Enjoying Silla Summer Nights on Foot | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Cheomseongdae is estimated to have been built during the reign of Queen Seondeok, the 27th ruler of Silla, and is one of the landmarks symbolizing Gyeongju. It stands about 9 meters tall and features a base foundation supporting a cylindrical body shaped like a bottle, topped with a well-shaped (井) peak. The cylindrical section is built with 27 layers of fan-shaped stones. A window facing southeast has a lower part filled with rough stones and an upper part hollowed out up to the peak. The eastern half of the peak, sealed with a board, has long stones interlocking in the shape of the well (井) character, with ends protruding outside. Similar features appear on the 19th-20th and 25th-26th layers, suggesting the use of internal ladders. Historical records state, "People are meant to climb through the center," indicating that ladders were placed outside to enter through the window and climb up for astronomical observation. Each stone of Cheomseongdae holds symbolic meaning: its round upper and square lower shapes represent heaven and earth. The approximately 365 stones symbolize the days of the year; the 27 stone layers refer to Queen Seondeok, the 27th ruler; including the peak yields 29 or 30 layers, symbolizing the lunar month's days. The 12 layers above and below the central window represent the 12 months and 24 solar terms of the year. Cheomseongdae was used to calculate celestial movements to determine farming seasons and also to predict the nation's fortune. ◎ Travel information to experience the charm of Korean Wave - The drama features Cheomseongdae, a landmark representing Gyeongju and the world's oldest astronomical observatory, where characters Bogyum and Jia, linked by a special past, crossed paths. Besides its high historical value, the site attracts many visitors for seasonal flowers and plants, ideal for outings.

Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond is the site of a Silla royal palace's auxiliary palace. Used as the eastern palace where princes resided along with other annex buildings, it was a place for banquets during national celebrations or when welcoming important guests. After the fall of Silla, wild geese and ducks flew here, leading to the former name Anapji, derived from 'geese an' and 'duck ap.' In the 1980s, earthenware shards with the inscription 'Wolji' — meaning 'pond where the moon shines' — were unearthed. Historical records state that in the 14th year of King Munmu’s reign (674), a large pond was dug with three islands in the center and twelve mountain peaks built to the north and east of the pond. Beautiful flowers and trees were planted, and rare birds and animals were raised. This confirms that the site was indeed Wolji in Silla times, and the name was changed in 2011 to Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji. Around the pond of Imhaejeon Hall, which suffered damage such as railways being built during the Japanese occupation, 26 building sites including corridors were identified in a 1975 excavation combined with dredging. Among them, three sites believed to be Silla-era buildings, including one presumed to be Imhaejeon in 1980, and Wolji were restored to the present state. Many relics were excavated here; among them, bricks engraved with a peony pattern bear the inscription 'Joro 2nd year (680),' supporting that Imhaejeon was built during King Munmu’s reign. Numerous bowls and plates were also found, believed to have been used in daily life, unlike those unearthed from Silla tombs. Though Imhaejeon was part of the auxiliary palace, its importance was significant, and Wolji is recognized as a representative relic of the original Silla palace site. The pond’s edges are curved so that the entire pond cannot be seen from any single viewpoint, an ingenious design allowing a small pond to feel like a vast ocean, showcasing the wisdom of the Silla people. The eastern palace had 27 buildings including Imhaejeon, with only three restored today. The brilliant lighting reflecting the restored buildings and Wolji’s surface makes it one of Gyeongju’s premier nightscape spots.

Gyeongju Daereungwon refers to the Silla-era burial mounds located in Nodong-dong and Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, and consists of the Nodong-dong burial mounds, Noseo-ri burial mounds, Hwangnam-dong burial mounds, Hwang-o-dong burial mounds, and Inwang-dong burial mounds. The Nodong-dong burial mounds are tombs from the late Silla period, including Bonghwangdae, Sillrichong, and Geumryeongchong. Bonghwangdae is a stone chamber mound tomb with a bottom circumference of 230m, diameter of 82m, and height of 22m, making it the second largest tomb after Hwangnam Daechong. The Noseo-ri burial mounds include 14 large and small mounds on a wide plain. Along with Nodong-ri’s Bonghwangdae mound, notable mounds include the No. 130 tomb, which forms a pair; Geumgwanchong where a gold crown was excavated in 1921; Seobongchong, whose excavation in 1926 was observed by Swedish prince and archaeologist Gustav VI Adolf during his visit to Japan; and others. A bronze vessel engraved with the name of Goguryeo King Gwanggaeto was found in 1946, aiding the dating of Silla tombs, including Houchang, Eupyeongchong, Ssangsangchong, and Machong. Pottery fragments were excavated at Ssangsangchong, and horse bones with saddle fragments at Machong. The Hwangnam-dong burial mounds are early Silla tombs, some within the Daereungwon area. There are 30 circular earthen mounds; large tombs are stone chamber mounds with smaller tombs around them that have lost their surrounding stone barriers. Inside Daereungwon are the former tombs of King Michu, as well as Cheonmachong and Hwangnam Daechong. Cheonmachong was excavated from April 6 to December 4, 1973. It has a diameter of 47m and height of 12.7m, yielding many artifacts, including a gold crown. It is named after the Cheonmado (Heavenly Horse Painting) found on a saddle flap inside and is open to visitors. The Hwang-o-dong burial mounds are a dense cluster of large and small Silla-era tombs. Although many mounds are damaged due to long-term neglect, about 10 can still be recognized as burial mounds. These are estimated to be stone chamber mounds for royalty or nobility from the 4th to 5th centuries based on the mound structures found nearby. The Inwang-dong burial mounds lie farthest east among the burial mounds on the central plain of Gyeongju. During the Japanese occupation, 13 tumuli were identified, with an additional 10 mounds later surveyed. Excavations confirmed tomb styles from the Samhan and Three Kingdoms periods, showing tomb construction started early. Most remaining mounds are stone chamber mounds presumed to be noble Silla tombs based on artifacts and mound sizes. ◎ Travel information to experience the charm of Hallyu - Featured in the drama "20th Century Girl," where Bora spent her free time on a school trip, this park has clustered burial mounds. About 20 large tombs form a dreamy ridgeline atmosphere. A magnolia tree among the mounds is a famous photo spot. It is also recommended to visit Cheonmachong, the only tomb open to the public.

The Gyeongju Bomun Complex is situated about 10 km east of Gyeongju city center on the site of the old Myeonghwal Mountain fortress, developed around Bomun Lake. The entire area is designated as a hot spring zone and a tourism special district, with fully established infrastructure such as roads, electricity, communications, and water supply and drainage. It is evolving into an international-level integrated tourist resort with plans to develop a convention city and connect with the Gampo tourist complex. Covering a total land area of 8,000,036 m² (2.42 million pyeong), Gyeongju Bomun Complex offers top-class international hotels, family-oriented condominiums, golf courses, various water facilities, walking trails, Bomun Lake, and a historic fountain, making it Gyeongju's beloved multi-purpose tourist and leisure site. The Gyeongju area is especially abundant in cherry trees, not limited to a specific location but throughout the entire city, which distinguishes it from other regions. During the cherry blossom season in April, wherever you go is filled with cherry blossoms, with the areas around Bomun Lake and Bulguksa Park standing out spectacularly. On windy days, petals fall like snowflakes, creating a magical scenery.