Mount Yulyeon is located in the “Fuzhanzhen Plateau” of South Hamgyong Province, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Looking from afar at the stone pagoda on the ridge of Mount Yulyeon, it appears as white jade laid on a green lotus blanket, hence its name.

There are three major attractions on Mount Yulyeon: Stone River, Stone Pagoda, and Stone Sea. The Stone River is approximately 760 meters long and 85 meters wide, a river where only the sound of water can be heard without actually seeing the water surface for kilometers on end. If the tree-covered parts are put together, the actual length of the Stone River should be around 3 kilometers, with a width downstream of about 160 meters, midstream ranging from 230 to 250 meters, and upstream around 280 to 320 meters. The riverbed stones are similar to those found on the mountaintops and ridges.

When the temperature drops to below minus 25 to 35 degrees Celsius, rocks will freeze and crack. At the end of the glacial period 20,000 to 70,000 years ago, the average temperature in January in the “Mount Yulyeon” area was below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore, rocks with cracks experienced freezing and cracking. The areas around the ridge are flat, forming the Stone Sea. The current Stone Sea is about 0.8 kilometers long, 2 kilometers wide, with rocks ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 meters high, 0.7 to 0.8 meters wide, and 1.5 meters long, to 1 to 1.5 meters high, 1.5 to 2 meters wide, and 2 to 2.5 meters or more long. Around 70% of the Stone Sea is covered with vegetation, while the remaining 30% is still exposed, creating a spectacular scene.

Ongnyon San

Reason to visit: The most magical mountain in North Korea

Continent of the attraction: Asia

Country/Region of the attraction: North Korea

Province/State of the attraction: South Hamgyong Province