[Buyeo] - Goransa Temple (고란사) and Baengmagang River Tour (백마강 유람선)

A stone's throw away from Nakwaam Rock, we walked down the hill for about 300m to Goransa Temple. 

This small tranquil temple there is hidden by the trees.

But it's winter and most of the trees still bald, so it's easy to spot it.

 Judging from the above photo, the view must be really awesome in Autumn

where you can truly enjoy the nature beauty and scent of Baekje around Nakhwaam cliffs.

Goransa Temple (고란사) is assumed the temple was built

toward the end of the Baekje Kingdom. It's designated as
Chungnam Cultural Properties No. 98.

It's built to comfort the souls of court ladies who devoted their lives 

to the country and throwing themselves down from limestone Nakhwaam Rock.

 I saw this painting at the back of the temple's wall...

 Although there is no historical record of the temple, it has been said

it was used as a resting spot for kings of the Baekje Kingdom.

It was restored in 1797 (21st year of the reign of King Jeongjo) 

after being relocated from Sunggaksa Temple in Eunsan.

Just behind the temple, there's a well named Goranjeong (고란정).

 It's named Goranjeong because Gorancho (Crypsinus hastatus) 

growing between the rocks above the well.

The kings of Baekje used to drink water from Goranjeong at least once a day. 

The servants who brought the water floated the leaves of Gorancho plant as the sign that it came from that well. Oh!!! maybe that's explained why there's no Crypsinus there anymore or perhaps this fern leaves not growing in cold weather...

"Drink a cup and you will be three years younger!"

After heard or saw the above statement from the info board, 

everyone started to queue for a gulp of the spring water.

Of course, who don't want to be younger?!

Statue and Stone pagoda.

 Souvenir shop.

  Goransa Ferry is located at the foot of Goransa Temple.

Visitors can take the ferry to cruise Baengmagang River.

There are 3 courses of Ferry tour:

1) Gudeurae - Goransa Temple round-trip approx. 20min 

2) Goransa Temple - Subukjeong Pavilion round-trip approx. 25min 

3) Gudeurae - Baengmagang River Area round-trip approx. 40min.

We didn't need to pay the ticket as it's included in the Buyeo City Tour. For more information on the fares, please check this link. 

Start our ride from Goransa Ferry dock (고란사유람선).

Not so sure whether this is normal ferry or Hwangpo traditional sailboat
which one of the methods used for Pyeongchang Olympics Torch relay.  

 Anyway, I love this wooden ferry as it's decorated with 

traditional Korean style and hanok rooftop.

I think the above one is sailboat as it has the sailing mast.

Baengmagang (백마강 = White Horse River).

Numerous legends associate the ancient kingdom of Baekje with the Baengma. 

The Baengma River is the subject of a well-known song of the sin minyo tradition, 

Kkumkkuneun Baengma-gang (꿈꾸는 백마강 = Dreaming Baengma-gang).

  Baengmagang is part of Geumgang (금강), which is the third longest 

river in Korea after Hangang River and Nakdonggang River. 

Geumgang River (금강; 金剛) is known as "Silk River" not only 

served as Baekje Dynasty's main source of water. 

It also playing important roles for transportation and also allowed 

Baekje's culture to flow to China and Japan in ancient times.

 From the ferry, Busosan it extremely charming, especially the colorful maple leaves.

'Buso' in Baekje language means 'pine tree'.
Maybe the Busosan Fortress is mostly covered by green pine needles.

 The red wording of 'Nakhwaam' inscribed on the rock near to Goransa temple.
It's written by U-Am (우암) scholar of the Joseon Dynasty.

 

Someone from our tour bought this cracker, which looks like traditional
Korean scorched rice Nurungji (누룽지) in K-drama Hwarang (화랑).

Thank you for sharing this comfort snack to everyone in the ferry. 

It made this trip a memorable as it's our first time eating this Nurungji :)

 Although it's just a short 10 minutes ride, but really worth it as you can
see splendid views of Busosan and smooth flowing Baengma River

This girl also busy helping me to snap close-up photos

of my son and my hubby.

Cute red apple cheeks~!^^

 Reaching another dock...

 Car park with lots of cars, buses and Buyeo flags.

That ended our Baekje Busosan Fortress walk.

Although we covered less than 50% of the Fortress, which was the back garden of the palace,  but I believed those are the main attractions that you must not miss out.

Gudeurae Dock (구드래 나루터).

Instead of taking the ferry back to the fortress, our bus picked us up from the dock. We have one hour lunch break befor touring to Jeongnimsa and Neungsan-ri Ancient Tombs.