Travel to Mt. Myohyang with Koryo Tours |
Issac on the bus to Mt. Myohyang |
It's about a 2 hour drive from Pyongyang to Mt. Myohyang |
North Korean village north of Pyongyang |
Canal and rice paddies, North Korea |
North Korean landscape with a tree-lined road |
Hills along the Chongchon River, North Korea |
Factory town with North Koreans enjoying the Chongchon River on a hot day |
As we get farther north of Pyongyang, the landscape gets more mountainous |
Railroad passing through a North Korean town on the opposite bank of the Chongchon River |
Railroad bridge over the Chongchon River at Kujang, DPRK |
Green hills beyond the sandy banks of the Chongchon River, North Korea |
Terraced hillside above the Chongchon River, North Korea |
A small dam on the Chongchon River which diverts water through a tunnel to a hydroelectric plant |
Chongchon River as we near the Mount Myohynag |
Thickly forested hills at Sonwang-bong at the entrance to the Myohyangsan Nature Reserve, DPRK |
Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea |
Revolving Restaurant on top of the Hyangsan Hotel |
Hyangsan Hotel, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Lobby of the Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea |
Glass ceiling of the Hyangsan Hotel lobby |
Lobby, Hyangsan Hotel |
Lobby, Hyangsan Hotel |
Fountain in the lobby of the Hyangsan Hotel |
Guide of Mt. Myohyang "Mysterious Fragrant Mountain" Nature Reserve |
History Museum in Mt. Myohyang, a preserved Buddhist temple |
Waterfalls of Mt. Myohyang |
Waterfalls of Mt. Myohyang |
Paintings of the Mt. Myohyang waterfalls in the Hyangsan Hotel |
Painting of a Mt. Myohyang waterfall, Hyangsan Hotel |
Services available at the Hyangsan Hotel |
靈山殿 - Ryongsan Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Hyangsan Hotel, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea |
View to the west from the Hyangsan Hotel |
Panoramic view from the Hyangsan Hotel |
Rear wing of the Hyangsan Hotel nestled against the forested hillside |
The guide, Kim Song Sim, checking us in to the Hyangsan Hotel |
Hyangsan Hotel, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Hyangsan Hotel, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Panoramic view of the Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea |
River in front of the Hyangsan Hotel |
View from the Hyangsan Hotel bridge |
Hyangsan Hotel, Mt. Myohyang Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Hyangsan Hotel, Mt. Myohyang Nature Reserve, North Korea |
Hyangsan Hotel, North Korea |
Ashtray in the shape of a bear, Hyangsan Hotel |
Mosaic map of the area around Pohyonsa Temple, founded 1024 (Goryeo Dynasty) |
Today, Pohyonsa is maintained as a historical museum (National Treasure #40) |
Haet'al, the middle gate of Pohyon Temple |
Haet'al Gate 解脫門 Pohyon Temple |
Painted ceiling, Haet'al Gate, Pohyon Temple |
보현사 Pohyŏnsa (Bohyeonsa) |
Painted ceiling, Haet'al Gate, Pohyon Temple |
Painted ceiling, Haet'al Gate, Pohyon Temple |
Figure riding a haetae in the Haet'al Gate, Pohyon Temple |
Buddhist figure riding an elephant in the Haet'al Gate, Pohyon Temple |
Chonwang Gate, the inner gate to Pohyon Temple housing the four heavenly kings |
Ch'ŏnwang, the inner gate of Pohyon Temple |
天王門 Ch'ŏnwang "Heaveny Kings" Gate, Pohyŏnsa |
Painted dragon, Chonwang Gate, Pohyon Temple |
Ornate carved beams, Pohyon Temple |
Jeungjang-cheonwang, Heavenly King of the South |
Gwangmok-cheonwang, Heavenly King of the West |
Damun-cheonwang, Heavenly King of the North |
Jiguk-cheonwang, Heavenly King of the East |
Two of the Sacheonwang (사천왕) "Four heavenly kings" |
Two of the Sacheonwang (사천왕) "Four heavenly kings" |
Nine-story Tabo Pagoda erected in 1044, Pohyonsa |
Tabo Pagoda (AD 1044) National Treasure #7 |
Manse Pavilion, reconstructed in 1979 |
The Manse Pavilion was destroyed by the U.S. Imperialist Aggressors in 1951 |
The Manse Pavilion was reconstructed in concrete but is built to resemble the original painted wood construction |
The main hall of Pohyon Temple was originally built in 1765 |
Taeung Hall was reconstructed in 1976 after destruction during the Korean War |
Monk waiting at the door of the Taeung Hall |
Octagonal 13-story Sokka Pagoda, Pohyon Temple |
The 8.58m Sokka Pagoda was erected in the 14th Century |
Sokka Pagoda, National Treasure #144 |
Wooden panel on Taeung Hall |
Detail of a wooden panel of Taeung Hall |
大雄殿 Taeung Hall |
Part of the Manse Pavilion seen from Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Tile roof of the Manse Pavilion, Pohyon Temple |
Manse Pavilion with the 13-story Sokka Pagoda, Pohyon Temple |
Korean Buddhist monk guiding us through Taeung Hall |
Korean Buddhist Monk in the DPRK, Pohyon Temple |
Buddhas lined up in Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Buddha, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
보현사 |
Buddha, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Buddha, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Buddha, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Buddha, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Painting, Teaeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Roof beams of Taeung Hall, faithfully reconstructed in 1976 after the 1765 original |
Beam carved as a dragon head, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Ceiling and beams of Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Beam carved as a dragon head, Taeung Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Tree covered mountains of the Myohyangan Nature Reserve |
Grounds of Pohyon Temple |
Manicured garden of Pohyon Temple, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve |
Late afternoon sun behind the Sokka Pagoda |
Tiled roof of the adjacent Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
