Gangdanggol is home to a habitat of Retusa Fringetrees, a rare, wild species of tree native to Daegu, growing on Apsan Mountain. Its name means “hope,” but its Korean name, “Ipap tree,” is derived from how Koreans could eat rice when they had a good rice harvest. It is also said to be named so because its flowers bloom near the time of “Ip-ha (立夏),” which is the beginning of summer, or because the flowers that bloom on the trees look similar to cooked rice. Its white flowers bloom in May and June, and its blossoms were often used to forecast the harvest each year. As a result, these trees have been well protected, which is why so many old trees have survived today.

After passing by the sotdae (poles that used to be erected at the entrance of a village as a symbol of a village guardian deity or village boundary) and over the wooden bridge along Apsan Jarak-gil trail, you will arrive at Eunjeoksa Temple and learn about the legend of Wang Geon (r. 918-943, founder of the Goryeo Dynasty). Enjoy immersing yourself in the history of Wang Geon and Gyeon Hwon (king and founder of Hubaekje, one of the Later Three Kingdoms of Korea, r. 892-935) while taking a stroll around Eunjeoksa.