Baeyoungsuk Wild Herb Sushi Table | Restaurant Guide

This lotus flower complex is located opposite the natural monument Jeongipumsong in Sokrisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk. During the lotus season, beautiful lotus flowers such as white lotus, water lilies, prickly lotus, and water poppies create a spectacular view. Observation paths are established for comfortable viewing. It is suitable as an educational place for children and a picnic area for families. Nearby are Sokrisan National Park, Beopjusa Temple, Solhyang Park, and charming cafes, and parking is available.

Sokrisan Mountain Vegetable Bibimbap Street is located between Jeongipumsong Park and Beopjusa Temple, close to Sokrisan Terminal and Sokrisan Sculpture Park. Enjoying delicious mountain vegetable bibimbap amidst fresh air and natural scenery rivals any fine delicacy. The spring mountain vegetable bibimbap, made with soft, tender wild greens and medicinal herbs sprouting in that season, is especially famous for its varied flavors. This street dates back to the late 1970s, starting with two or three restaurants, growing to about ten in the late 1980s, and now having around ninety. Restaurants here use about 20 ingredients of herbs and wild greens to make bibimbap, even registering patents for the recipe and ingredients. It is a great place to dine while touring the nearby tourist sites around Sokrisan.

Built in 553 during the 14th year of Silla King Jinheung's reign, Beopjusa Temple is located on Songnisan Mountain. However, many of the original buildings were destroyed during the Imjin War (1592-1598), with the current structures having been rebuilt in 1624. The temple features many beautiful and important Buddhist relics and artworks, centered around the main hall, Daeungbojeon Hall.

Beopjusa Temple, meaning 'the place where Buddha's law rests,' is located on the foothills of Songnisan and was founded by Uisin in the 14th year of King Jinheung of Silla (553 AD) and later renovated by King Seongdeok and King Hyegong, when it began to take the shape of a large temple. During the Hong Geon-jeok invasion of Goryeo, King Gongmin passed through on his return from fleeing to Andong. Before his enthronement, King Taejo of Joseon performed a hundred-day prayer here, and King Sejo, who was ill, prayed for three days at Bokcheonam Hermitage. By the mid-Joseon period, Boeun Beopjusa grew to boast over 60 buildings and 70 hermitages but was almost entirely destroyed during the Imjin War. It was restored by Monk Byeokam in 1624 (2nd year of King Injo) and has undergone several restorations since. Previously, the temple layout intersected the Hwaeom faith axis centered on Daeungbojeon and the Maitreya faith axis centered on Yonghwabojeon perpendicularly at Palsangjeon, but this was disrupted after a 33-meter tall bronze Maitreya Buddha statue was erected in 1990. The precinct includes over ten temple buildings, such as Yonghwadang, Wontongbojeon, Myeongbujeon, Neunginjeon, Josagak, Jinyeonggak, Samsanggak, and the temple office, centering on Daeungbojeon. Over half of Boeun’s cultural heritage sites are concentrated in the Songnisan area, with Beopjusa alone holding three national treasures. Notable artifacts include Cheonwangmun gate, Seonhuigung altar dedicated to Lady Yi, mother of Crown Prince Sado, Neunginjeon housing sixteen arhats, the Bodhisattva Heegyeon who offered himself to Buddha by burning his body, and stone jars and iron cauldrons large enough to hold eighty sacks of rice. Boeun Beopjusa, boasting over a thousand years of Maitreya faith history, offers templestay programs allowing visitors to experience basic Buddhist culture through prayer and Buddhist services. Palsangjeon, a five-story wooden pagoda and an important subject in Korean wooden pagoda studies, was built by Uisin in King Jinheung's reign, renovated by Byeongjin in 776, destroyed in 1597 during the Jeongyu War, and rebuilt in 1605. Named for the eight scenes of Buddha’s life painted on its walls, Palsangjeon became the only remaining example of a Korean wooden pagoda after the 1984 fire that destroyed a three-story wooden pagoda at Ssangbongsa. It stands 22.7 meters tall to the finial, making it the tallest existing pagoda in Korea. The Seokyeonji lotus pond features an octagonal base stone with three tiers of moldings and a lotus-shaped stone decoration representing a lotus floating on clouds, an 8th-century masterpiece from the Unified Silla period. The Ssangsaja stone lantern, regarded as one of the finest Silla stone lanterns dating to the 19th year of King Seongdeok (720), features stylized lion sculptures replacing standard lantern pillars. Its octagonal base and lotus-shaped stone elements are carved from single stone blocks, with larger roof stones compared to typical lanterns.

With Songnisan National Park at its center, Songnisan Special Tourist Zone offers picturesque scenery and cozy resorts. At 1,058 meters above sea level, Songnisan Mountain is one of the 8 scenic wonders in Korea, and its steep peaks and deep valleys create a fascinating view. A variety of hiking trails that set out from Beopjusa Temple offer superb mountain scenery from every angle. A tourism complex around Songnisan National Park offers various types of accommodations, and the area's attractions, such as Beopjusa Temple, Seowongyegok Valley, Mansugyegok Valley and Solhyang Park are not to be missed. In fact, the mountain is a habitat for rare animals and plants, including flying squirrels and Berchemia Berchemiaefolia, and is called a “treasure house of natural resources.” The convenient accessibility should be noted as well. The highway between Dangjin and Yeongdeok goes through the zone, and it takes only 30 minutes from Cheongju International Airport. This helps foreign tourists from China, Taiwan and Singapore as well as Korean visitors to easily access the zone. A variety of events, including the Songni Festival, the Songnisan Maple Music Festival and the Songnisan Hiking Festival, are held every year, and the largest number of tourists visit in autumn to appreciate a view of the mountain tinged with red. * Current State of Songnisan Special Tourist Zone 1) Districts Covered: Areas around Sangpan, Jungpan, Galmok and Sanae-ri, Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do 2) Area: 43,745,528 ㎡

Chungcheongbuk-do has three tourist special zones: Suanbo Oncheon, Danyang, and Sokrisan. Among these, the Sokrisan Tourist Special Zone covers 43,745,528㎡ across Sanae-ri, Sangpan-ri, Jungpan-ri, and Galmok-ri in Sokrisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, designated on January 18, 1997. It is a place where beautiful natural scenery and recreational facilities harmonize. Sokrisan, at an elevation of 1058m, is one of Korea's eight scenic spots, with high and deep peaks and valleys forming magnificent views. There are various hiking courses starting from Beopjusa Temple to enjoy Sokrisan’s scenic beauty. Also, rare flora and fauna such as the flying squirrel and Manggae tree inhabit Sokrisan, making it a treasure trove of natural resources. Around Sokrisan National Park, tourism complexes including various accommodations are developed, and there are many places to visit such as Cheonwangbong Peak, Munjangdae, Beopjusa, Seowon Valley, Mansu Valley, Samnyeonsanseong Fortress, and Solhyang Park. Sokrisan National Park hosts various festivals by season like Sokri Festival, Sokrisan Fall Foliage Song Festival, and Sokrisan Climbing Festival. Especially in autumn, when the fall foliage is spectacular, many tourists visit. The Sokrisan Tourist Special Zone is easily accessible as the Dangjin–Yeongdeok Expressway connecting east and west passes through, and it is about 30 minutes from Cheongju International Airport. This convenience attracts not only domestic but also foreign tourists from China, Taiwan, Singapore, and other countries.