Bonghwasan (North Jeolla)

About

Bonghwasan (Hanja, lit. 'Beacon Fire Mountain') is a mountain located in Jeollabuk-do, South Korea. It lies at the midpoint of the southern section of the Baekdudaegan mountain range, between Deogyusan and Jirisan. The mountain straddles the borders of Beonam-myeon in Jangsu County, Ayeong-myeon in Namwon City, and Baekjeon-myeon in Hamyang County, Gyeongsangnam-do. It was named after the historic beacon towers on its summit, which likely date back to the Unified Silla period, and were used for long-distance military communication. Geographically, Bonghwasan forms a natural ridge dividing multiple administrative regions and is bordered by several notable mountain ranges. Its slopes are rich in wildflowers and mountain vegetation. The mountain is renowned for its vibrant azalea blooms each spring, celebrated annually in the Bonghwasan Azalea Festival, which features traditional rituals, scenic flower tunnels, and historical sites near the mountain dating back to Korea's Three Kingdoms period. Bonghwasan, meaning "Beacon Fire Mountain" is named after the historical beacon towers that once stood on its summit and were used to send signal fires across long distances. In the past, the mountain was sometimes mistaken for nearby Jangansan and referred to as “Jangansan of Jangsu-gun.” However, the discovery of ancient signal fire remains led to the mountain being formally recognized as Bonghwasan. Bonghwasan is a mountain that stretches along a ridge marking the border between several regions in southern Korea. It lies between Nodan-ri and Donghwa-ri in Beonam-myeon, Jangsu County (Jeollabuk-do), forms the northern edge of Ayeong-myeon in Namwon City, and extends into Baekjeon-myeon in Hamyang County, Gyeongsangnam-do. To the north, Bonghwasan is bordered by the Wolgyeongsan and Baekunsan mountain ranges, and separated from Jangsu-eup by the small Ssarijae Pass, where the mountain's lower peak marks a regional border. To the south lie the Maebong and Mosan ranges. The mountain is notable for the remains of ancient beacon towers, used to send signal fires across long distances. It was reported that these towers likely date back to

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.