Photos of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Korea

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Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province

Gyeongju, a city in the southeast of Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang Province) was the site of Seorabeol, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BCE – 935 CE), which, at its greatest extent between the 7th and 9th centuries, encompassed about two-thirds of the Korean Peninsula. Many archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city.

Geumwangchong tomb
 
Silla-era tombs
 
Tomb of Kim Yushin
 
Tomb of King Michu
 
Daeneungwon
 
Seobongchong tomb
 
Tombs, Wolseong Park
 
Cheomseongdae
 
King Naemul's tomb
 
Watching the movie
 
Gyeongju 1300 years ago
 
Anapji (Wolji) Pond
 
Royal carp
 
Hwangryongsa site
 
Bunhwangsa pagoda
 
In the craft village
 
Playing traditional games
 
Playing  “Tuko”
 
Woljeonggyo Bridge
 
Tourists' horse carriages
 
Buddhist shrine
 
Buddhist shrine
 
Buddhist shrine
 
Buddhist shrine
 
Buddhist shrine
 
Three Royal tombs
 
Bodhisattva rock image
 
Seated Buddha statue
 
Samneung valley
 
Seated Yeorae image
 
Buddha statues, Sangseonam
 
View to Gyeongju
 
Sambulsa temple
 
Three ancient Buddhas
 
Gate, Sambulsa temple
 
Poseokjong water stream
 

The many grassy tumuli, Silla-era tombs are notable, especially in Noseo-dong district, Daeneungwon, the tumuli park with 23 graves of Silla monarchs and family members, and Wolseong Park, southeast of central Gyeongju. Here is also Cheomseongdae, the oldest surviving observatory in East Asia, constructed between 632 and 646 CE. Many other sites, like Anapji or Wolji Pond, were part of a pleasure garden commemorating the unification under the Silla kingdom, near the excellent Gyeongji National Museum.

Namsan Mountain, a 494-meter peak in the heart of Gyeongju National Park, just south of Gyeongju, is home to many temples and shrines and was considered sacred by many during the Silla Kingdom. It is a veritable open-air museum with 100 temples, 80 stone Buddha statues, and 60 stone pagodas scattered across the mountainside. It offers beautiful hiking trails and views back to Gyeongju as well.