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HOME TEACH IN KOREA TRAVEL SITES GYEONJU BEACHES UN CEMETERY DMZ BULL FIGHTING MUD FESTIVAL HIKING BUDDHIST TEMPLES ART & MUSEUMS BUSAN SEOUL |
GYEONGJU, KOREA The Gyeongju (also known as Kyongju) Area is comprised of several sites, activities, museums, Parks, hiking, temples, city and more. The following is a brief overview of some of the nicest places to visit in this area. Kyongju Known as Korea’s ‘museum without walls’, Kyongju is a repository of ancient Korean history and Buddhist culture and has been designated by UNESCO as one of the world’s 10 most historically significant sites.
Gyeongju City Gyeongju was the capital of the Shilla Kingdom for over 1,000 years. Down town Gyeongju is nearby several historic sites, hiking, museums, temples and more. It is a great place to find a fairly cheap motel for a night or two. Or you may stay at a lavish hotel near the lake. The night life can be fun, from singing rooms (link), a night club, or pubs. The day trip can be even better as shown below; there are several nearby sites to see. |
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Bulguk-sa Temple Originally built in 528, Bulguk-sa provides an excellent example of architecture from the Shilla Dynasty. Literally meaning "Buddha Land", it remained intact for more than 1,000 years before the Japanese destroyed it in 1593. Only a few of the buildings were rebuilt until the 1970s when it was completely reconstructed. It is designated as one the best Historic and Scenic Places to visit in Korea. UNESCO recognized it as an international cultural property in 1995. You may hike to the temple, or drive up. The hike is fairly steep but not very long. Getting to the top may take 45-60 minutes depending on your pace. The rolling hillside can be seen for miles, is quite majestic, in green in spring and summer, and the bright colors of autumn is even nicer. 
Bomun Resort This is one of the nicest places to visit Korea. It is very beautiful, relaxing and quite romantic for couples. This man-made lake is located below the old fortress of Myonhwal-san, east of Gyeongju. The area around the lake has many high-class hotels, recreational and entertainment facilities, shopping areas, restaurants, and Gyeongju World amusement park. The scenery around the lake offers beautiful views of cherry blossoms in the springtime. During windy days, the falling blossoms look almost like snow. A huge traditional water mill and 12-meter-high artificial waterfall, the largest of its kind in Korea, are located in the Bomun Lake Resort. The resort also has other facilities such as a 100-meter fountain with scheduled performances, ferryboat marina, Yukbuchon Convention Hall, Sonjae Museum of Contemporary Art, Bomun Outdoor Performance Hall, and a drive-in theater. Several hiking trails, suitable for all levels of fitness, explore the scenic beauty of the area. Different sections are named Cherry Blossom trail, Willow trail, and Fountain Trail, giving an indication of the types of scenery you can find along them. The Bomun Outdoor Performance Hall offers periodic performances of traditional dance and music near a five-story hexagonal pagoda. Although many different periods are represented, the local 1,000-year long Shilla culture dominates. The Bomun Drive-in Theater is Korea's largest. Located on a site of 23,000 square yards, it can accommodate up to 400 cars at once. It has a 25x20 meter screen together with a shop and a rest area. 
Tumuli Park The park (known as Daereungwon in Korean) has more than 20 large and small tombs from the Shilla period and has been designated as a Historic site. The tombs are presumed to be those of kings and court officials. The dimensions of the tombs vary with heights ranged from less than 1 meter up to 23 meters. Most of them are earthen and mound-shaped. Some double gourd-shaped ones are for the joint burial of a husband and wife. As those excavated were all found to be stone-pilled and wood-lined chamber type, most of the tombs here are presumed to be of the same type. During the excavations of Cheonmachong (Heavely Horse Tomb) and Hwangnamdaech'ong (a double gourd-shaped tomb), numerous artifacts (including a gold crown, gold girdles, gold and siver personal ornaments, horse fittings, and weapons) were uncovered, all of which attest to the advanced culture of Shilla. During the making of Tumuli Park, a number of ancient tombs were investigated. These included not only stone-piled wood-lined chamber tombs, but also jar-coffin tombs, stone-lined chamber tombs, and tunnel-type tombs, revealing the various burial methods during the Shilla period. 
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