Mt. Chilbo, located in the south of the east coast of North Hamgyong Province, is one of the celebrated mountains in Korea.
Mt. Chilbo covering an area about 250km²was well known as “Mt. Kumgang in North Hamgyong Province” from olden times for the outstanding beauty of the inland and the coast. The name Chilbo means seven treasures. The mountain goes by “Kkottongsan” in spring for its beautiful flowers in full bloom, “Rogumsan” in summer for its green foliage, “Hongasan” in autumn for its red-tinged scenery and “Solbaeksan” for its snowscape.
As it is part of the Paektu volcanic belt ranging from Mt. Paektu to Ullung Island, Mt Chilbo was formed by volcanic action just like the formation of Mt. Paektu. The countless rocks formed by lava gusting from the deep underground and then cooling down were weathered and eroded over a long time, thus presenting such magnificent, curious and peculiar scenery.
With the main peak of the mountain as the axis, there are a lots of peaks which are around 1 000m high above sea level such as Pakdal Pass, Chondok Peak, Samgak Peak in the north and Hamae Peak, Kkachi Peak, Hyangno Peak in the south and fantastic rocks, presenting scenic slops and ravines in the west and the east. The Sea Chilbo in the east has little sandy beach compared with other seashores. Instead, it has a cliffy face, thus giving very beautiful scenery to be enjoyed from the sea.
Surrounded by the high Hamgyong Mountain Range in the west and spread with a lowland area in the east open to the sea, Mt. Chilbo is mostly subject to oceanic climate. In summertime a southeast wind blows usually and a nort
The flora of the mountain is very diversified and abundant; hundreds of species of plants are distributed in the mountain such as pine, oak and maple; rhododendron and Ledum pahustre which usually grow in the northern alpine region, and the southern species like Sasa Coreana, Pyongyang chestnut and Rosa Wichuriana Crep. There are to be found wild fruit trees like wild pear, wild grapevine, and tara vine, and tens of kinds of medical herbs such as wild insam, barrenwort and Schizandra chinensis. The Songi mushroom from the mountain has a unique taste and flavour, and it is counted best among mushrooms in Korea.
Scores of kinds of wild animals like bear, roe deer, raccoon dog, badger and hare inhabit the mountain as well as different kinds of birds, reptiles and insects. In the sea off Pochon in Sea Chilbo there are various marine resources like Pollack, crab, octopus, sea urchin, shellfish and seaweed.
Mt. Chilbo is divided into Inner Chilbo, Outer Chilbo and Sea Chilbo in large according to its local features and sceneries.
