Hiking Cheonjusan Mountain during Azalea Season •

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Hiking Cheonjusan Mountain in Changwon was one of my favourite things to do during spring in Korea. It’s located in the south of the country next to the naval town of Jinhae and is a favourite hiking destination for one specific reason.

Each year for 2-3 weeks during spring, the entire mountain is covered in bright pink and purple azaleas! They don’t last long so if you want to see this natural floral phenomenon, you should plan accordingly.

If you’re not familiar with azaleas, they are a specific type of flower that blooms once a year. They are a shrub that is part of the genus Rhododendron and regularly brings in crowds who want to see the bright-coloured flowers. They’re the perfect addition to an already exciting trail and are one that should be experienced by all outdoor enthusiasts.

If you want to experience different hikes that also showcase these pretty flowers in full bloom, why not try visiting Goryeosan Mountain during the spring season too? It’s another one of Korea’s favourite mountains that turns purple during the azalea season!

Country:	South Korea (Republic of Korea)
Currency:	South Korean Won / KRW
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Wooden steps that go up the hiking trail — Some wooden stairs leading up the trail

A sign along the trail of Cheonjusan Mountain — A sign of the hiking trails that lead up the mountain

Cheonjusan Hike Stats

Height of the peak:

638.8m

Time to complete:

2 hours to the peak / 4 hours return

The Cheonjusan Mountain hike is relatively short compared to most hikes in Busan I’ve completed. It’s easy for most people’s abilities as it is a well-maintained trail that is clearly marked and isn’t a high elevation. There are a few different trails to choose from on the mountain but only one of them reaches the azalea field.

Luckily for you, there are multiple places to stop and admire the stunning views as this trail has numerous observation decks. There are 4 – 5 lookout points for you to take advantage of, all giving you a slightly different sight over Changwon, Jinhae and the surrounding mountains.

A signpost along the trail — A signpost showing directions of the trail

Spending some time in my favourite Korean city, Busan? Check out these other hikes:

A path along the tall azalea shrub forest on Cheonjusan Mountain — A path through the tall azalea shrubs

How to get to Cheonjusan Mountain

Location: Gyeongnam Uichang-gu, Changwon-si Dongjeong-dong 917

Car

The hike is located northwest of Changwon. It is best reached by car and there is a public car park available for use. It does fill up early in the spring and summer seasons so arrive early to guarantee a space.

If you don’t have access to your own vehicle, you can rent a car here.

Make sure to have your international driving permit from your home country with you, otherwise, you won’t be able to rent.

Public Transport

From Busan, you can reach the Cheonjusan Mountain hike by catching the bus from Dongnae Intercity Bus Station. This will take 47 minutes and you will need to get off at the Masan Intercity Bus Terminal.

Get on either the bus 20, 27, 24, 32 or 21 at the 합성동 stop. Ride the bus for roughly 20 minutes (13 stops) and get off at the Cheonjuam bus stop. You will then only have to walk for 4 minutes before reaching your destination.

If you plan on using public transport, don’t forget to take and top up your T Money card!

What to Expect on the Cheonjusan Hike

The first half of the hike

You’ll notice you’re heading up a steep hill from the main road before you officially reach the trail. You’ll reach the trailhead which is on the edge of a forest and the path will flatten out with regard to incline.

The path through the first section of the forest will be easy to follow as it has ropes and a small fence to keep you on the right track. The trail has a lot of rocky terrains mixed in with long winding stairs built into the hillside. Some sections are significantly steeper than others and you’ll notice that much of the trail has stairs.

You’ll be inside the forest for just under one hour until you reach a clearing. This clearing has multiple paths leading away from a large sign located in the centre. The sign shows the direction you would need to take to reach the azalea fields and also shows you the route of each other trail.

You’ll take the left path from the sign which takes you back into the forest and up a gradual incline. Within 15 minutes you’ll start to see some purple petals poking through the bushes (assuming you’re hiking Cheonjusan Mountain during the azalea season).

During the rest of the year, you will just see green where the azalea plants are.

The view of Changwon from Cheonjusan Mountain — Some old azalea flowers with a view of Changwon in the background

The azalea and the second half of the hike

As you progress along the trail you’ll see more and more azalea flowers in a bright pink-purple hue. They cover the entire side of the mountain which is an unusual, but beautiful sight to see.

As you make your way through the final stretch of forest you’ll get to the first great view of the hike. You’ll be able to see across much of Changwon, and Jinhae and even see as far as the ocean on a clear day. If you look in the northern direction you’ll see many more mountains that Korea is covered in.

As you walk through the first azalea field you’ll get to see a few observation decks that give you different views across the valley. You’ll find that each deck takes you up some steps to the next level and you will be constantly surrounded by the pink shrubs.

You’ll keep climbing up through the levels until you reach a large helicopter pad. Many people use this as a rest stop before heading up the final few feet to the peak.

At the peak, there is a summit rock but there are often long lines to get a photo with it.

Cheonjusan view of Changwon and the mountains — Azaleas on the mountain

When to visit?

Since this hike is relatively easy, it can be completed at any time of year. Weatherwise, I would say that spring or autumn are the two best seasons as it is neither too hot nor too cold.

The best season to visit overall (in my humble opinion) is mid-spring when the azalea flowers are in full bloom.

It’s one of the busiest periods of the year when locals flock to enjoy this short, but beautiful, phenomenon.

The azalea flowers on the Cheonjusan trail tend to last just 2 – 3 weeks in late April before returning back to their standard green hue for the rest of the year.

If you decide to travel between July and August (the summer rainy season), you will likely be faced with extremely hot and humid weather and potential downpours. These are not the ideal hiking conditions.

Why not check out these other spring favourites?

Bright and fresh azaleas with mountain views from just below the peak of Cheonjusan

Want to hike throughout Korea? Check out my favourite hikes!

Some older azaleas coming to the end of their springtime life on Cheonjusan mountain — Some older azaleas coming to the end of their springtime life on the mountain

Final thoughts on hiking Cheonjusan for the azaleas

As I previously mentioned, this is one of my favourite hikes to enjoy during the Korean spring season. It’s a short hike for high reward and even if you don’t happen to make it for the azaleas, this hike still has really rewarding views during the other 3 seasons.

Have you hiked Cheonjusan Mountain? How did you like it?

Want to spend an extended time in Korea? Check out how to get a working holiday visa. Plus, after arrival let me show you how to get set up as an expat.

Day Hike Essentials	Why?
Appropriate footwear & socks	Less likely to injure yourself & more comfortable
Portable battery pack & wire	To charge your electronic devices
Water (0.5L per hour roughly)	To keep yourself hydrated throughout the hike
Food	Preferably lightweight but healthy snacks
Trail Directions	Phone/GPS device, compass or paper map
Mobile OR satellite phone	Helpful in emergencies to call for help
Clothing layers	To put on or remove based on changes in weather
Hat	To prevent sunstroke or keep warm
Sunglasses	To see better without squinting all day
First aid kit	To solve minor injuries along the way
Multi-tool	Multiple uses for multiple problems
Illumination	Torch or phone light to navigate in the dark