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Top 3 Stone Wall Paths for Cool Autumn

Written and Photographed by Travel Writer Kim Dogeun

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Autumn is a great season to go for a walk. Busan is a place with many exceptional walking trails and is a known as the “City of Roads” thanks its mountains, sea, and rivers as well as its history of being Korea’s first international port and wartime capital. This is the season when the sky is high and the air is cool, providing a perfect weather to take a walk on a special walkway called stone wall street.

Beomeosa Temple Stone Wall Street - Most Distinctively Korean

Beomeosa Temple is a beautiful place particularly in autumn. Autumn leaves start to change color from Godangbong Peak of Geumjeongsan Mountain all the way down to Beomeosa Temple, where maple and ginkgo leaves turn red and yellow, making Beomeosa Street one of the 100 Scenic Trails of Korea. Talk a slow walk along the stone wall path at the entrance to Beomeosa Temple. The leaves have yet to turn color, but the breeze from Geumjeongsan Mountain is enough to let you know that autumn has come. Feel the breeze as you stroll up from Jogyemun Gate which is a national treasure, go past Cheonwangmun Gate and Burimun Gate. Before you know it, you will find yourself at the courtyard of the Daeungjeon Hall.

Face the Daeungjeon Hall, which is also a national treasure, and the three-story stone pagoda in the courtyard and you will see why Beomeosa Temple is known as one of the three most important Buddhist temples in Gyeongsang-do along with Haeinsa Temple and Tongdosa Temple. The blue and red paintings on the Daeungjeon Hall add to the autumn scenery with the blue sky over the ancient building.

Take your time walking around the stone wall path. The stone walls are low enough for you to see your surroundings. Made of clay and stones, the stone walls give way to a path where you will see why the stone wall path is one of the best ways to feel the sentiment and beauty of Korea. The stone and clay walls at Beomeosa Temple are one of the most distinctively Korean because of not only the materials but also the roof tiles that cover the top of the walls.

There are two stone wall streets you don’t want to miss at Beomeosa Temple. They are the stone wall street between the Daeungjeon Hall and the trail leading to Geumjeongsan Mountain to the right, and the bamboo stone wall street winding down from the front yard of the Daeungjeon Hall to the left. The bamboo stone wall street leads to another stone wall street that turns into a downward stairway, which is known as one of the most beautiful spots in the area especially with the autumn foliage.

Seonamsa Stone Wall Street in Nature

Seonamsa Temple, located at the foot of Baegyangsan Mountain, was built a Buddhist monk named Wonhyo in 675 during the Silla period. The temple was originally named Gyeongangsa when it was first built, but was renamed to Seonamsa Temple because it was where the “flowering knights” of Silla called Hwarang trained. Surrounded by a cliff of Baegyangsan Mountain and commanding a panoramic view of downtown Busan, Seonamsa Temple is one of the most visited attractions in the city.

Step inside the temple, and you will the Daeungjeon Hall and Geungnakjeon Hall and a big pine tree, which are a testament to the ancient antiquity of the temple. The courtyard of the temple is low and surrounded by low stone walls. It would be a good idea to take a leisurely walk around the temple’s stone walls and sit on the bench to rest and meditate.

Unlike the stone walls of Beomeosa Temple, the stone walls at Seonamsa Temple are made only of stones with roof tiles on the top. Many visitors find the walls comforting, and build a small stone tower on the top of the wall as they make a wish. There is a stairway between the stone wall paths behind the right side of the Daeungjeon Hall, and it will lead you up to Chilseonggak and Geungnakjeon Hall. There, you will see yet another beautiful stone wall that is covered with moss. If you want to feel the season of autumn and see the beautify of Korean stone walls, Seonamsa Temple just might be the place.

Ongnyeonseonwon Stone Wall Street with Roof Tile Walls

Baeksan Mountain is a small mountain located behind Subyeon Park in Millak-dong next to Gwangalli Beach in Busan. At the foot of the mountain is Ongnyeonseonwon Temple, which is known to have been built by a Buddhist monk named Wonhyo in 670. The word “seonwon” is used in the names of Buddhist establishments dedicated for seon training and practice.

Ongnyeonseonwon Temple is popular for its beautiful view and its vicinity to the city. Behind the temple is Korea’s largest seated Buddha statue where you can enjoy a commanding view of the skyscrapers of the Marine City and an ocean view in between them.

The stone walls at Ongnyeonseonwon Temple are unique in that they are made of roof tiles instead of clay and stones. The roof tile walls form a path from the entrance to the temple to the courtyard of the temple. They are relatively higher than most other stone walls, but the roof tiles create an air of tranquility. There are different types stone walls at the temple, and many visitors find it amusing that there is a stone wall in every corner of the temple grounds. One of the aesthetic features of the place is the earthen jars under the stone walls leading to the seated Buddha statue. Take a walk on the beautiful stone wall path and enjoy the cool breeze of autumn.

Overview

Address
Beomeosa Temple: 250, Beomeosa-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan
Seonamsa Temple: 138, Baegyangsan-ro, Busanjin-gu, Busan
Ongnyeonseonwon Temple: 58, Gwangnam-ro 257(ibaekosipchil)beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan
Closing Dates
Open all year round
Hours
Always
Service Fees
Free
Traffic Information
Beomeosa Temple
Exit 5 or 7 of Beomeosa Station on Busan Metro Line 1 → Transfer to Bus 90, and get off at Beomeosa Parking Lot
Parking : Beomeosa Temple Parking Lot

Seonamsa Temple
Exit 9 of Seomyeon Station on Busan Metro Line 1 → Transfer to Bus 17 or 23 at the stop opposite side of
Lotte Hotel & Department Store→ Get off at Seonamsa Temple and walk for 14 min
Parking : Seonamsa Temple Parking Lot

Ongnyeonseonwon Temple
From Exit 3 of Geumnyeonsan Station on Busan Metro Line 2 → Transfer to Bus 83, 38, or 83-1
→ Get off at MBC Station and walk for 8 minutes.
Parking: Ongnyeonseonwon Temple