Cherry blossoms are the hallmark of Korea’s spring. Their fleeting beauty draws crowds of admirers, turning many popular blossom spots into bustling, shoulder-to-shoulder scenes.
In fact, aside from cherry blossoms, azaleas are also iconic spring flowers in Korea. With a longer blooming period and better resistance to rain, azaleas are less likely to disappoint visitors. Beyond the azalea seas in Gunpo, the Byeokje Mountain (Bokjiroe) in Bucheon is another nearby azalea hotspot close to Seoul.
Bucheon is located in the western part of Gyeonggi Province and is easily accessible via Seoul’s subway, taking about ninety minutes from downtown Seoul. Every year in mid-April, the Byeokje Mountain in Bucheon hosts an Azalea Festival (Bokjiroe Azalea Festival).
Knowing it’s best to avoid the festival crowds, the girl wisely chose to visit the day after the event : p
From Exit 2 of the Bucheon Sports Complex Station, it’s an eight-minute walk straight ahead to the festival entrance. The weather forecast predicted cloudy skies with rain, but luckily the morning was partly sunny. The beautiful blue sky and cherry blossoms along the way made this eight-minute stroll the perfect appetizer for the trip : D
Byeokje Mountain is close to the Bucheon Sports Complex, which also happens to be the home stadium of the Bucheon FC soccer team. The girl’s knowledge of soccer is limited to the once-every-four-years World Cup, but one thing’s for sure—players must enjoy the stunning surroundings while competing!
As she entered the foot of Byeokje Mountain, vibrant purple-pink azalea bushes stretched out before her eyes—absolutely breathtaking.....
The girl began her slow climb up the stone steps. Perhaps breakfast hadn’t been substantial enough, as the midday sun and four camera lenses started to take their toll...... Fortunately, she soon reached a rest area where the view was like a painting, instantly making all the effort worthwhile.....
Looking back at the Bucheon Sports Complex surrounded by azaleas and cherry blossoms, the scenery was simply gorgeous!
Both the uphill and downhill trails offer views of azalea bushes. But the girl chose to walk down a slope, which indeed provided a wider view—and her four lenses came in handy : D
Even the path back down was incredibly scenic!
Back at the mountain’s base, the girl realized the trail she had just taken was only a small part of Byeokje Mountain.... Feeling peckish, she decided not to climb further and instead used her lenses to capture more shots. Towering cherry blossom trees near the base, together with the azaleas, created a beautifully composed scene.
If cherry blossoms represent purity and gentleness, then azaleas, in the girl’s eyes, embody vibrancy and passion. Together, these contrasting qualities create a perfectly harmonious pairing!
The advantage of having a telephoto lens is how easily it captures lively, interesting moments—haha.....
There were quite a few fellow travelers at the festival that day, and sharing a simple meal in such a beautiful setting was a small but joyful moment of happiness : )
Without the careful preparations of those travelers, and as the skies began to cloud over, the girl—who had already gained plenty—hurried off to grab a bite : )
Friends who enjoyed the girl’s article can also check out her original Blogspot post and other Korea travel photography stories.
http://nuna-ada.blogspot.hk/2015/04/blog-post.html
Transportation:
Take Seoul Subway Line 7 to Bucheon Sports Complex Station, exit at Exit 2, and walk straight for eight minutes to reach the festival venue.