Hanok Stay Sohwa [Korea Quality]한옥스테이 소화[한국관광 품질인증] - Area information - Korea travel information

Hanok Stay Sohwa [Korea Quality]한옥스테이 소화[한국관광 품질인증]

Hanok Stay Sohwa [Korea Quality]한옥스테이 소화[한국관광 품질인증]

1.3 Km    0     2023-05-23

5 , Gukdang 2-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-507-1325-7205

Hanok Stay Sohwa near the famous Hwangnidan-gil in  Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is a modern hanok that opened its doors in 2022, and combines tradition with sophistication. Accommodation consists of a living room, two sleeping rooms (bedroom and ondol), two bathrooms and a kitchen, plus an outdoor terrace and a heated mini swimming pool. Visitors will find rest and comfort here, however busy and stressed they were when they set out. The hanok stay only accepts bookings from one group per day.

Gyeongju Oreung Hanok [Korea Quality] / 경주오릉한옥 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

Gyeongju Oreung Hanok [Korea Quality] / 경주오릉한옥 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

1.3 Km    2     2021-03-29

12-17, Gukdang 2-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

This hanok (traditional Korean house) guesthouse is located right across from the Five Royal Tombs in Gyeongju. Because there are no obstructions on the way, the guesthouse enjoys a remarkable view of the ancient city. Located about 2.5 km from Gyeongju Intercity Bus Termina and about 2 km from Gyeongju Historic Areas, this guesthouse has a dignified yet comfortable atmosphere.
It is run by a mother-and-daughter team, whose attention to detail and care can be felt tangibly in the comfortably furnished rooms: well-maintained lawn and trees, double doors that help to prevent drafts and noises, and clean white bedding appreciated by many visitors. Rooms with ondol (under-the-floor heating system) are ideal for two. From walls covered by traditional Korean paper to clean and comfortable bedding, the room exudes comfort. A raised floor space in front of the room is a great place to see the scenery and a great place for photography.
Another strength of Gyeongju Oreung Hanok guesthouse is its accessibility. Hwangnidan-gil Street, a bustling street full of restaurants and cafes, is only a 15-min walk away, while Gyeongju’s famous sights such as Cheomseongdae Observatory, Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and Gyeongju National Museum are only a 10-min drive away.

Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (경주 황룡사지)

Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa Temple Site (경주 황룡사지)

1.4 Km    21171     2021-01-29

64-19, Imhae-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

Hwangnyongsa Temple Site is located in front of Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.

Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field east of the royal compound under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals featured an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.

Later, when monk Jajang was studying in China during the Tang dynasty, he came across a god as he was passing by Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “The yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”

After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)

In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla, two were located at Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in the temple, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.

During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly eight times larger than that of Bulguksa Temple.

KELIMGUNG [Korea Quality] / 계림궁 [한국관광 품질인증]

KELIMGUNG [Korea Quality] / 계림궁 [한국관광 품질인증]

1.4 Km    14099     2020-09-09

932, Poseok-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-2705-8121

According to a Korean myth, Gyerim Forest in Banwolseong Fortress, Gyeongju is the birthplace of Silla Kingdom founder Kim Alji (of Gyeongju Kim’s Clan) about two thousand years ago. Gyerimgung Hanok Pension is located 2 kilometers from Banwolseong Fortress and is named after the forest. Inside the gate are guestrooms named “Yoseok Room” with a large window in the detached building, “Sirim Room” and “Alji Room” in the main building, and “Asadal Room” and “Asanyeo Room” right next to it. The guesthouse has a shared kitchen and two “wondumak” (a Korean lookout hut on stilts usually in a melon field for guests to use). Barbecue facilities are also available upon reservation. The guesthouse offers a number of fun traditional programs including “Starting a Fire for Traditional Korean Iron Pot,” “Neolttwigi,” and “Yunnori.” Gyeongju Oreung in the vicinity of the guesthouse is a great place to take a walk. Nearby popular tourist destinations include Banwolseong Fortress, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Daereungwon Tomb Complex. The guesthouse can be a great choice for those looking for a quiet place to stay overnight because it's situated in a residential area slightly off the main tourist zone.

The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (성덕대왕신종)

1.4 Km    25673     2020-04-04

186, Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-740-7500

The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, the largest Korean bell preserved, stands 3.75-meter tall, has a lip diameter of 2.27 meters, and is 11 to 25 entimeters wide. In 1997, Gyeongju National Museum weighed it at 18.9 tons. The bell was cast to pay tribute to the memory of King Seongdeok. It was completed in 771 and named ‘The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.’ However, because the bell was installed at Bongdeoksa Temple, it has also been called the Bell of Bongdeoksa.

The bell is also known as the Emile Bell, a name derived from an ancient legend in which a child was sacrificed in order to give sound to the bell, whose echoes of ‘em-ee-leh’ resemble the traditional Korean word for "mommy."

