'Azalea Landmark' Mount. Yeongchwisan, Heungguksa Temple Designated as Scenic Site

▲ This image, provided by the municipality of Yeosu, shows the region's trademark azalea colonies of Mount. Yeongchwisan and unique rock formations. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced on Friday that the area surrounding Heungguksa Temple on Yeongchwisan Mountain, Yeosu, has been designated as a Scenic Site.

Renowned for its stunning landscape, the Heungguksa Temple area on Yeongchwisan Mountain has long been celebrated for its breathtaking beauty. 

The site features a vast colony of azaleas harmoniously blending with uniquely shaped rocks, stones, and water streams. From the mountain's summit, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the archipelago along Korea's southern coast, attracting countless tourists annually.

Heungguksa Temple, situated on the mountain's foothills, is also a symbolic site of Buddhist patriotism. Its name, Heungguk, meaning "prosper the nation," embodies a wish for the country's flourishing. The temple preserves cultural heritage such as the Daeungjeon Hall, murals of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, and the Suwol Gwaneumdo ("Water-Moon Avalokitesvara") painting.

The area is home to natural flora, including camellia trees, earning high praise for its well-preserved natural scenery.

A CHA official stated, "In collaboration with Yeosu City, the local governing body, we plan to develop systematic measures for preserving, managing, and utilizing the 'Yeongchwisan Heungguksa Temple Area' effectively."

▲ This image, provided by the municipality of Yeosu, shows the region's trademark azalea colonies of Mount. Yeongchwisan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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