Gwangdeoksan in Cheonan, Home of Gwangdeoksa Temple

It was still a hot September when I visited Gwangdeoksan Mountain in Cheonan.
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After parking the car, I started walking along the valley toward Gwangdeoksa Temple. There were quite a few families enjoying the water and spending time together in the valley.
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It was my first time hiking here, but I could see why so many people visit this mountain. The trail was well-maintained and clean, making the climb enjoyable.
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I went with my uncle, who didn’t have proper hiking shoes that day and ended up climbing in Crocs. I also left my hiking shoes in the trunk and wore Crocs instead. The trail was in such good condition that it was still comfortable to hike.

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Gwangdeoksan

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Gwangdeoksan, standing at 699 meters, is the highest mountain in Cheonan. It lies on the border between Gwangdeok-ri in Gwangdeok-myeon, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan, and Songak-myeon in Asan City.

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The name “Gwangdeok” means a great and virtuous mountain. There is a legend that says this sacred mountain weeps whenever war or disaster strikes the nation. The mountain is also known for its beautiful pine forests and scenic spots such as General Rock.

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Cheonan’s famous “walnuts” also have a connection to Gwangdeoksan. It is said that in 1290 (the 16th year of King Chungnyeol of the Goryeo Dynasty), a scholar named Yu Cheong-shin brought walnut saplings and seeds from the Yuan Dynasty in China while accompanying the king’s carriage back home.

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He planted the young tree inside Gwangdeoksa Temple, and the walnut seeds were planted in front of his home in Haedang-ri, Gwangdeok-myeon. This story is known as the beginning of walnut cultivation in Korea, and the area is now called the birthplace of the Korean walnut tree.

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After passing Gwangdeoksa Temple, the trail continues upward.

Gwangdeoksa itself is an old and historic temple, and if you have time, it’s worth stopping by to take a look around.

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The trail is well-maintained and friendly for families, so even children can enjoy hiking here.
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The forest cools down our warming planet.

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It breathes with us throughout our lives, producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide — the main cause of climate change.
For that reason, planting and caring for even a single tree or patch of grass on our proud local mountain, Gwangdeoksan, is an act of protecting life on Earth. It is something our generation must do to help the planet suffering from global warming.
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Citizens of Cheonan continue to participate in preserving Gwangdeoksan as a “carbon-offset forest.”

— From the citizens of Cheonan
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The Mountaineer’s Oath

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Mountaineers explore the boundless world.

With passion and cooperation, they overcome every hardship on the way to their destination.

They never despair or give up.
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Mountaineers must become one with nature — without deceit or pretense — walking only toward the true world of freedom, peace, and humanity.

— Written by Nosan Lee Yoon-sang, calligraphy by student Kim Jin-sang, established by the Cheonan Udungmul Mountaineering Society

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While I was inside the mountain, I didn’t realize how hot the weather was. But once I came down, I could feel the heat again.

Seeing families playing in the valley made me want to jump into the cool water too.

Gwangdeoksan has good parking spaces and well-paved trails, making it a great place to visit with children.

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Even though it was a hot day, the mountain was clean, refreshing, and pleasant to walk through.

I have a feeling I’ll come back to Gwangdeoksan again someday with my uncle.