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Imagine a moonlit garden filled with white lotus flowers. Now hold on to that thought for the 7th Haso Baekryon White Lotus Festival, which will open its lotus garden this weekend at Gimje, Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla province). The 66,000 square meter space will boast thousands of white lotus flowers in full bloom, and was already registered as Asia's largest lotus pond in the Guinness Book of World Records back in 2001. The garden path alone is a one-hour walk, over 4km.
The greenhouse made of glass in the middle of the pond holds various kinds of lotus flower within, including red lotus, prickly water lilies and tropical plants making it a perfect ecological tour. Also, don't miss the boat ride that provides a wonderful view of the flowers along the road. The theme of this year is "Face," to purify the world like the color of white lotus and take time to reflect on one's expression, according to the organizing committee.
Visitors can watch a performance of Korean Buddhist music composed of Buddha worship and songs, as well as other traditional music.
There will be fusion music bands, a welcoming celebration by bands from Gunsan County, a poetry recital and a beggars' dance ("pumba taryeong"). There will also be art and photo displays of white lotus and other wild flowers, as well as Buddhist paintings and sculptures.
Visitors are encouraged to take part in folk games, natural dying of cloths and a tea ceremony.
"Baekryeong tea," another specialty of the area made of green tea and white lotus leaves, is known to be effective for improving g blood circulation and alleviating menstrual pains and insomnia. Other delicacies made of white lotus flower include salted fish, local fried pancakes ("buchimgae"), noodles and liquor (dongdong-ju) that contain leaves, petals or root of the lotus.
The white lotus pond first came to be eight years ago when the Buddhist monks of Chungwoonsa Temple started planting seeds as a new source of profit for the local farmers. Nowadays the place greets from 5,000 to 10,000 visitors from Seoul, Jeonju and other parts of the country each weekend. During last year's festival the place hosted over 70,000 tourists."White lotus flowers will touch the hearts of many who have been stressed by city life," said Venerable Dowon, the head monk of the Chungwoonsa Temple.
The festival will open this coming Saturday (July 5) and will continue for the next six weeks until August 17.
For more information visit website: Baekryon White Lotus Festival (Korean) or Muan County Website (English). By phone, there's 063-543-1248 (Korean only) which for non-Korean speakers should be accessed via the free interpretation service provided by Korea Travel Phone at 1330.
Transportation:
By train: From Seoul Station, take a train headed for Mokpo » Get off at Illo Station » Take Bus no. 800 to Muan in front of Illo Station.
By bus - Gangnam Express Bus Terminal (Subway Line 3, Exit No.1) » Take a bus to Muan (08:30AM - 16:20, twice a day / travel time: 4hrs.) » Get off at Muan Bus Terminal.
This article appeared on www.korea.net
June 18, 2008
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