← Jinan travel guide · 8 sights & 8 tastes
JINAN · A WALK THROUGH MAISAN
Stone towers, temple steps & a quiet lake
Walk from the southern approach to Tapsa, look closely at its remarkable stone towers, climb to Cheonjitap and return beside Tapyeongje.
Original VEMORIQ mediaTHE NAME BEHIND THE LANDSCAPE
Maisan · Horse Ear Mountain
Why is it called Maisan? The name 마이산 (馬耳山) means “Horse Ear Mountain”: 馬 (ma) means horse, 耳 (i) means ear, and 山 (san) means mountain. Its two distinctive rock peaks resemble a horse’s upright ears, giving this Jinan landmark its memorable name. Name origin · Jinan County ↗
01 · THE WALK IN
Choose your parking point before timing the walk
Our starting point was Maisan Provincial Park’s south parking area, by Yongbawi Garden (용바위가든). The walk up to Cheonjitap took approximately 30–40 minutes. That is our visit experience, rather than a guaranteed walking time; photo stops, crowds and pace will change it.
There is also a park parking area farther up the approach. According to our visit experience, the remaining walk from there is around 10–15 minutes when vehicle access and parking are available. Follow the current traffic controls instead of assuming you can drive all the way up.
Search your map app for 마이산 남부주차장 and cross-check the Yongbawi Garden landmark. Maisan has both northern and southern approaches, so a search for the mountain alone may lead to a different starting point.
Find the south parking area in NAVER Map ↗
Original VEMORIQ mediaA simple route to keep in mind
South parking area → southern approach and Tapyeongje → Tapsa ticket gate → lower courtyard → upper temple steps → Cheonjitap → return toward the lake.
The destination called “the top” in this photo walk is Cheonjitap inside Tapsa. A climb to the summit of Ammaibong is a separate mountain itinerary.
Jinan’s official guide places Tapyeongje about 1 km above the south parking area, with Tapsa about another 500 m beyond it. Its full north-to-south sightseeing route is listed as 3.3 km and 1½–2 hours; that is a different route from our reported walk. Compare the official routes ↗
Watch the walk to Tapsa
THE SOUTHERN APPROACH
The Most Unique Temple Hike in Korea You’ve Never Heard Of 🇰🇷
Filmed by VEMORIQ · Walking video
Walk from the south parking area toward Tapsa, passing restaurants, souvenir shops and cafés along the road.
About this clip
The recording is a preview of the approach. Allow around 30–40 minutes for the reported walk from the parking area by Yongbawi Garden to Cheonjitap.
Playback is provided by YouTube. If the embedded player is unavailable, use the link below.
The stone-stacking area on the approach
Small visitor-built cairns appear in the designated experience area. Inside Tapsa, the signs ask visitors to protect the established towers. Keep those two settings separate: do not add stones to the temple’s towers.
Original VEMORIQ media02 · AT THE TICKET GATE
Bring a payment card and keep your ticket
The photographed ticket office signs say card payment only. Keep the printed ticket after entering; a notice says it may be checked at the northern gate on the way toward Eunsusa.
| Visitor | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | ₩3,000 |
| Teenager | ₩2,000 |
| Elementary-school child | ₩1,000 |
Discount and free-entry categories require eligibility checks. Ask the ticket office about the documents needed; the signs do not establish eligibility for every international visitor. Prices and payment arrangements may change.
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Original VEMORIQ media03 · STONE TOWERS & CLIFFS
The remarkable stone towers of Tapsa
The first wide view is the one to linger over: the cliff rises behind the courtyard, while narrow columns and broader cone-shaped towers sit around the temple buildings. Jinan’s official description records roughly 80 towers beneath Ammaibong, with Cheonjitap forming the principal pair at the upper end. Read Jinan’s Tapsa introduction ↗
Original VEMORIQ mediaThe temple’s own history board credits Lee Gap-ryong with building the stone towers over decades. Rather than rushing from one photo position to the next, look at the changing shapes, the gaps between individual stones and the way the halls fit against the cliff.
Read the towers through shape and texture
Some towers are narrow columns; others spread into broad, conical bases. Notice how the stones change in size toward the top.
The uneven outlines and visible spaces between stones become clearer in the closer photographs. Stay outside the protective railings.
Include the cliff and temple roofs in the view to understand how the towers sit within the grounds.
Explore the contrasting shapes: narrow columns, broad conical bases and groups of smaller towers against the cliff. These additional views were photographed during the same visit.
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INSIDE TAPSA
Inside Korea’s Most Mysterious Temple: Giant Stone Pagodas & Cliffs of Maisan
Filmed by VEMORIQ · Walking video
Explore the lower stone towers from the temple entrance, looking upward toward Cheonjitap and the cliff.
About this clip
This video shows the lower temple grounds and the view toward Cheonjitap; it is not a mountain-summit hike.
Playback is provided by YouTube. If the embedded player is unavailable, use the link below.
