As the city’s name “Busan” originates from the mountains, the city has many mountains throughout its area. From “Geumjeongsan,” which connects to Pusan National University (PNU), to “Bongnaesan” located at the heart of Yeongdo, and “Baesan,” perfect for trekking, various mountains harbor diverse landscapes and charms.

“Channel PNU” introduces Jangsan (Haeundae-gu) and Hwangnyeongsan (Yeonje-gu) as ideal mountains in Busan for enjoying hiking and appreciating the city’s scenery with friends. To vividly capture the beauty of these two mountains, “Channel PNU” climbed them from February to March and captured the scenes on camera.

■“Jangsan”: A Glimpse of the Sea and the City at Once

Jangsan, located in Haeundae-gu, offers a close view of the sea from its summit. At the top of Jangsan, you can enjoy the sights of Marine City, Gwangan Bridge, and the Suyeong River. With a height of 634m, Jangsan is a tall mountain in Busan, so reaching the summit can take from a minimum of two hours to a maximum of eight hours depending on the route. Despite its elevation, the sense of accomplishment is immense thanks to the refreshing scenery at the top.

While hiking Jangsan, you’ll pass through Daecheon Park. The park offers various attractions such as an artificial lake, play facilities, and pavilions, making it a popular destination for nearby residents. Especially around the artificial lake named Daecheon Lake, you’ll find plenty of trees including cherry blossoms which provide a natural ambiance. As the park is on flatland, people of all ages visit the park and enjoy strolling around. 

After passing through the park, the hiking trail diverges into three routes. In order of length, the routes are “Forest Trail of Participation,” “Forest Trail of Learning,” and the “Forest Trail of Health.” The Forest Trail of Participation leads to Daecheon Sports Park via Pokposa and Yangun waterfall. The Forest Trail of Learning goes through Daecheon Sports Park and leads to Chuncheon Ecological Learning Center. Lastly, the Forest Trail of Health starts from Daecheon Park and heads towards Jungbong passing through Oknyoubong. With such diverse hiking routes, it’s easy to lose track, so it’s advisable to use GPS to navigate while hiking.

On the Jangsan hiking trail, there are waterfalls and valleys, offering plenty of nature to see. Along the “Forest Trail of Health,” you’ll encounter the small nine-meter-high waterfall known as Yangun waterfall. The waterfall is named Yangun as the water seems to bloom like clouds. Hiking along the waterfall, small ponds below and valleys make climbers feel refreshed even in the hot summer.

It takes about one hour and 30 minutes to reach Jungbong. Jungbong is a peak with a height of 403m. From Jungbong, the surrounding area is full of mountains with no buildings in sight. The path from Jungbong to the summit is the most challenging part of the course, so it’s advisable to rest sufficiently at Jungbong before continuing the ascent. Jungbong is connected to the summit of Jangsan by a ridgeline, and along this ridge, there is an observatory and shelter. Taking a moment to rest at the shelter and enjoying the magnificent view of the sea from above is recommended. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the summit from Jungbong.

Jangsan has military facilities, so the summit is only open for five hours daily, from 10am to 3pm. Therefore, it’s essential to check before planning a hike. To reach Jangsan, you can take Busan Metro Line 2 and get off at Jangsan Station, then walk for about 20 minutes. If you’re driving, you need to park at the Daecheon Park public parking lot and hike up from there.

■“Hwangnyeongsan” in the Heart of Busan

Hwangnyeongsan is a popular mountain among novice hikers due to its splendid summit views and low hiking level. With an elevation of 427.6m, it takes about one hour and 30 minutes to reach the top. Even beginners can hike the mountain due to the short hiking duration. Hikers can explore the entire mountain in around three hours.

The pride of Hwangnyeongsan lies in the panoramic urban landscape from its summit. Ascending to the observation deck located at the summit during the night offers a stunning view of the city lights. Particularly renowned are the illuminations highlighting areas such as Seomyeon and Jeonpo districts, BIFC (Busan International Finance Center), and the Citizen’s Park. Additionally, LED lights are attached to the broadcasting tower at the summit, adding charm to the Hwangnyeongsan night view with colorful displays.

At the summit of Hwangnyeongsan, besides the observation deck, there is also a beacon tower called “Bongsudae.” It is believed to have been installed during the Joseon Dynasty under the reign of King Sejong. Bongsudae was used to transmit signals using fire during critical events such as invasions by enemies. As there was significant damage over the years, as a part of the centennial celebration of the opening of Busan Port, the city of Busan restored the Bongsudae to its original cauldron-shaped structure in 1976

Even people from outside of Busan often visit Hwangnyeongsan. Heo Ju-Haeng (44, Incheon), who came to Busan on a business trip from Incheon, said, “Standing at the summit of Hwangnyeongsan, I could see the entire panoramic view of Busan, which is fantastic.” Naomi Djerboua (23, France), who traveled to Busan, mentioned, “I learned about Hwangnyeongsan through social media. The beautiful natural scenery of Hwangnyeongsan left a deep impression on me.”

Hwangnyeongsan is open everyday except on national holidays. To get to Hwangnyeongsan, you can take the Busan Metro Line 1 and get off at the City Hall Station. Then, take Village Bus No. 1 in Yeonje-gu at Exit 6.

Reporter Ha Chae-Won

Translated by Ha Chae-Won