Taejongdae Natural Park @ Busan, South Korea

Busan is not all about urban city life. There are plenty of greens worthy visiting in this concrete jungle, and one of the fine example is Taejongdae Natural Park. It is full with lush greens and magnificent cliffs facing the open sea on the southernmost tip of island of Yeongdo-gu. 

The highest peak of Taejongdae Natural Park is perched at 250 metres, and the park features forests of pine trees and 200 other variants of trees. Taejongdae was named after the 29th king of Silla Kingdom (57 BC - AD 935, King Taejong Mu-Yeol (604 - 661), where he enjoyed shooting arrows here. 

A round trip from the park entrance to the light house and come back again at the same entrance is about 4.5km, which we obliged to challenge and it really exhausted us. Another reason is that we came here late and missed the train that only operate till 5.30pm.

For those who are physically unprepared for it, you may opt to take the train for 3,000 Korean Won for a round trip. 

After making a round trip walk, we felt the physical exhaustion was worth it.

The view was serene with a correct timing right at sunset time. Many Koreans can be seen taking a stroll or jog across the park. We were expecting a lot of sweat but the chill weather makes it just nice. 

Under the lighthouse of this resort is a rock called Sinseon Rock, named after the myth that gods and goddesses came down here to relax. At this rock is a figure called Mangbuseok, named after the story of a woman who waited for her husband who had been taken to Japan. Taejongdae is also famous for the ritual of praying for rain, performed when there are droughts, and rain on the 10th day of the fifth lunar month is called the "Taejong Rain." On days with clear skies you can see Japan’s Tsushima Island from the observatory.