Myohyang-sanmaek Travel Guide

 
by Willettsworld
 
  •   Things to Do
    by Willettsworld
  • International Friendship Exhibition
      International Friendship Exhibition
    by Willettsworld
  • Pohyon Temple
      Pohyon Temple
    by Willettsworld
  •   Myohyang-sanmaek
    by Adaptor-Plug
  •   Things to Do
    by Willettsworld
 

Explore Myohyang-sanmaek

Things to Do  

Sogok Waterfall

Sogok Waterfall, Myohyang-sanmaek

 DSwede Says:  Your tour through Myohyang will be for the purpose of the North Koreans to show the wonderful tributes to Kim il-Sung in the Friendship Halls.But if you have time to go further up the road, along the river, from the Friendship Halls, you can get to the base of a hiking... 

Pohyon Temple - Ryongsan Hall

Pohyon Temple - Ryongsan Hall, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  Just photo's... 

Pohyon Temple - Kwanum Hall

Pohyon Temple - Kwanum Hall, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  Just photo's... 

Pohyon Temple - Taeung Hall

Pohyon Temple - Taeung Hall, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  Just photo's... 

Pohyon Temple - Pagoda's

Pohyon Temple - Pagoda's, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  There are two pagoda's within the temple complex. The first one is 9-storeys high and square and stands between the Chonwang Gate and Manse Pavilion. The second is a 13-storey high. octagonal pagoda which measures in at 8.5m high. It stands in front of the first hall, the... 

Pohyon Temple - Gates

Pohyon Temple - Gates, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  In order to reach the three main halls of the temple complex, you first have to pass through three gates - Chogye, Haetal and Chonwang. The Chonwang Gate features the four temple guardians you come to expect in Buddhist temple complexes. 

Pohyon Temple

Pohyon Temple, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  The Pohyon Temple was founded in the Sangwon Valley, not far from the International Friendship Exhibition, in 1042 during the Koryo period. It is named after the Buddhist saint Pohyon who was in charge of the “morals of Buddha.” Originally it had 24 buildings and pagodas and... 

Scenic mountain area

Scenic mountain area, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  The Myohyang Mountains ('Mountains of mysterious fragrance') are home to some wonderful scenery but, unfortunately, we didn't get the chance to explore it. Instead, all we saw of it was a few views of some valleys and a stream running past the International Friendship... 

International Friendship Exhibition

International Friendship Exhibition, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  The International Friendship Exhibition are two huge partly underground palaces filled with over 100,000 gifts from over 150 countries to both Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il. We visited the larger of the two first, that was opened in 1978, which had gifts presented to Kim Il... 

Pohyon Temple

Pohyon Temple, Myohyang-sanmaek

 DSwede Says:  The temple is tucked in the steep hills just a few minutes from the Hyangsan Hotel, about half way to the Friendship Halls.The temple has history going back several hundred years. Many temples have suffered from wars, fires, or the communist regime, but thankfully this one... 

International Friendship Exhibition Hall

International Friendship Exhibition Hall, Myohyang-sanmaek

 DSwede Says:  Myohyang is the location of the underground depository of all the gifts and tributes that Kim il-Sung and Kim Jung-il have received. These depositories are massive underground labyrinths that could house the wealth of an entire country, and keep it safe from an all-out... 

Hotels  

Hyangsan Hotel: The only hotel in Myohyang

Hyangsan Hotel: The only hotel in Myohyang, Myohyang-sanmaek

 DSwede Says:  Typical of the communist decorations, this hotel has large concrete corridors and a rather dull interior (except for the ornate entrance lobby). But the rooms were comfortable and the stay was adequate for our short tour. 

Restaurants  

Hyangsan Hotel: Plentiful

Hyangsan Hotel: Plentiful, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  We had lunch here which was enough for 20 people, yet alone 12. The hotel is quite dated in appearance with much of the general decor looking like it dates from the 1970's. There is a shop near reception in the foyer that sells stamps, pin badges and other souvenirs. 

Transportation  

Highway to Myohyangsan

Highway to Myohyangsan, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  This is the empty highway that takes you the 100 miles (160km) from Pyongyang to Myohyangsan. It passes by rivers along long viaducts before heading into the scenic mountains. The second picture shows a couple of trucks on the highway which were the first of only a few that... 

Shopping  

Souvenir shop: Souvenir shop

Souvenir shop: Souvenir shop, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  There is a souvenir shop up on one of the upper floors where you can buy books and leaflets that show pictures of some of the gifts. 

Warnings Or Dangers  

No cameras/shoes covered

No cameras/shoes covered, Myohyang-sanmaek

 Willettsworld Says:  When visiting the International Friendship Exhibition, you first have to hand in your cameras and then put on dust covers over your shoes. This is due to the fact that marble is everywhere inside - on the floors, walls, balconies and staircases. Also try and refrain from... 

The Place

Plan a Myohyang-sanmaek vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Myohyang-sanmaek locals

Experience Myohyang-sanmaek
  •   16 Tips and Reviews
  •  58 Photos
  •  1 Videos
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The People

 
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 There is a souvenir shop up on one of the upper floors where you can buy books and leaflets that show pictures of some of the gifts. 

 

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Top 3 Myohyang-sanmaek Writers

1

Depository of Kim il-Sung's gifts

DSwede profile photo

 Myohyang is the location of the underground depository of all the gifts and tributes that Kim il-Sung and Kim Jung-il have received. These depositories are massive underground labyrinths that could...... 

2

Kim Il Sung's underground gift vault

Willettsworld profile photo

 Myohyangsan, (meaning 'mountain of mysterious fragrance'), is a mountain range about 100 miles (160km) northeast of Pyongyang. The area is famed for being the location of the International Friendship... 

3

Myohyang.

Adaptor-Plug profile photo

 A Place For The Eternal Pres' Pressies. I'm still editing and writing this one. Just when you are starting to think that north Korea can't give you much more wonk they dish you the International...... 

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