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Buddhism has a long tradition in Korea, stretching back to the 4th century. Unlike in China or Japan, Korean Buddhist temples are typically located away from cities. Nestled within idyllic mountain landscapes, they are today popular destinations, not only for Buddhists. Haeinsa lies in the south-east of the country, approximately 250 kilometres from the capital Seoul, and houses the Tripitaka Koreana – arguably the oldest and most complete collection of Buddhist scriptures in existence. First engraved into wooden printing blocks a thousand years ago, they are regarded as a milestone in the history of printing. The precious woodblocks are still kept today in the ingeniously ventilated buildings of the 17th-century temple and are held sacred by the Korean people. During the Korean War, a South Korean pilot refused to bomb the temple when North Korean soldiers were hiding inside it. Haeinsa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995.