Hoesan White Lotus Habitat
Hoesan Baekryun Ji
Heosan Baekryun Ji is a 100,000 pyeong sized reservoir built during the dark times of Japanese colonization. Initially, it served to provide irrigation to adjacent agricultural lands, but as the richer irrigation waters of the Young San River viaduct began to flow, its function as a reservoir declined and it has since become a wild habitat for splendid White Magnolias. The first White Lotus Festival was held in 1997, but its name was changed to the White Magnolia Festival with its expansion in 2003. This contributed to making the Hoesan Baekryun Ji a nationally renowned attraction.
Since the lotus blooms with clear, bright flowers among the muddy waters, it has long since been a traditional symbol of Buddhism representing enlightenment, the state of nirvana, and the concept of Buddhist eternal life.
The White Magnolia, originating from India and Egypt, blooms with white flowers between July and September, and do not bloom at once, but rather bloom and fall continuously during a three month cycle.
Most of the lotuses found in Korea are Red Magnolias. White Magnolias are quite rare. This makes the Baekryun Ji the largest habitat for White Magnolias in East Asia . It is also known among professional botanists as one of the few remaining group habitats for thorn lotuses.
An observation deck was built at Hoesan Baekryun Ji to provide a panoramic view of the variety of lotuses and over 50 species of aquatic plants. The platform attracts many photographers and it has especially become popular as the perfect spot for taking wedding photographs. The entry path to the Baekryun Ji has been conceptualized as a totem street, and attracts many visitors throughout the year.
With its transformation as a natural ecology park, including the installation of Korea 's first water glass greenhouse and wooden sculptures in 2004, it was officially designated as a national tourist attraction. It has since become a tourist favorite attracting streams of visitors throughout the year. Various tourist facilities have been installed, such as an outdoor stage and grass fields landscaped in the shape of the lotus flower, esplanades, parking lots, straw-roofed viewing pavilions, picnic areas, and benches.
