŭmgangsan, although not all are preserved in good condition. Probably the best known temples are Jangan-sa and Maha-yon. Other features include: Sea Manmulsang, KŭGEumgang Gate, Samil Lagoon, Piro Peak, the Manpok ravine, Myongyong rock, the Baektap ravine, Manmulsang, Kuryong pond, the pools of Upper Pal, Sujong Peak, Ongnyu ravine, the Hanha Stream, and the Sibi waterfalls.

Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region

Since 1998, South Korean tourists have been allowed to visit Kŭmgangsan, initially traveling by cruise ship, but recently more commonly by coach. In 2002, the area around the mountain was separated from Kangwŏn Province and organized as a separately administered Tourist Region. The land route was opened in 2003. A rail link exists on the North Korean side up to the border, but no tracks are laid between Gangneung and the border in South Korea.

In 1998 there were 15,500 tourists in November and December, in 1999 there were 148,000, and in 2000 213,000. In 2001 tourist numbers dropped to 58,000 amidst disagreements over the access over land. By 2002 almost 500,000 have visited the Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region. Tourist numbers have since established themselves at about 240,000 a year. In June 2005 Hyundai Asan announced the 1 millionth South Korean visit to the area.

The Kŭmgangsan Tourist Region is thought to be one way for the North Korean government to receive hard currency from abroad. Therefore the official currency of the tour is neither the South Korean won nor the North Korean won, but the US Dollar. Since 2003 food and services to South Korean tourists are provided by North Koreans. The area is developed by Hyundai Asan, who have plans to expand the site with a proper ski resort to complement the current sleigh course, and complete golf courses. Many plans for expansion, however, are in their earliest stages.

paste from wiki tourist site

Kumgangsan (금강산 Geumgangsan), literally the Diamond Mountains, is in North Korea.

File:The path to koryon galleryfull.jpg

The path to Koryong Falls

Understand

Kumgangsan is the second-tallest mountain in North Korea, its highest peak Pirobong is 1638 meters. The area is famed for its scenic beauty, and 1998 became the first and only part of North Korea that can be visited on organized tours from the South. The millionth visitor arrived in July 2005.

Get in

From South Korea

Mt. Kumgang , tel. +82-2-739-1090, organizes tours from South Korea to Kumgangsan. Hyundai Asan , tel. +82-2-3669-3000, is the company behind the tours and has some information in English.

GOnSEEMt. Kumgang North Korea Tour. GoNSeeKorea.com. Retrieved November 9, 2007.</ref> is the official agent for foreign tourist to Kumgangsan tour. This company provides 4 types tour packages. And if your group is more than 4 people, you can travel with English speaking tour guide.

There are two main ways to visit: either by bus from Goseong, in which case it's even possible to daytrip, or by cruise ship from Sokcho, in which case the tour takes a minimum of three days. Prices start at around W400,000 but vary greatly depending on day of departure, the hotel you stay in, etc. Non-Korean visitors are rare but welcome, although the tours are not set up for visitors with no Korean ability. Reservations should be made 7 days in advance.

English Tours to Kumgansan are available, as well. Prices vary between 610 and 660US$ ( as of October 2006 ) for a 2 nights / 3 days (Friday 9 am until Sunday about 6:30pm) trip from Seoul. Cheaper tours may be available. Check with English-speaking tour company Adventure Korea.

Laptops, PDAs, cell phones, cameras with 160mm or longer lenses, binoculars with 10x zoom or higher are not allowed. Video cameras may be confiscated at the border - unless the zoom is less than 24x. Anything taken will be stored, and returned to you upon exit from North Korea.

Foreigners do not seem to need a re-entry permit if leaving from South Korea to the North. Before going through customs you will receive a temporary passport (a small booklet with passport information written on it, a debit card to be used in tourist zones, a filled embarkment card. These will be in a plastic sheath, to be worn around the neck at all times while in the North.

South Korean exit procedures are performed at the Goseong Observatory. There is a special line for Foreigners, (aptly, although somewhat bluntly, labeled "Foreigner"). You will receive a South Korean exit stamp. On the other side, you will be assigned a bus, that you will stay with for the duration of the tour. Remember your bus number, or you will most likely face hassle from North Korean border guards.

Get around

Independent travel is not allowed. You will be bused around with your tour group at all times.

See

The Diamond Mountains are considered the most dramatic scenery in all of North Korea. It includes waterfalls, lagoons, mineral springs and Buddhist temples and hermitages. Park officials provide maps that help you choose between the many attractive sites. The area is divided into Inner, Outer and Sea Kumgangsan.

Inner Kumgangsan

• Pyohon Temple, established in the year 670. One of the most important Zen monasteries in Korea. Once the temple contains several treasures and valuable cultural assets, however these were either lost or taken to Japan during the times of Japanese colonial rule.