04 · UP TO CHEONJITAP
Cheonjitap & the upper temple
Stone stairs and narrow passages link the lower grounds with the upper temple. Wear shoes with a firm grip, leave space for other visitors and allow extra time on the way down. The upper section is not a continuous step-free route.
Original VEMORIQ mediaCheonjitap (천지탑) means the Heaven and Earth towers. The pair stands above the main hall area, and the nearby plaque explains its symbolism. This is the turnaround highlight of our temple walk.
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Original VEMORIQ mediaCompare the profiles of the Heaven and Earth towers from the visitor path.
The lower courtyard and temple roofs appear between the stone towers.
Pause in a clear space for photographs, then leave room for other visitors on the descent.
Two short views of Tapsa
SHORT · LOWER TEMPLE
Facing 80 Giant Stone Towers Built Without Mortar!
Filmed by VEMORIQ · YouTube Short
A brief look at the stone towers and cliffs featured in the longer Tapsa video.
About this clip
Watch the longer temple video above for more of the lower courtyard.
Playback is provided by YouTube. If the embedded player is unavailable, use the link below.
SHORT · CHEONJITAP VIEW
Looking down from the highest point of Maisan Tapsa
Filmed by VEMORIQ · YouTube Short
Look down over Tapsa from the upper temple area beside Cheonjitap.
About this clip
“Highest point” refers to this Tapsa temple visit, not the summit of Ammaibong.
Playback is provided by YouTube. If the embedded player is unavailable, use the link below.
Respect the barriers and the repeated notices asking visitors not to touch or alter the towers. These are part of an active temple, so keep voices low around worshippers and follow any photography restrictions in the halls.
Original VEMORIQ media05 · UNDER THE PAINTED EAVES
The drum, bell & lotus lanterns
After the grey rock and stone, the pavilion introduces a different set of details: painted beams, pink lotus lanterns, a broad drum and a bronze bell.
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Original VEMORIQ mediaFollow the floral patterns across the beams, then look at the decoration on the bronze bell. View the instruments from outside the railing.
06 · A WINTER DETAIL
The upward-growing ice of Maisan
Maisan is also known for yeokgodeureum (역고드름), or ice that appears to grow upward from water in a bowl. Jinan’s official explanation describes a freezing process in which expanding ice pushes remaining water through a small opening, allowing a column to build upward. Read the official explanation ↗
This is a cold-weather phenomenon that depends on conditions. Our photographs were taken in October and show the bowls and temple setting, not an observed winter ice formation. A winter visit does not guarantee a sighting.
Original VEMORIQ media07 · BACK BESIDE THE WATER
Tapyeongje: a lake break and an optional boat ride
Back along the southern route, the lake opens into a gentler scene of wooded hills, a shoreline boardwalk and a blue-roofed boathouse. Jinan identifies this lake as Tapyeongje (탑영제). Official lake introduction ↗
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Original VEMORIQ mediaThe blue roof and wooden bridge mark the boat rental area beside the lake.
The close photographs show the molded seats, pedals and steering lever.
Confirm the boat type and rental duration, and ask for a correctly fitted life jacket.
Pedal or electric? Check the price board inside
The outdoor sign advertises a four-seat boat at ₩10,000; the indoor board separates pedal and electric rates. Check which boat the operator is assigning and ask how long the rental lasts before paying.
| Boat | Posted price | Korean name |
|---|---|---|
| Pedal boat | ₩10,000 | 페달오리보트 |
| Electric boat | ₩18,000 | 전동오리보트 |
Ride duration and electric-boat capacity were not established by the photographed rate board. Confirm them with the operator, along with current availability.
Original VEMORIQ mediaLife jackets are stacked inside the rental building, with adult and child sections visible. Ask the operator for a suitable size and help with fastening, supervise children on the dock and follow the boarding instructions. The boat photographs show the seating, pedals and steering lever so you can judge the setup before choosing.
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Original VEMORIQ mediaA small stop for K-drama fans
A sign near the lake names My Daughter Seo-young and When a Man Falls in Love. It describes the cherry-blossom route toward Tapsa and the lake as part of the filming setting. The photographs here show the autumn visit, rather than spring blossoms.
Original VEMORIQ media08 · BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Save these details before you go
- Choose south or north deliberately. This photo guide follows the southern approach by Yongbawi Garden.
- Budget for the return walk. The 30–40 minutes is the reported walk up to Cheonjitap, not the whole outing.
- Keep your card and ticket handy. The visit-day signs specified card payment and ticket retention.
- Allow for steps. Cheonjitap sits in the upper temple area; mobility needs should be checked with the site before departure.
- Check boats on arrival. Price, capacity, duration and operation are separate details.
- Check current park notices. Weather and access conditions can affect your plans.
Original VEMORIQ mediaCheck Maisan park notices ↗ Use NAVER Map in English →
Korean names to save
Jinan 진안 · Maisan 마이산 · South parking area 남부주차장 · Yongbawi Garden 용바위가든 · Tapsa 탑사 · Cheonjitap 천지탑 · Tapyeongje 탑영제
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