Healing trip to soothe tired body and mind | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Located on Jeokpuri-ro in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Shingu University Botanical Garden opened in May 2003 with the purpose of developing and researching plant resources. It systematically collects, preserves, and exhibits domestic and international plants. Beyond plant research, it serves as a practical training site for related academic departments and offers gardening education as well as various educational programs that allow the general public to observe and directly experience nature. The garden café at the entrance overlooks the central plaza of the beautiful forest exhibition hall, creating a relaxing atmosphere harmonized with vibrant flowers. Recognized by the national government (Korea Forest Service), it cultivates botanical experts (gardeners) and contributes to the development of plant culture by providing environmental education for youth and the general public through job training related to plants and experiential opportunities.

Mangyeongam is Traditional Temple No. 74, located on the foothills of Yeongjangsan, the best place in Seongnam to look down on Seoul at a glance. It is known as a place where kings personally visited from the late Goryeo to early Joseon to pray for the nation's prosperity and the people's well-being. At Mangyeongam, you can see the Mangyeongam Ma-ae Seated Buddha Statue, designated as a Gyeonggi-do Tangible Cultural Property. This rock-carved seated Buddha is engraved on the cliff of Mangyeongam (望京菴). Though the carving technique is rough and the statue lacks several essential elements of a Buddha image, it is a late Joseon rock Buddha enshrined at a historically Buddhist-significant site, holding documentary value.

Yaksasa is a temple belonging to the Korean Buddhist tradition of Yeoraejong, located on the mid-slope of Mandeoksan in Namhansanseong, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Yaksasa was founded in 1937 when Sukhyeon Daebosal (real name Yun Bongsun) had a vision and, with the help of grandmother Lee Chang-ho, discovered a small cave in the hermitage site and established a prayer hall to begin religious practice. In March 1967, Monk Inwang rebuilt Hanheungsa Temple, which was located on the Namhan mountain range, and in 1968 enshrined the Eastern Teacher Medicine Buddha statue, after which the temple name was changed to Yaksasa. During construction of the main hall in 1999, stone pagoda elements (two base stones, five cap stones, one roof stone) and roof tiles, presumed to be from the Goryeo dynasty, were discovered, confirming the site as an original temple location. The Painting of the Ten Kings of the Underworld is enshrined in the Sacred Treasures Hall.