In the mountain range in the far eastern region of Daegu lies Mt. Guryongsan 구룡산. Legend has it that a daughter of the dragon king of the sea lived here with 9 children. Guryong 구룡 means 9 dragons, san a mountain. A few scattered villages including Guryong-ri 구룡리 are spotted along the road at the foot of the mountain. The top floor not that far from the villages affords a panoramic view surrounding the mountain.
About 200 years ago, anti-Catholic persecutions began to prevail across the nation. Some Catholics had to leave their home to escape religious persecution; this place became one of the best shelters for them moving across the country and then a religious community during the period of persecution was established here like other shelters. Around 100 years ago, a catholic church station was built here after the persecution had ended. The station is designed to embrace the traditional Korean style.
The hiking trail runs through the summit of Mt. Guryongsan to Geoncheon 건천. Have ever hiked along the trail from Yongseong to Geoncheon a couple of times during the autumn.
The paved roads lead to the bottom of the mountain from Yongseoung on the eastern side and Unmun Dam 운문댐 on the southern one. The road condition of the upper side of the routes is not that good. This winter, a cyclist was attracted to this route which is exposed to steep uphill and downhill and typical winter landscape. It was a chilly and windy day.
The start and endpoints of the route were the parking lot of the Yongseong myeon(township) office 용성면사무소. Guryong-ri, the sky village, and the lakeside of Unmun Dam were included in the route. The path gets steeper with a maximum gradient of 28% as you cycle further until you reach the upper. Didn't encounter any other riders along the upper path. Cycling is much safer and more pleasant on quiet routes. That was a considerably calmer and more exciting route through the mountains, fields, and villages, while the traffic around the lakeside of Unmun Dam was a little busy.
It would be interesting for a cyclist to visit some places on the route for the first time in his life.
