A monk's purple garden blooms in Mungyeong

Bongcheon Temple in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is blanketed in unusually abundant purple aster flowers every autumn. The flower field grew from seven asters planted by the abbot 12 years ago and now covers 23,100 square meters. Local residents help maintain the garden, whose festival runs through Oct. 18. Nearby, Mungyeong Doline Wetland supports 932 plant and animal species and became Korea’s 25th Ramsar wetland in February 2024.

The aster field expanded from about 1,000 square meters after three years of cultivation to about 3,300 square meters a year later.

The Mungyeong Doline Wetland formed in a limestone depression at 300 meters above sea level and retains water year-round because terra rossa clay sealed cracks in the bedrock.

The wetland covers 494,434 square meters and includes eight endangered species, including the Eurasian otter, yellow-throated marten, leopard cat and Chinese sparrowhawk.

Bongcheon Temple’s flower garden includes 13 designated viewpoints, including Jwaseondae and Bongcheonmaru.

Visitors to the wetland should park at the Mungyeong Doline Wetland Parking Lot and use the free electric cart because the road directly to the wetland is restricted to management vehicles.

Published Oct 11, 2026 12:05 am KST

Asters are in full bloom around a Buddha statue at Bongcheon Temple in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

MUNGYEONG, North Gyeongsang Province —Every step along the country road reveals another pale purple flower emerging through the mist. Any visitor soon finds themselves surrounded by thousands upon thousands of blossoms.

A wave of flowers winds along the ridges of the wooded hillside, revealing here and there a statue of the Buddha or stately pine trees. It is a truly dreamlike and otherworldly scene.

Bongcheon Temple, a small Buddhist temple halfway up Mount Wolbang in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, is blanketed in purple aster flowers every autumn. The sight is spectacular every year, but the flowers are particularly abundant this year.

Asters and cosmos in full bloom create a spectacular scene at Bongcheon Temple in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Seven asters grow into a field of flowers

The flowers cover an area of 23,100 square meters, but began with just seven aster flowers.

When the abbot first came to the temple 12 years ago, the surrounding hillside was barren. It was covered with kudzu vines, with only a few small vegetable plots cultivated by local residents scattered here and there.

Looking for a wildflower that could thrive on the rocky, weed-covered hillside, the monk chose asters. After planting and tending them for three years, the flower field had grown to about 1,000 square meters. A year later, it had more than tripled to about 3,300 square meters, and photographers began arriving to take pictures of the unique scene.

A visitor walks through the aster field at Bongcheonsa Temple. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

An aster festival was first held in 2021. The abbot explained, “Photographers were coming from faraway places because they had heard about it, while people in the local area didn’t even know about the flower field, so we decided to hold a festival.”

More visitors than expected came from the very first festival, creating management difficulties. “There weren’t enough toilets, and so many cars came that the village access road was completely blocked,” the abbot said. “I realized we didn’t have the capacity to handle it and even considered getting rid of both the festival and the flower field.”

Asters and cosmos are in full bloom throughout the grounds of Bongcheon Temple. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Starting in March, local residents start tending the flowers. “About five years after we started cultivating the field, there were more flowers and the soil had become depleted, so there was a lot of work to do, including adding fertile soil and preventing pests and diseases,” the abbot said.

Bongcheon Temple staff members photograph the asters in full bloom. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Because water is scarce on the mountain, the villagers dug a well to supply water to the field. Maintaining the flower garden requires a significant amount of labor, so most of the festival admission fees are used to pay the workers.

Seven wildflowers have, in effect, grown into an attraction that helps support the village.

Pine trees are visible behind the aster field at Bongcheon Temple. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

A field shaped by nature

The years of care have paid off.

White and purple cosmos have also been planted among the asters for the past four years, and they too have flourished. The idea was to plant the two together so that if the asters had a poor year, the cosmos could make up for them. This year, however, both have produced an abundant display.

Parts of Mungyeong are seen behind a shrine at Bongcheon Temple. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

That harmony is what sets Bongcheonsa’s flower field apart. There are larger, more systemically managed fields, but it is difficult to find one where flowers, rocks, a Buddhist temple, statues and pine trees come together as they do here.

