Sinheungsa Temple

Sinheungsa stands just inside the main Sogongwon gate of Seoraksan, which means essentially every visitor to the park walks through it whether they intended to or not - the trails to Ulsanbawi and Biryong Falls both start beyond it. The foundation is traditionally dated to 653, making it possibly the oldest Seon temple in the country, though it burned and was moved more than once. Before the temple gate sits the Tongil Daebul, a seated bronze Buddha about fifteen metres high on a stone plinth, cast in the 1990s; there is a small shrine chamber inside the base. Past it the path crosses a bridge into the compound, with the main hall, a bell pavilion and an old stone pagoda, and the granite spires of outer Seorak standing directly behind - which is what makes the setting rather than the buildings. Beyond, the valley splits toward Ulsanbawi and Biryong. It is busy from mid-morning in autumn.

What you actually see

• The great bronze Buddha - the fifteen-metre seated figure at the gate.
• The temple compound - main hall, bell pavilion and stone pagoda.
• The Seorak backdrop - granite spires directly behind the roofs.
• The trail junction - paths to Ulsanbawi and Biryong beyond.

When to go

May to June and October. Early morning before the day's hikers come through; October weekends are extremely busy from the gate onward.

Honest expectations

The park fee is charged at the gate whether you visit the temple or just pass through. The bronze Buddha is modern. It is a thoroughfare as much as a destination.

Nearby

Ulsanbawi and Biryong Falls trails start here; Sokcho is twenty minutes away.