10) Daegu, South Korea

Gatbawi Buddha Daegu

Daegu, officially known as Daegu Metropolitan City, is one of the largest cities in South Korea, and it is the capital of Gyeongsangbuk-do province, though it is not legally part of that province. Daegu and its surrounding area provide an admirable variety of leisure, entertainment and sporting amenities within easy reach. Daily half-day or one day tour events including English speaking guides, such as visiting museums, Buddhist temples, kings' tomb, old castle, folk village, zoo, city tour etc., are offered during the Congress. One of the must- see destinations of Daegu is Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu. Traditionally Buddhism was very strong in Daegu, and Confucianism was also popular in Daegu, with a large academy based in the city.

Gatbawi Buddha, the Buddha of Medicine, situated at Gwanbong, the southern peak of Palgongsan mountain. Carved in the 9th century, the statue Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu has become one of the major tourist attractions of Daegu and definitely, it is possibly the hardest to reach. The height of the place, where Gatbawi Buddha is situated, is more than 800 meters and takes almost an hour to climb. "Gatbawi" means "hat rock".

Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu is famous for granting wishes, and it has attracted many visitors to Mt. Palgongsan from other regions of Korea. There is a proverb that Gatbawi helps people make only one wish come true. The original name of Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu is Gwanbong Buddha as it is located at the summit of the Gwanbong peak (850 meters) on Mt. Palgongsan. The name of Gatbawi Buddha is a more famous than Gwanbong Buddha all over the nation as the Buddha has a gat, a Korean hat, on top. 

The hat is a flat 15?-thick stone slab. Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu is also famous for its attractive tracking course. Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu is almost a 4m tall sitting stone Buddha, and Its official name is Gwanbong Seokjoyeoraejwasang (Gwanbong sitting stone Buddha). The stiff lips of his closed mouth and his stout body demonstrate the feeling of impressive mercy. Gatbawi Buddha, Daegu is a representative work of art from the Unified Silla Kingdom, and this statue is designated as the Treasure Number 431.

Daegu National Museum

Daegu National Museum was built to preserve and exhibit the unique cultural heritage of Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do province. It is a neat brick building with two basement floors. There are three exhibit halls, a special exhibit hall, experiment study room, audiovisual studio and library. At the Archeology Gallery you can see relics ranging from the Neolithic Era to the Three Kingdoms Period chronologically. At the Art History Gallery you can see and learn about the Buddhist culture of Gyeongsangbuk-do province. 

Here you can see Buddhist sculptures, Buddha statues and Buddhist crafts. The Goryeo celadon and Buncheong ware are also displayed here. At the Traditional Folk Life Gallery you can learn about the Seonbi culture and the beliefs and rituals of the Yeongnam area, and see traditional Korean houses. You can also enjoy the Outdoor Gallery where a five-storied stone pagoda stands. There are other facilities where visitors can participate in museum activities. 

You can try traditional dyeing, explore the traditional herbs and learn about agricultural plants. Do not miss going here because this is where you can learn about traditional herbs used for medicine, plants and grains. Resting in the natural surroundings at the wildflower and plant walkway or the Ecology Valley can be very relaxing. 

Donghwasa Temple

Donghwasa Temple (동화사) is located on the south side of Mt. Palgongsan Mountain, about 22km northeast of Daegu. It was built by monk Geuk-Dal in the 15th year of the Silla King SoJi’s reign (493). The original name of the temple was Yugasa, but Simjiwangsa rebuilt the temple under King HeungDeok (reign 826~836) and named it Donghwasa. It means even during the winter season, the paulownia tree still blooms, and the present temple was last rebuilt in 1732. 

When you turn the corner, the first thing that catches your eye is the Seolbeopjeon Building. To the left of Seolbeopjeon is Daeungjeon, the main temple, and to the right of the building leads to the Geumgang Stairs. If you turn left in the direction of Daeungjeon you will see Bongseoru, aptly named to signify a Bonghwang (phoenix) with its tail pointed downward. Past Bongseoru are stairs that are typical of the ones leading into Daeungjeon, called "Nugak Stairs". On either side of the stairs are railings in the shape of a dragon, and in the middle of the stairs, there is a round stone marble that resembles a Yeouiju, a ball often associated with dragons. 

Donghwasa’s Daeungjeon is segmented into 3 sections at the front and side, and its natural looking pillars are one of its main attractions. It includes the statues of Seokgamonibul, Amitabul, and Yaksayeoraebul inside. If you come down the stone stairs beside Bongseoru and walk along the cement road for a while, you will come to the huge Seokjoyaksa Yeoraebul. Created as a prayer for reunification, this large Buddha statue is 17m high. The stone tower, stone light, the lion statue, and the lotus flower that decorate the Buddha statue are all very large in size. Behind the statue are also stones arranged in a circular form resembling a beautiful scroll painting. These are world-class size stone artifacts. 

Daegu Duryu Park

Daegu Duryu Park was built near Duryusan and Geumbongsan mountains in 1977. The park is home to Daegu Tower (the tallest observation tower in Korea), Ubang Tower Land, Daegu Culture and Arts Center, and numerous other cultural and leisure facilities. The park is a favorite relaxation spot for many Daegu citizens. 

There are over 133 species of trees and plants in the park, including flowers that bloom along the roadsides throughout the year. In summer, one of the most popular attractions is Osaek Fountain in the cathedral pond. 

Major facilities include soccer and baseball fields, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, tennis courts, an in-line skating rink, a golf course, and a judo center. In addition to sports facilities, there are also a variety of cultural attractions: Duryu Library, Sculpture Hill, 2ㆍ28 Memorial Tower, an outdoor concert hall, Cathedral Pond Osaek Fountain, Daeseongsa Temple, Geumyongsa Temple, and Byeokcheon Falls.