It may be the difference between a merely pretty location and one that looks as if it belongs to another world.

The flower field at Bongcheonsa naturally follows the ridges of the hillside. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

The rocks hidden among the flowers are another point of pride. They were originally concealed beneath vines and weeds, but the abbot gradually uncovered them while tending the aster field.

These include "Jwaseondae," a rock that supports people's backs into the proper posture for meditation posture and "Bongcheonmaru," a rock which offers the best view.

Bongcheon Temple is seen from "Bongcheondae," a rock which offers exceptional views of the area. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

The abbot has also given each site its own theme and meaning, collectively naming them the “13 Aesthetic Views of Bongcheon Temple’s Aster Field.” He personally selected each of the viewpoints.

The sightline from the temple extends all the way to Mount Hakga, offering a refreshing panorama.

The area around the meeting point of the Nakdong, Naeseongcheon and Geumcheon rivers, known as "Samgang," can be seen from the temple. The location has long been considered strategically important and many battles were fought here.

The "Samguk Yusa" records a tradition that Gen. Kim Yu-sin of the Silla kingdom defeated Tang dynasty forces led by Su Dingfang in this area.

The Bongcheon Temple Aster Festival runs through Oct. 18. The admission fee includes plum tea and acorn jelly, with the latter being a local delicacy.

Acorn jelly made by local residents at Bongcheon Temple is a famous local dish served to festival attendees. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

The jelly is made by hand at the temple using traditional methods. It has a texture that clings gently to the tongue and a rich, slightly bitter acorn flavor.

It is not sold separately, so it is worthwhile to visit Bongcheon Temple just to try the jelly.

An aerial view of the Mungyeong Doline Wetland in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

Oasis deep in the mountains: the Mungyeong Doline Wetland

There is another unusual landscape on nearby Mount Gulbong: the Mungyeong Doline Wetland.

The wetland sits along the mountain ridge. Wetlands are normally found in low-lying areas, but this one is found at 300 meters above sea level and deep in the mountains.

An exposed limestone area at the Mungyeong Doline Wetland / Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

The wetland formed when rainwater accumulated in a dish-shaped depression known as a doline, created as the limestone bedrock in the area dissolved and sank.

Doline formations can also be found around Mount Mindung in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, but most dry up seasonally. The Mungyeong doline is particularly unusual because it retains water year-round and supports a wetland ecosystem covering 494,434 square meters.

Limestone areas typically have numerous cracks in the ground, allowing water to drain rather than collect. At Mount Gulbong, however, fine clay accumulated over tens of thousands of years.

This reddish clay, known as terra rossa, filled the cracks in the ground and formed a natural waterproof layer. As a result, a wetland was able to form.

Surrounded by grasslands and forest, the Mungyeong Doline Wetland is a remarkable well of biodiversity. A total of 932 species of plants and animals live there, including eight endangered species that form a food chain within the small ecosystem. They include the Eurasian otter, a Class I endangered animal, as well as the yellow-throated marten, leopard cat and Chinese sparrowhawk.

The wetland and surrounding forest / Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

The wetland was designated a national protection area in 2017 and became Korea’s 25th Ramsar wetland in February 2024. Of the more than 2,500 Ramsar wetlands around the world, only six — including the Mungyeong wetland — have formed in doline terrain.

People have benefited from the wetland. In the mountainous inland areas of North Gyeongsang Province, where water is scarce, the wetland serves as an oasis.

Local residents once turned the basin into terraced rice paddies and cultivated rice there. It is the only known case in Korea of rice cultivation in a limestone doline landscape. Some of the rice paddies are still preserved in the wetland today.

Rice paddies preserved within the wetland / Korea Times photo by Lee Han-ho

When visiting by car, navigation apps should be set to “Mungyeong Doline Wetland Parking Lot,” rather than simply “Mungyeong Doline Wetland.”

