Daegu: Buddhist temples among the Korean mountains

Surrounded by mountains sacred to Korean Buddhism, Daegu remains the starting point for ancient temples still active among the forests.

The center, among Buddhist temples and Korean mountains, is visited comfortably by subway.

The Donghwasa Temple, in the mountains surrounding Daegu, houses one of Korea's largest stone Buddha statues, standing over twenty meters tall.

Just minutes away, the Seomun Market, among Korea's oldest and largest markets, animates trade in traditional textiles and Korean street food.

Moving toward the center you walk through Kim Gwang-seok Alley, dedicated to the celebrated Korean singer-songwriter, decorated with musical murals.

In the evening, the Dongseongno district comes alive with venues and restaurants frequented by the city's young population.

The Donghwasa Temple, founded in the fifth century, safeguards a statue of Unified Buddha built in 1992 to celebrate hopes for reunification between North and South Korea, standing over twenty meters tall.

Daegu remains one of Korea's principal centers of traditional medicine, with an entire historic neighborhood dedicated to the sale of dried medicinal herbs since the Joseon dynasty era, still frequented by local herbalists.