Cheongpyeongsa
The Cheongpyeongsa tourist area is located 19km away from downtown and you will arrive at the Cheongpyeongsa tourist area in about 10 minutes by taking a boat from the Soyangho (Lake) Pier. It has a beautiful valley and is thus visited by many people here.
What is the legend about the princess and the serpent at the turning doors?
This is a story from long ago during the Tang Dynasty of China. King Taejong had a beautiful daughter and despite royal customs, she fell in love with a peasant boy. There secret love did not last long and when Taejong learned of this, he executed the boy, and from there a larger serpent appeared. This serpent was the reincarnation of the young man who was put to death for the crime of loving the princess.
The serpent slipped into the castle and wrapped its body around the princess. Even though it was the reincarnation of love, the doctors were surprised at the ugliness of the snake and tried many different things but could not remove the snake from the princess’s body. The princess continued to get thin. An old Buddhist priest recommended that they pray at a temple filled with the spiritual energy of Silla. So the princess visited famous temples and ended up arriving at Cheongyeongsa Temple. The princess arrived as the sun began to set so she spent the night in a small cave below the Guseong Falls.
he next morning, she heard the gentle sound of the temple bells.
“I can hear the bells. The temple must be nearby. I want to go to the temple and get something to eat, so could you please come off of me for a while” The snake, which never listened to her requests, removed himself from her.
The princess feeling relieved of her burdens took a bath in the valley waters and went to pray at the temple.
Meanwhile, as time passed, the snake went looking for the princess concerned that she might have run away.
As it was about to pass the doors, though the sky was still clear, rain and lightning fell and struck the snake dead, which was washed down by the rainwater.
After praying, the princess took food with her and went down, but found that the snake was dead and floating in the waterfall. Not knowing what happened, the princess was surprised, and she felt both relief and sorrow so she buried the snake.
Happy to hear this, King Taejong sent three lumps of gold to the temple and erected a building for the princess to live in. He sent another lump of gold for the princess to spend on her way back home, which she buried somewhere here so that the temple would use it for repairs in the future. The princess prayed for easy passage into eternity for the snake, and as she stayed at the temple for a long time, she spent her time thanking Buddha for his grace, built a stone pagoda, and then returned to the castle.
Since then, the cave that the princess stayed in was called ‘Gongjugul’ and the three-story stone pagoda was called ‘Gongjutop’.
Gusong Falls and Yeongji
Gusong Falls was given its name because there are nine pine trees in its vicinity. There is the Gusongdae on the upper part of the waterfall for people to rest. Gusong Falls is also called Guseong Falls because it is said that depending on the changes in the environment, you can hear nine different waterfall sounds. A high volume of water splashes down from this waterfall all year round. In particular, the vertical cliffs on either side of the waterfall are as beautiful as a neat classical scholar.
Yeongji Pond was made by Lee Ja-hyeon during the Goryeo Dynasty and it is mentioned in a poem by Kim Shi-seub in the early Joseon Dynasty. Yeongji is a square pond and it is said that the reflection of Gyeonseongam (stone) on Buyongbong (Peak) can be seen in the pond. It was said that in the past, the water level did not drop or rise even during monsoon or drought seasons. The pond made as part of the garden is called Yeonji and it was common for such pond to be made in temples or castles.
Walking along Cheongpyeongsa Valley and Cheongpyeongsa Trail
There are two ways to get to Cheongpyeongsa Temple. You can either take a boat from Soyanggang Dam or drive by passing Baehuryeong and parking at the Cheongpyeongsa tourist area parking lot. In the past, the Baehuryeong hill was difficult to traverse, but with the construction of the Baehuryeong Tunnel, it became much easier so there are many people who drive here today. However, it’s most fun to go to Cheongpyeongsa Temple by car. Walk a little from the top of Soyanggang Dam and a pier will appear. Boats run every 30 minutes from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M., so make sure to check the time.
Soyangho (Lake) where mountains and the lake meets is so blue and deep that it might look like an ocean. The pier that can be seen afar sometimes look like the horizon. It is a romantic place that feels like a separate island. Perhaps because of this there are many couples here today. The path to Cheongpyeongsa Temple is one of the most favorite date courses of Chuncheon.
Whether by boat or car, the path to Cheongpyeongsa starts at Buyonggyo (Br.). There are local restaurants and cafes on the way so you don’t have to worry about getting hungry. There is delicious food all year round, but I especially recommend fried smelt in the winter.
You have to walk up about 30 minutes to get to Cheongpyeongsa Temple. It is not too steep or rugged so it is okay for children too. Cheongpyeongsa Valley has not been frequented by too many visitors so it is still clean and clear. The water is really cold so you should be careful.
There are many remains and stories on the way up so you won’t get too bored. The story about the princess and serpent is a historical and beautiful love story about Cheongpyeongsa Temple that can convey the romance of Chuncheon to listeners. You pass Yeongji Pond and Gebukbawi (stone) where the shadow of the peak of Obongsan (Mt.) covers. Gusong Falls was called Guseong Falls in the past because it was said that it had nine different sounds. The emerald colored water is beautiful.
On one side flows cool creek water and on the other side is a path covered with shade from trees. You finally arrive at Cheongpyeongsa Temple. Obongsan is beautifully laid out in the backdrop. In the past, only the gate and temple site remained, but it was completely restored to have its quaint appearance of today.
You arrive at the gate to the temple. Pass the gate and take a look inside the temple and the two-story tower. As you look at the nature from the second floor, you feel inside you the mercy of Buddha. You hope to keep this feeling for a long time. There are several trees in front of the main temple. It has an imposing appearance like a general that protected the temple for hundreds of years. The path behind this leads to the Obongsan hiking trail.
If you want to walk a bit more after checking out the temple, you can hike Obangsan (Mt.). The birch tree forest that appears after walking about 10 minutes from Cheongpyeongsa is a small gift from the forest. Cheongpyeongsa, which is located at the foot of Obongsan, is a very romantic place that gives tranquil joys to visitors all year round.
