Bonghwangdae (Chuncheon)

In the lakeside city of Chuncheon, there are many paths perfect for leisurely bike rides or walks along artificial reservoirs, surrounded by nature. Among the walking trails named 'Bomnae-gil' after Chuncheon's pure Korean name 'Bomnae', you can find Bonghwangdae on Bomnae-gil Course 4 (Uiamho Nadeul-gil). Walking along Uiamho Lake from the Seomyeon Waterfront Park, passing Soyang 2 Bridge, Gongjicheon, and KT&G Sangsang Madang (Children's Center), you will see a low peak rising by the riverbank—that is Bonghwangdae. It is also called Jamdubong because it extends from Chuncheon's Namsan, Hyangnobong, and resembles a silkworm head entering the water. Bonghwangdae appears in a poem left by Song Gwang-yeon (1638–1695), a Joseon-era literary figure who served as Chuncheon's magistrate. Although the peak is only 126m above sea level and not very high, from the summit, Uiamho Lake and Jungdo Island unfold before your eyes like a landscape painting. It was the first place to greet visitors arriving in Chuncheon by boat from Sinnyeon Naru, and it has been introduced as a scenic spot of Chuncheon in various documents compiled during the Joseon Dynasty. Now obscured by tall buildings and appearing modest, this peak still holds traditional narratives, making it worth reflecting on its significance when encountered on a walking path.