The road leading directly to the wetland is an unpaved road reserved for management vehicles. Visitors should park at the designated lot and take a free electric cart to the wetland.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

位于庆尚北道闻庆郡的奉天寺，每年秋季都会被异常繁茂的紫色紫菀花覆盖。这片花田最初是12年前住持种下的七株紫菀，如今已扩展至23100平方米。当地居民会协助维护这片花园，花期将持续到10月18日。附近的闻庆洼地湿地栖息着932种动植物，并于2024年2月被列入《拉姆萨尔湿地名录》，成为韩国第25个《拉姆萨尔湿地名录》。

经过三年的耕作，紫菀田的面积从约 1000 平方米扩大到一年后的约 3300 平方米。

闻庆洼地湿地形成于海拔 300 米的石灰岩洼地中，由于红壤粘土封闭了基岩裂缝，因此常年蓄水。

该湿地占地 494,434 平方米，栖息着八种濒危物种，包括欧亚水獭、黄喉貂、豹猫和中华雀鹰。

奉天寺花园内设有 13 个指定观景点，包括佐仙台和奉天丸。

前往湿地的游客应将车停在闻庆洞湿地停车场，并使用免费的电动车，因为直接通往湿地的道路仅限管理车辆通行。

发布于2026年10月11日凌晨12:05（韩国标准时间）

在庆尚北道闻庆郡奉天寺，佛像周围盛开着紫菀花。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

庆尚北道闻庆县——沿着乡间小路，每走一步，都能看到一朵淡紫色的花朵从薄雾中探出头来。任何来访者很快就会发现自己置身于成千上万朵鲜花的海洋之中。

繁花如波浪般沿着林木葱郁的山坡蜿蜒而下，不时露出佛像或挺拔的松树。这真是一幅如梦似幻、宛若仙境的景象。

位于庆尚北道闻庆郡月房山半山腰的奉天寺是一座小型佛教寺庙，每年秋季都会被紫色的紫菀花覆盖。每年景色都很壮观，但今年的花量尤其繁盛。

在庆尚北道闻庆郡奉天寺，盛开的紫菀花和波斯菊构成了一幅壮丽的景象。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

七朵紫菀花盛开，形成一片花海。

这些花卉覆盖了 23100 平方米的面积，但最初只有七朵紫菀花。

12年前，当住持初来寺庙时，周围的山坡一片荒芜，长满了葛藤，只有当地居民零星地开垦了几小块菜地。

为了寻找一种能在岩石嶙峋、杂草丛生的山坡上茁壮生长的野花，这位僧人选择了紫菀。经过三年的精心栽种和照料，花田面积扩大到约1000平方米。一年后，花田面积增长了三倍多，达到约3300平方米，摄影师们开始前来拍摄这独特的景象。

一位游客漫步在奉天寺的紫菀花田中。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

2021年首次举办了紫菀节。方丈解释说：“摄影师们从很远的地方赶来，因为他们听说了这件事，而当地人甚至都不知道有这片花田，所以我们决定举办一个节日。”

首届花节的游客数量远超预期，给管理带来了诸多困难。“厕所不够用，来了很多车，通往村庄的道路完全堵塞了，”方丈说。“我意识到我们根本无法应对，甚至考虑过取消花节和花田活动。”

奉天寺内，紫菀花和波斯菊竞相绽放。韩国时报 李汉浩摄

从三月份开始，当地居民就开始照料这些花卉。“在我们开始耕种这片田地大约五年后，花卉数量增多，土壤也变得贫瘠，因此有很多工作要做，包括添加肥沃的土壤和防治病虫害，”方丈说道。