Outer Kumgangsan

• Kuryong Falls. 4 meters wide and with a drop of 74 meters, the falls are an impressive experience. There is a platform, the Kuryong Pavilion, offering a good view. The pond below is called Kuryong Lake. According to the myth, once upon a time nine dragons were there to defend the Kumgang Mountain. From the lake you can walk down a bit, cross Ryondam Bridge and then climb for 700 meters to Kuryong Rock. Here you will have a spectacular view of a deep valley and several lakes.
• Manmulsang Area. Fantastically shaped cliffs and rocks, about a 10-kilometer drive from the Kumgangsan Hotel. Among the peculiarly shaped rocks are Samson (three-fairy) rock, consisting of three rocks standing side by side behind Mansang pavilion at the entrance to Manmulsang. There's also the Kwimyon (demonfaced) rock, made up by a small rock standing on a bigger one, and the Chonson (fairies-from-heaven) rock which serves as an observatory. Ten people can stand here and look out at the peaks. According to the myth fairies came here to play. Northwest of the rock, is the Fairies Lake, where the fairies washed themselves before returning to heaven.

Sea Kumgangsan

• Samil Lagoon. According to legend, a king once visited the lake for a day but was so amazed by its beauty that he stayed there for three days, hence the name Samil (three days). You can rent a boat and make a trip on the lake. By the lake is Tanpung Restaurant, where you can rest and have a meal afterwards.

Buy

There are many stores and shops selling a wide range of goods from international duty free items to North Korean products which allow the visitors to bring home a little bit of North Korea back South. Jewelry and liquor and cosmetics are sold at high quality standards. Also, there is a shop selling health care supplements and functional cosmetics which do quite well. They carry a variety of vitamins as well as other outstanding health foods designed to enhance your well-being. Souvenirs are also available and they are quite popular as well. Finally, it seems there are an array of small item stores which allow you to spend your money wisely.

Sleep

Kumgangsan Hotel, Onjong-ri, Kosong. A 1st-class hotel, opened in 1958. There are 240 rooms and a few bungalows. Facilities are a shop, dance room, bar and a bathhouse that derives hot water from a spring.

Get out

End paste from Wiki Tourist

Kumgang Jeondo

Geumgang jeondo (General View of Mt. Geumgansan or The Diamond Mountains)

Jeong Seon, 1734

Ink and light colors on paper

130.7 × 94.1 cm

Hoam Art Museum

Geumgang jeondo ("General view of Mt. Geumgangsan" or The Diamond Mountains) is a famous landscape painted by Jeong Seon during the reign of King Yeongjo. It was classified as the 217th National Treasure of Korea on August 6th, 1984. The painting is currently held and managed by the Hoam Art Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province and is owned by Yi Geohui.

While many contemporaneous painters imitated the latest art trends imported from China, Jeong Seon ignored these to create unique themes based on Korean landscapes. His catalogue of paintings of Geumgansan made him famous and the preeminent painter of his time at the age of 37. He eventually painted around 100 images of the mountains which still exist to this day. The artist’s love of the mountains influenced other artists to depict the Diamond Mountains and even encouraged mapmakers to make maps of the area.

Although Jeong Seon made many paintings of Mt. Geumgangsan, this painting is the largest and considered his best. Like many of his paintings, Jeong Seon painted this landscape while actually viewing the mountains. The painting is 130.7 centimeters in height and 94.1 centimeters in width. It is painted with India ink. The painting is of Naegeumgang, the Inner Mt. Geumgangsan. The painting depicts a total of twelve thousand peaks. The highest peak, Birobong, lies in the background and water flows from it toward a valley called Manpokdong which is divided from the left and right. The high sharp peaks are depicted by the artist with lines painted up and down while the artist used a dotting brush method to depict the earthen peaks, making them appear relatively soft and lush. This composition harmonizes the contrasting sharp edges of the rocky peaks with the softer earthen peaks.

The painter included the title of the painting, some comments, and his pen name, Gyeomjae, in the upper right hand corner. The inscription also dates the painting to 1734 when Jeong Seon was 59 years old. The artist’s comments reads:

Even if you visit the mountain yourself and tread on its every nook and cranny, how can your joy be compared with what you feel upon viewing this picture from your bedside?

• Gumgang2.jpg
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  The path to Nine Dragons Waterfall

• 

  Nine Dragons Waterfall from japanese article

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  Samil Lake at Kumgangsan

• 

  A view of Sea Kumgang.

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  Late Silla period pagoda on the grounds of Kumgansan's Shingyesa Temple. The rest of the temple was destoryed by fire during the Korea War.

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  Poem by Kim Il Sung praising his son Kim Jong Il, on Kim Jong Il’s 50th birthday. Written in Hanja, and again in Hangul on the right.

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of mountains in Korea
• Geography of North Korea

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Geumgangsan

• Travel guide to Kumgangsan from Wikitravel

Credits

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• Kumgangsan  ^history
• Geumgang_jeondo  ^history

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