Was I taking a walk at a park or hiking up a mountain? I guess I did both! I did not expect this park to be located up a hill surrounded by trees. Upon walking up, you will also pass by a temple and see an observation deck. Other sites include an exhibition gallery and a lighthouse. There is plenty to admire at this park.

Taejongdae Park (태종대), is on a cliff that you can climb to the top to observe the sea view and even try some fresh fish by the sea. There are quite a few attractions and sceneries as you look around.

To get to the bottom entrance of the park, it is easiest and fastest to take a taxi or drive there. There is public transportation you can take, but it could take double the time to get to the park. After getting dropped off at the bottom of the slope, we walked up towards the start of the trail. You can be dropped off up here where there is parking as well, but my small tour group decided to get a head start on the hike instead.

When you reach the top where the trails start, you can take the Danubi train. It will stop at the popular landmarks so you do not have to walk. You can admire the scenery uphill while you ride and relax on this train. The final stop goes all the way up to the observation deck. If you are an adventurer and enjoy moving your body, I recommend making your way up by walking. There is an easy-to-spot path to follow. Once you get closer to the ocean and the sand, you must be careful if you decide to climb on the rocks. But for now, choose how you want to start the trail.

The first site we pondered on is a temple called Taejongsa Temple (태종사). You will see another trail that leads to the temple. Be aware of the stairs to get to the temple! Once you see the temple, please be respectful and quiet during the prayers. You are allowed to peek inside. If you wish to sit inside during one of the prayers, remember to take your shoes off.

We continued our hike along the trail we started from. From there, all I could take in was a breath of fresh air and the greens and blues of the surrounding. If I’m not looking at trees, then I’m staring out into the ocean or sky. If my eyes are not on any of those, then I am looking at the brown and grey ground so I don’t trip and fall.

Make sure to wear comfortable walking sneakers as the trail can be rocky and bumpy. Now here is the part where we reached the ocean. There are huge rocks off the cliff that you can climb onto and around. You can grab yourself a quick photoshoot here. Make sure you get a good grip before you make your next step too. Don’t want to be slipping on the rocks and into the water.

Lastly, by the ocean are local Busan fisherwomen serving fresh seafood. You can buy some there to take home (or back to your hotel or guesthouse) or eat it there with the calming view of the ocean.

We circle back to the start of the trail and pass by everything we saw earlier. It seems like the walk is quicker than when we started. It could be because we stopped to take photos and admire the nature around us. The whole hike took about one hour and fifteen minutes. It could be more or less depending on your pace. A morning walk here would be a great start to your day, or even an after-lunch walk would be a nice day activity.

Thank you for reading! Would you take the Danubi train or hike?

Sincerely,
Amy♡

AMY HANG IN BUSAN. Day 3.