The major mountain of Bupyeong, Gyeyangsan Mountain has a Dullegil trail around the mountain as well as a hiking course to the peak. The mountain has plenty of Buxus trees, pine trees, lilies of the valley, and bird cherries. It is widely recognized as the most eco-friendly place in Incheon.
By the way, what does ‘Gyeyang’ mean? (‘san’ is a mountain in Korean)There are two theories regarding the origin of the name. The first theory claims that the mountain name has come from the names of its major trees (katsura trees and Buxus trees). The second theory says that the word 'gye' in the mountain name Gyeyang is a Chinese word equivalent to the Korean word 'dal' which meant 'a mountain' or ‘a high place' in ancient Korean. The mountain is high and it is full of Buxus trees, so either of the theories is deemed relevant.
Gyeyangsan Mountain is not a very high hill, yet one thing is clear. It is the most popular hiking course for the citizens of Incheon. There are a couple of walking/hiking courses that you can choose.
Gyeyangsan Mountain Dullegil Courses
Well, shall we climb Gyeyangsan Mountain?
After climbing stone stairs through lush vegetation for a while, I finally got to Palgakjeong Pavilion.
On top of the pavilion, you can overlook the city landscape of Incheon. 1.4 kilometers away from the peak, I could see Gyeyangsan Fortress that is currently going through restoration work.
Gyeyangsanseong Fortress was built during the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC-AD 668) to protect Seoul. It is a very important cultural heritage that played a significant role in defense. The ancient stone fortress was constructed around a small hill located about 230 meters east of the peak.
The three kingdoms fought hard to occupy the Hangang River flowing through what is now Seoul. That is why Gyeyangsanseong Fortress situated not far from the river must have been a critical military location for all the three kingdoms. Most of the fortress walls are yet to be rebuilt with just a small portion showing off how the walls were a long time ago.
You can overlook the entire city of Incheon from the spot. On a clear day, you can see as far as the Hangang River and its surrounding areas from this mountain, the highest peak in the country west of Seoul.
Another attraction of Gyeyangsan Mountain is that you can see diverse kinds of vegetation on the hiking/walking trails. Gyeyangsan Mountain is highly recommendable to anyone who wants to have some pleasant physical exercise while learning a bit about the country's history.
[Source: Incheon itour Homepage]
