Gyeongju National Museum

● Visiting the museum before traveling to the Gyeongju area will give you a better understanding of Gyeongju's history, culture and traditions. Introduction Gyeongju National Museum is loved by visitors and residents alike as it houses numerous historical and cultural artifacts of the Silla dynasty (57 BC - AD 935). The museum recently went through renovation, and the galleries and the exhibition halls have taken on a new look. In addition to improving facilities for visitors' convenience, Gyeongju National Museum is making efforts to contribute to the community and re-establish its identity as a museum by making efforts to provide lifelong learning opportunities and improve management. As a significant cultural center, Gyeongju National Museum not only strives to preserve, exhibit, and research the rich history and culture of Silla, but it also strives to take a leap forward to become a cultural multi-complex center by promoting international exchange opportunities, social education programs, and a variety of special exhibitions.

● As the palace site of the Silla era, their building site and, above all, the pond that contains the philosophy of the Orient gives the tourists a beautiful impression Introduction Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond was the secondary palace site which was used by the crown prince of the Silla Kingdom. It also served as a banquet site for important national events and important visitors. After the fall of Silla, the site was abandoned and forgotten. The pond was referred to as "Anapji" during the Goryeo and Joseon periods. In the 1980s, a pottery fragment with letters “Wolji” (a pond that reflects the moon) carved onto it was found, revealing the true name of the pond. After the discovery, the site was renamed to the current Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. Current Status [Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Gyeongju] Historic Site No. 18 (Designated on January 21, 1963)

Daereungwon Tomb Complex

● It is a place where several tombs of Silla kings are together and the inside of the tombs can be reproduced to see the costumes and life of the kings of that time. Introduction Within Daereungwon Tomb Complex is Cheonmachong Tomb (Ancient Tomb No. 155), which was excavated in 1973. Cheonmachong Tomb consists of a wooden coffin placed inside an underground chamber mounded with boulders and earth, characterized as a typical upper class tomb of the Silla period. The mound has a height of 12.7 m with a diameter of 50 m, and consists of a layer of rocks collected from streams. Below the rock layer is a wooden chamber that is 6.5 m long and 2.1 m wide, reaching 2.1 m in height, with the wooden coffin at its center. A total of 11,526 artifacts were discovered within the tomb, including Cheonmado, an artwork considered highly valuable as it is Korea's first artwork to be excavated from an ancient tomb. Current Status [Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Gyeongju] Historic Site No. 512 (Designated on July 28, 2011)

Cheomseongdae Observatory

Introduction Cheomseongdae is the oldest existing astronomical observatory in Asia. Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-deok (r. 632-647), it was used to observe stars in order to forecast the weather. This stone structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and was designated as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962. Cheomseongdae was built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm in diameter. 362 stones were piled up to make 27 levels. Roughly 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1㎡ square entrance and a space to hang a ladder under it. The inside is filled with soil up to the 12th level, and the 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th levels all have long rocks hanging on two areas, shaped as the Chinese letter '井' (jeong). It stands 9.17m high and the base stone on each side measures 5.35m. The Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and the 24 solar terms (also known as the astronomical solar year) were determined by observating of stars. The pavilion stone is believed to have been used as a standard of deciding directions, north, south, east and west. The 362 stones used to build Cheomseongdae represented the 362 days in a lunar year. Current Status National Treasure No.31 (Designated on December 20, 1962)

Seokguram

● Silla is a country of Buddhism, with many Buddhist artifacts. The Seokguram is famous for its beauty and it is known that the formative beauty is difficult to reproduce even with modern technology. Introduction Seokguram, located on Tohamsan Mountain, is the representative stone temple of Korea. The official name of Seokguram, National Treasure No. 24, is Seokguram Seokgul. Designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, it is an artificial stone temple made of granite. The construction was started by Kim Dae-Seong (700-774) in 751 during the reign of King Gyeong-Deok (742-765) of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC - AD 935) and it was finished twenty-four years later in 774, during the reign of King Hye-Gong (765-780). Seokguram is known to have been built at the same time as Bulguksa Temple. According to the history book Samgukyusa of the Goryeo Dynasty (the country that unified the Korean peninsula at the end of the Silla Kingdom, 918-1392), Kim Dae-Seong had Bulguksa Temple built for his parents in his current life, and Seokguram Grotto for the parents of his former life. Inside the round-shaped main hall are the Bonjon Statue, Bodhi-sattva and his disciples. The Bonjon figure wearing a generous smile is seated on the stage engraved with a lotus flower design. The rounded ceiling looks like a half-moon or a bow and has a lotus flower decorated cover on it. The view of the sunrise is quite beautiful and many people hike the mountain at daybreak. Current Status UNESCO World Heritage (Designated in December 1995) National Treasure No. 24 (Designated on December 20, 1962)

Bulguksa Temple

● This Temple is the most popular Buddhist temple that Koreans visit the most, and it is the essence of Korean Buddhism that is most widely known as a place for school trips as well as the public. Introduction Bulguksa Temple is a representative relic of Buddhist culture from the Silla kingdom. The temple was built in 528 during the 15th year of King Beop-Heung's reign (514-540) to wish for pease and prosperity for all. It was later rebuilt in 751 by Kim Dae-Seong. Unfortunately, the temple caught fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). After this time, the temple suffered serious damage and was often the target of robbers. Starting in 1920, the temple has undergone continual restoration work. The temple now holds seven national treasures, a number of additional important heritages, and along with the nearby Seokguram Grotto was designated a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO in December 1995. Current Status [Bulguksa Temple] UNESCO World Heritage / Historic Site No. 502 (Designated on December 21, 2009) [Dabotap Pagoda] National Treasure No. 20 [Three-story Stone Pagoda] National Treasure No. 21 [Yeonhwagyo and Cilbogyo Bridges] National Treasure No. 22 [Cheongungyo and Baegungyo Bridges] National Treasure No. 23 [Gilt-bronze Seated Vairocana Buddha] National Treasure No. 26 [Gilt-bronze Seated Amitabha Buddha] National Treasure No. 27 [Reliquaires from the Three-story Stone Pagoda] National Treasure No. 126

Gyeongju

● It is a place where tourists interested in traditional handicrafts are displayed. Introduction Gyeongju Folk Craft Village consists of 40 thatched and tile-roofed houses, lived in by local artisans of traditional arts and crafts skills. Various fields of crafts production including metal, pottery, timber, jewels, hanbok (Korean traditional clothes), and stone-crafts can be found in the village. The craftsmen at work and the entire production process are opened to the public with some shops even offering hands-on programs for visitors to experience. In addition, visitors may purchase the products from these shops at a relatively cheaper price than usual retail. At this folk craft village, not only can one enjoy the beautiful scenery of a hanok village but also the nearby attractions including Bomun Tourist Complex and Bulguksa Temple.