[Around Us] Spring Flowers, Bloom in Busan

The flowers that have shrunk all winter are in full bloom, announcing spring. Busan City produced and distributed the "Spring Flower Map" on March 9th, in line with the blooming season of spring flowers. "Channel PNU" visited Hwamyeong Park, Oryukdo Sunrise Park, and Seongamsa Temple, famous for its "Flower Attractions," on March 19th, referring to the map.

■ Netherlands in Busan, Hwamyeong Ecology Park

If you want to enjoy the energy of spring while looking at tulips, we recommend Hwamyeong Park. The Park is an ecological park located on a hill at the edge of the Nakdonggang River. It is the smallest of the Nakdong River estuary banks, but it is colorful with many things to enjoy. Thousands of tulips, called "messengers of spring," bloom in all colors, giving you the feeling of visiting the Netherlands. Near Hwamyeong Park, the Gyeongbu Line railroad passes. It is emerging as a famous photo zone because several trains departing from or stopping at Gupo Station pass by.

Tulips are in full bloom in early April. Hwamyeong Park can be reached in about 30 minutes by taking bus No. 111-1 from the main gate of Pusan National University or getting off at Hwamyeong Station on Busan Metro Line 2.

At the bicycle rental shop in the park, you can rent a bicycle to enjoy the nearby scenery while feeling the wind. Quadricycles and adult bicycles are available for 3,000 won per hour, and tandem bicycles are available for 6,000 won per hour. A swimming pool and sledding rink are operated in summer and winter, respectively.

■A famous spot for Narcissus, Oryukdo Sunrise Park

Located in Nam-gu, Busan, Oryukdo Sunrise Park is an observatory with a good view of Oryukdo Island. Oryukdo is an island that looks like five or six islands depending on the tide and location. At Oryukdo Sunrise Park, you can see bright daffodils and canola flowers. In particular, it is popular with tourists because the daffodils are in full bloom and harmonizes with the blue sea.

In Oryukdo Sunrise Park, there are two ways to travel (Haeparang Trail and Namparang Trail), so you can choose and walk. Haeparang Trail consists of 50 routes along the East Sea from Oryukdo Sunrise Park to the Unification Observatory in Goseong, Gangwon-do. It means "the trail where you walk along with the sound of the waves while looking at the rising sun and the blue sea." Namparang-gil consists of 90 routes that people move west along the southern coast to Ttangkkeut (End of the Land) Village in Haenam, Jeollanam-do. The name means "the trail where people walk together with the indigo sea of the south." Those who want to walk Haeparang-gil and Namparang-gil are encouraged to use the information booklet produced jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization, which is available at the Oryukdo Sunrise Park Tourist Information Center.

Near the park, the glass bottomed Oryukdo Skywalk is also available for free. Oryukdo Sunrise Park can be reached in about an hour from PNU by getting off at Beomil Station on Busan Metro Line 1 and taking bus No. 27.

■ Attraction of Magnolia, Seongamsa Temple

Seongamsa Temple is a temple located on Hwangnyeongsan Mountain. It was built at the end of the Goryeo Dynasty and has been loved. Inside Seongamsa Temple is a rock shaped like a turtle laying an egg, symbolizing wealth and riches. There is also a legend that you will get descendants if you pray to Samseongjeon and Yongwangdang. It is considered the best place in Busan in terms of feng shui.

Upon entering the temple, you can see a beautiful magnolia tree. When the wind blows, the petals falling beautifully go well with the cozy appearance of Seongamsa Temple. Compared to the previous two attractions, it is known to few people, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy spring in a quiet atmosphere. Seongamsa Temple can be reached in less than an hour from PNU by getting off at Beomil Station on Busan Metro Line 1 and taking bus 101, 138, or 10

Reporter Choi Ye-Won

Translated by Choi Ye-Won