The tubular sound pipe at the top of the bell that helps the sound reverberate is a unique feature that can be found only in Korean bells. The yongnyu, which serves as a loop to hang the bell, has been decorated to resemble a dragon’s head. A band of arabesque patterns can be found at the shoulder, and the striking point of the bell is in the shape of a lotus flower.

The magnificent design and inscription methods used in this bell exemplify the artisan's craftmanship of the Unified Silla period. The bell is also inscribed with over one thousand Chinese characters, and its beauty and integrity have been meticulously preserved despite the passage of over 1,300 years.

SILLA BOUTIQUE HOTEL PREMIUM [Korea Quality] / 신라부티크호텔 [한국관광 품질인증]

SILLA BOUTIQUE HOTEL PREMIUM [Korea Quality] / 신라부티크호텔 [한국관광 품질인증]

1.4 Km    6649     2020-12-22

200, Gangbyeon-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-745-3500, +82-54-624-3366

Silla Boutique Premium Hotel is a family-friendly hotel with children's facilities. The Premium Kids Deluxe and Premium Kids Suite Rooms are furnished with a low bed for the safety of children. The hotel has a total of 31 rooms with white and wood-toned interior. There are various room sizes such as Premium Double Bed Room for two and Premium Corner Suite Room for six. Hotel guests can bathe and use the sauna facilities in the spa SpaLux in the hotel building for free and buy everyday necessities from the 24-hour convenience store on the first floor. It’s a mere 5-minute walk from the Bus Terminal and only a 20-minute bus ride from Singyeongju Station. Most of the popular tourist destinations in Gyeongju City are within a 20-minute bicycle ride from the hotel as well.

Gyeongju Five Royal Tombs (경주 오릉)

Gyeongju Five Royal Tombs (경주 오릉)

1.6 Km    27238     2022-12-27

38-9, Geumseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8614

The Five Royal Tombs (called Oreung in Korean) have been officially designated Historic Site No. 172 and are the final resting places of four kings of the Park clan—King Park Hyeokgeose (founder of the Silla Kingdom), King Namhae, King Yuri, and King Jabi—and one queen (Queen Aryeong, wife of King Park Hyeokgeose).

To the east of the royal tombs lies Sungdeokjeon Shrine, which holds the ancestral tablet of King Park Hyeokgeose. Behind the shrine is the Aryeongjeong Well, said to be the birthplace of Queen Aryeong.

Bunhwangsa Temple (분황사)

1.7 Km    31442     2024-02-29

94-11 Bunhwang-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Bunhwangsa Temple, located next to the ruins of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju, was established in 634 during the Silla dynasty. Visitors can see cultural assets such as the Stone Brick Pagoda designated as a national treasure, and the Pedestal for the Stele of State Preceptor Hwajaeng registered as a Historic Site. Despite being a significant and ancient temple, much of it was lost during wars such as the Mongolia invasions and the Japanese invasions of Korea, leaving only a few buildings and temple grounds like Bogwangjeon Hall. Nearby, there is the Hwangnyongsa Museum.

Suseokjeong (수석정)

Suseokjeong (수석정)

2.2 Km    22833     2024-02-23

41 Naeri-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
054-748-0835

Situated just ten minutes from the Gyeongju National Museum, Suseokjeong offers an opportunity to savor the refined culinary art of Korean table d'hote. Its signature dish is tteokgalbi jeongsik (grilled galbi patties set menu). The meal begins with warm sungnyung (scorched rice soup) served in a yugi bowl, followed by a hearty spread that includes jeonbokjuk (abalone porridge), tteokgalbi, and gungjung japchae (royal japchae). For dessert, guests can enjoy dried fruits and sujeonggwa (cinnamon punch). Nearby attractions include the Neungjitap Pagoda Site, Rock-carved Buddhas in the Tapgok Valley, and the Stone Seated Buddha in the Mireukgok Valley of Namsan Mountain.

Gyeongju Najeong Well (경주 나정)

Gyeongju Najeong Well (경주 나정)

2.2 Km    12765     2020-04-06

Tap-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-6100

To the southeast of the royal tomb, is a small monument that has been erected among the pine trees; next to the monument is a well called Najeong. According to Samguksagi (Historical records of the Three Kingdoms) and Samgungnyusa (Memorabilia from the three dynasties), Park Hyeokgeose, the founding monarch of Silla, was born by this well. In 69 BC, Sobeolgong, the head of Goheochon Village, saw a white horse on its knees by the well. When he approached the well he found that the horse had magically disappeared and that a large egg was left in its place, from which a boy was born. When the boy turned 13 years old (57 BC), he was appointed king by the village chiefs and began to rule the area then called ‘Seorabeol’. A memorial stone (2.25 meters high, 45 centimeters long, and 21 centimeters wide) was erected in 1803 in the third year of King Sunjo's rule (Joseon dynasty) detailing the historical origins of the founding father of Silla.