A small pavilion to the left of the Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Kwanum is the Korean name for Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara |
Kwanum Hall, built in 1449, National Treasure #57 |
Kwanum Hall, the oldest surviving building at Pohyongsa |
Beam carved in the shape of a dragon, Kwanum Hall |
Painting of a guardian, Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Bodhisattva petting the mythological haetae, a Korean fire-eating dog which resembles a lion |
Guardian figure, Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Kwanum (Guanyin), Pohyon Temple |
觀音殿 - Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Landscape painting, Kwanum Hall |
Dragons and guardians, Kwanum Hall |
Roof of the Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
보현사 Kwanum Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Ryongsan Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Carved roof beams, Ryongsan Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Buddhas, Ryongsan Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Ryongsan Hall, Pohyon Temple |
Gate to the Suchung Shrine (1794) Pohyon Temple |
The Suchung Shrine honors the monk Sŏsan who helped repel the Japanese invasion of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th C. |
Suchang Shrine, 1794, 보현사 |
酬忠祠 - Suchung Shrine |
One of the three Great Patriotic Monks |
Another of the three Great Patriotic Monks |
Monument pavilion with a stele recording Sŏsan's deeds |
The stele of the Suchung Shrine was erected in 1796 |
Roof carving detail, Suchung Shrine stele pavilion |
Stele recording the deeds of the monk Sŏsan |
Archives of Buddhist Scriptures, a post-war building is made of concrete and other fireproof materials |
Archive of Buddhist Scriptures, a post-Korean War library, Pohyong Temple |
The Archive of Buddhist Scriptures houses 80,000 wooden printing blocks |
The wooden blocks are a copy of the Tripitaka Koreana |
Of course, the building of the archives is accredited to the Great Leader Kim Il Sung |
Archive of Buddhist Scripture, Pohyon Temple |
Archive of Buddhist Scripture, Pohyon Temple |
Archive of Buddhist Scripture, Pohyon Temple |
Giftshop of Pohyon Temple |
Giftshop of Pohyon Temple |
Bell pavilion (Chonggak) of Pohyonsa Temple |
Bronze bellof Pohyon Temple |
Our local guide bids us farewell |
A colorful bug, Myohyangsan Nature Reserve |
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Forest of Mount Myohyang Nature Reserve |
Sangwon Hermitage trailhead |
Sangwon Hermitage Trail, the guide's 2nd choice, but the road to her first choice was blocked |
Stupas of the monk's cemetary to the west of Pohyon Temple |
The stupas date from the late Koryo Dynasty (13-14th C.) |
Trail marker for Kumgang Galls, Pulyong Hermitage, Sangwon Hermitage and Popwang Peak |
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On the Sangwon Hermitage trail in the fading light |
Stream along the Sangwon Hermitage trail |
Carved steps leading under a boulder |
...the guide sent us back before we reached the end...too late |
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Morning at the Hyangsan Hotel |
Lobby of the Hyangsan Hotel |
Lobby of the Hyangsan Hotel |
On the bus again |
North Korean visitors to the Myohyang Nature Reserve |
North Korean visitors to the Myohyang Nature Reserve |
International Friendship Exhibitional Hall housing the gifts received by Kim Il Sung |
This is only a small portion of the complex - most of the galleries are tunneled deep into the mountain |
Guide at the International Friendship Exhibition Hall |
Every North Korean wears a Kim Il Sung badge |
Doorway to the International Friendship Exhibition |
North Korean guard with a silver plated AK-47 |
Door detail, International Friendship Exhibition |
Opening the door to the International Friendship Exhibition |
Image from the official video of our DPRK trip |
International Friendship Exhibition interior shot from our official video |
International Friendship Exhibition interior shot from our official video |
International Friendship Exhibition interior shot from our official video |
International Friendship Exhibition interior shot from our official video |
International Friendship Exhibition |
International Friendship Exhibition |
View of the green mountains of Myohyangsan Nature Reserve |
Balcony of the International Friendship Exhibition |
Balcony of the International Friendship Exhibition |
Concrete ceiling made to look like traditional wooden archtiecture |
International Friendship Exhibition, built to look like traditional wooden archtiecture |
Myohyangsan Nature Reserve |
Another building at the International Friendship Exhibition |
Mount Myohyang Nature Reserve |
A smaller building houses the gifts received by Kim Jong Il |
Like the Kim Il Sung hall, the building is merely the entrance to a complex of chambers carved out of the mountain |
North Korean visitors to the International Friendship Exhibition |
Mount Myohyang School (?) |
Mount Myohyang School (?) |
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Our bus driver |
Driving on the highway back to Pyongyang |
Again, traffic is not much of an issue |
Roadside village with signs about the 150 day economic push |
North Korean railroad |
Green fields on the drive back to Pyongyang |
Rice paddies and corn fields, North Korea |
Agricultural landscape, North Korea |
Fish Farm, North Korea |
Bridges across the Chongchon River at near Anju, DPRK |
Railroad and rice paddies, South Phyongan Province, North Korea |
Green fields of mixed crops, South Phyongan Province, North Korea |
Pedestrian suspension bridge across an irrigation canal, South Phyongan Province, North Korea |
North Korea uses all available acreage for planting to help achieve self sufficiency in agriculture |
Green fields of rice, South Phyongan Province, North Korea |
South Phyongan Province, North Korea |
Nearing Pyongyang |