The Charm of Hamwolru: A Place to Wait for the Moon in Ulsan
In the heart of Ulsan, there is a pavilion called Hamwolru, where one can wait for the moon.
As you ascend the gentle slopes of the mountain in Seongan-dong, Jung-gu, Ulsan, Hamwolru reveals itself at the end of the forest path.
The name Hamwolru means "a pavilion that embraces the moon." The mountain on which the pavilion stands is also named Hamwolsan, a mountain that cradles the moon. The mountain holds the moon, and the pavilion once again embraces that moon. Just by its name, one can infer that this place has had a deep connection with the moon for a long time.
Although I have visited Ulsan many times, this is my first visit to Hamwolru. What is this feeling of anticipation?
In spring, cherry blossoms bloom; in summer, lush greenery flourishes; and in autumn, the oak leaves turn vibrant colors, changing the path's expression. Hamwolsan is like a small island of ecology within the city, filled with different flora and fauna throughout the seasons.
The path leading to Hamwolru itself is designed as a walking trail. After passing the entrance sign, a quiet uphill path of concrete continues through the pine forest, with green tunnels formed by pine, oak, and cherry trees on either side.
At every fork in the path, wooden signposts indicate directions to the surrounding trails and nearby temples.
At the foot of Hamwolsan lies Baekyangsa, a thousand-year-old temple founded in 932 during the reign of King Gyeongsun of Silla, and the path to Moeunsa is not far away.
While the journey is to see a single pavilion, it is also a mountain path layered with a thousand years of history.
The forest path leading here is surprisingly dense, making it a place where various creatures coexist.
Just a few steps into the city, the sounds of birds fill the air, and the leaves of acacia and wild raspberry trees glisten with rainwater along the roadside. Next to the pavilion, a bamboo grove rustles in the wind, and a magpie sits on the power lines of the deck observatory, overlooking the city.
Hamwolru is a two-story pavilion built in traditional style in May 2015. Granite pillars support the structure, topped with red columns, decorative paint, and a tiled roof.
As you ascend the stairs to Hamwolru, removing your shoes, the open floor allows for a panoramic view. The ceiling is adorned with painted phoenixes, dragons, and cranes, revealing another sky when you look up.
Standing on the pavilion floor, you can see the city of Ulsan at a glance. Beyond the forest of apartments, mountain ranges stretch out, and on clear evenings, the night view of the Taehwa River and Ulsan Bridge comes into sight.
Here, you truly realize that Ulsan, often remembered solely as an industrial city, is actually a city that embraces rivers, mountains, and the moon.
Surrounding the pavilion are traces of people's hearts. A wishing wall where papers with wishes are hung, heart-shaped sculptures, and crescent moon-themed photo zones are scattered throughout the grassy area.
If the old pavilion was a gathering place for poets and scholars, today's pavilion serves as a spot for lovers and families. Though the visitors may have changed, the desire to ascend and wish upon the moon remains largely unchanged from a thousand years ago.
It is said that Hamwolru is most beautiful at sunset. While the pavilion overlooks the city during the day, at night, it becomes a place to meet the moon.
If you visit around the full moon, you can witness the scene of the moon hanging at the edge of the pavilion's eaves. The mountain cradles the moon, the pavilion holds the moon, and people gaze at it.
This is a place where the effort of walking up the forest path is rewarded with a single scene. How about meeting the moon at Ulsan's Hamwolru?
Source :https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224316198751
No comments yet.
