Beauty in serenity at Jingwansa, north of Seoul

Just a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of big city Seoul is the tranquil and charming Jingwansa, one of the four major Buddhist temples in Korea. If you are looking for a peaceful day or half a day out in nature, this is the perfect add-on for your next visit to Seoul! 🚌 Access to Jingwansa is straightforward by public transport. Buses in Seoul have electronic stop displays in Korean and English, and if you are coming from Seoul station/Namdaemun area you can take a direct bus that will bring you to the vicinity of the temple in about 40mins. From the bus stop it is another 15 to 20 min walk to the entrance of the temple (uphill but manageable). 🙏 The temple has a main prayer hall and several other smaller structures, of historical note in particular is one near the back garden where the first known instance of the modern Korean flag Taegukgi was unearthed during renovation works, demonstrating the temple's pivotal support for independence during the era of Japanese colonisation. 🌸 There are several striking pink cherry blossom trees around the temple grounds and in general if you visit on a weekday you will have plenty of opportunities for great photos.