奉天寺工作人员拍摄盛开的紫菀花。韩国时报 李汉浩摄

由于山上水源匮乏，村民们挖了一口井来给田地供水。维护花园需要大量劳动力，因此节日门票收入的大部分都用于支付工人的工资。

七种野花实际上已经发展成为一个景点，为村庄的运营提供了支持。

在奉天寺的紫菀花田后方，可以看到松树。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

一片由自然塑造的田野

多年的悉心照料终于有了回报。

过去四年里，人们还在紫菀丛中种植了白色和紫色的波斯菊，它们也长势喜人。当初的想法是，如果紫菀当年长势不佳，波斯菊可以弥补。然而，今年两者都开得格外繁盛。

在奉天寺的神社后方，可以看到闻庆县的部分地区。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

这种和谐正是奉天寺花田的独特之处。虽然也有规模更大、管理更规范的花田，但很难找到像这里一样，鲜花、岩石、佛寺、佛像和松树和谐共存的花田。

这或许决定了一个地方是仅仅风景优美，还是宛如另一个世界。

奉天寺的花田顺着山坡自然延伸。韩国时报 李汉浩 摄

花丛中隐藏的岩石也是一大亮点。它们原本被藤蔓和杂草掩盖，但方丈在照料紫菀花田时逐渐将它们发现了出来。

其中包括“Jwaseondae”，一块可以支撑人们背部，使其保持冥想姿势的岩石；以及“Bongcheonmaru”，一块可以提供最佳视野的岩石。

从“奉天台”可以远眺奉天寺，这是一块可以俯瞰整个地区的岩石，景色绝佳。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

方丈还为每个景点赋予了不同的主题和意义，并将它们统称为“奉天寺紫苑十三景”。每个观景点都是他亲自挑选的。

从寺庙的视线一直延伸到哈加山，呈现出令人心旷神怡的全景。

从寺庙可以眺望洛东江、内城川和衿川三河交汇处一带，即所谓的“三江”。自古以来，这里就被视为战略要地，曾发生过许多战役。

《三国遗事》记载，新罗王国的金裕信将军曾在此地击败了苏定芳率领的唐朝军队。

奉天寺紫苑节将持续至10月18日。门票包含梅子茶和橡子冻，后者是当地特产。

奉天寺当地居民制作的橡子冻是当地著名的节日美食，会供应给参加节日的游客。韩国时报 李汉浩 摄

这种果冻是寺庙里用传统方法手工制作的。它的质地柔滑，入口即化，带有浓郁而略带苦涩的橡子风味。

它不单独出售，所以即使只是为了品尝这种果冻，也值得去奉天寺一趟。

这是庆尚北道闻庆郡闻庆洼地湿地的鸟瞰图。（韩国时报 李汉浩 摄）

山中绿洲：闻庆洼地湿地

附近的古峰山上还有另一处不寻常的景观：闻庆洼地湿地。

这片湿地位于山脊上。湿地通常位于低洼地区，但这片湿地却位于海拔300米的高山深处。

闻庆洞湿地裸露的石灰岩区域 / 韩国时报 李汉浩摄

当雨水积聚在被称为落水洞的碟状洼地中时，湿地就形成了。落水洞是由于该地区的石灰岩基岩溶解下沉而形成的。

在江原道旌善郡民东山附近也能找到落水洞地貌，但大多数会随季节干涸。闻庆落水洞则尤为特殊，因为它常年蓄水，并维持着一个面积达494,434平方米的湿地生态系统。

石灰岩地区通常地面裂缝众多，便于排水而非积水。然而，在古尔邦山，细粘土经过数万年的积累，形成了地表。

这种被称为红土的红色黏土填满了地面的裂缝，形成了一层天然的防水层。因此，湿地得以形成。

闻庆洞湿地四周环绕着草原和森林，是一处生物多样性极其丰富的宝库。这里栖息着932种动植物，其中包括8种濒危物种，它们在这个小型生态系统中构成了一条完整的食物链。这些濒危物种包括一级濒危动物欧亚水獭，以及黄喉貂、豹猫和中华雀鹰。

湿地及周边森林 / 韩国时报 李汉浩摄

该湿地于 2017 年被指定为国家保护区，并于 2024 年 2 月成为韩国第 25 个拉姆萨尔湿地。在全世界 2500 多个拉姆萨尔湿地中，只有 6 个——包括闻庆湿地——形成于洼地地形中。

人们从这片湿地中受益匪浅。在水资源匮乏的庆尚北道山区内陆地区，这片湿地犹如一片绿洲。

当地居民曾将这片洼地改造成梯田，并在那里种植水稻。这是韩国已知的唯一在石灰岩洼地景观中种植水稻的案例。如今，部分稻田仍然保留在湿地中。

湿地内保留的稻田 / 韩国时报 李汉浩摄

驾车前往时，导航应用程序应设置为“闻庆洼地湿地停车场”，而不是简单的“闻庆洼地湿地”。

通往湿地的道路是一条未铺设路面的道路，仅供管理车辆使用。游客应将车辆停放在指定停车场，然后乘坐免费电动车前往湿地。

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。