Earlier this week, I felt the need to get out my apartment and take advantage of the beautiful weather. A friend had told me about a place called Herb Island in Gyeonggi Province and without doing much research, I made it my destination for the day.
Standing outside Dobongsan Station, I looked around, not sure of where to go. Although I had heard of the mountain of the same name as the station, I had never been to the area.
Suddenly, a flock of friendly elderly hikers (easily recognizable by their fluorescent trekking attire) emerged from the station. On a hunch, I followed them past groups of feisty grandfathers playing janggi (Korean chess) and into the biggest concentration of hiking supply stores I’ve ever seen in my life. Vendors in portable kiosks sold roasted corn, kimbap, and makgeolli, all essentials for a good hike (or Korean picnic).
Just before I reached the entrance of Bukhansan National Park, I stumbled upon a cluster of sundubu (soft tofu) restaurants. I later found out that Sundubu Alley, as this area is often referred to, is a hotspot for foodies, as all of the restaurants in this location make their own tofu daily, ensuring that the dishes served are distinctively fresh.
I ordered a bowl of sundubu jiggae (soft tofu stew) at Dubu Cheonji (두부천지), an unassuming hiker’s hangout with a nice patio and friendly servers. The dish arrived piping hot with generous portions of dubu and shellfish. The tofu was as soft as silk and very tasty, if not extremely spicy, proving the area’s reputation for good food to be true.
With a full stomach, I entered the park and didn’t bother looking at any maps. Instead, I walked along the paths of colorful lanterns that hung in celebration for Buddha’s Birthday into a number of temples that dotted the paths of Dobongsan. The monks welcomed me with smiles and motioned for me to look around.
Just as I was taking a moment to snap some photos, an air raid siren sounded from the distance. Although I had heard plenty of these practice sirens before, I wondered if, considering the recent tensions with the North, this might be the real thing. I quickly shrugged it off, figuring that if it were, I was in a Buddhist temple. That had to count for something in the afterlife.
There was even a gentleman playing the saxophone on one of the walking paths, treating my fellow hikers and me to some joyful melodies while we filled up our water bottles with refreshing spring water. I regretted not bringing bug spray, as the gnats were out in full force, despite it being early May.
I parked it on a boulder under a canopy of trees, enjoying the sounds of birds chirping and water flowing in a nearby stream. There were very few interruptions but my guess is that would not have been the case had I been there on a weekend. (Tip: If you visit any mountain in Korea, it’s advisable to go on a weekday, as the crowds can get overwhelming.)
Although I plan on getting to Herb Island eventually, I was glad that fate had brought me to Dobong Mountain. It was a great excursion to clear my mind and a convenient way to enjoy nature without having to leave Seoul.
To Get There: Take the Seoul subway to Dobongsan Station (Lines 1 & 7). From Exit 1, cross the street, take a left, and walk for 200 meters. Turn right, following the road signs to Bukhansan National Park. Continue to walk straight for 800 meters (about ten minutes) past the hiking supply stores to reach Sundubu Alley. The entrance to the park is just a few minutes’ walk beyond that.
More Info: For more information, including hours of operation and hiking route suggestions, click here.
Words and photos by Mimsie Ladner of Seoul Searching. Content may not be reproduced unless authorized.
