Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (경주 동궁과 월지)

1.2 Km 136783 2024-04-08

102 Wonhwa-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8655

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in Gyeongju are secondary palace sites of Silla. The palace, along with other secondary palaces, was used as the eastern palace where the prince lived, and banquets were held during auspicious events or to welcome important guests. It is also where King Gyeongsun of Silla invited King Wang Geon of Goryeo and had a feast to complain about the critical situation in 931 after being invaded by Gyeon Hwon. After unifying the three kingdoms, Silla's King Munmu dug a large pond in the 14th year of his reign (674), creating three islands in the center of the pond along with a 12-peaked mountain to the northeast. Beautiful flowers and trees were planted here, and rare birds and animals were raised. In the Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) from the Goryeo dynasty, there is only a record of Imhaejeon Hall and no mention of Anapji Pond. After Silla fell and the place fell into ruins during the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, poets and calligraphers looked at the pond and recited a line of poetry that says, “The once splendid palace is gone, and only geese and ducks fly in.” That's why the place is called Anapji, using the letters 'an' for wild geese and 'ab' for ducks. In the 1980s, pottery fragments with the inscription "Wolji" were excavated, and it was confirmed that this area was originally called "Wolji," which means "a pond that reflects the moon." And the name Anapji was changed to Wolji Pond afterwards.

Daereungmyojji (대릉묘찌)

1.2 Km 0 2024-04-08

1085 Poseok-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Try the unique combination of beaded ice cream and sweet rice cake, a traditional Korean dessert, at Daereungmyojji on Hwangridan Street near Daereungwon Ancient Tombs. The business offers take-out only, and there are no seats. Three menus are available: mugwort flavor sweet rice cake with pea filling, chocolate flavor sweet rice cake with filling made with Belgian dark chocolate, and sweet rice cake with red bean filling and crispy walnuts. Each serving of sweet rice cakes is cut into three or four pieces and served in a cup. In addition to being a unique dessert, the packaging has a cute rabbit drawing on it. The gift set contains eight pieces, perfect for people who want to enjoy a lot of desserts.

Sugyeong Sikdang ([백년가게]숙영식당)

1.2 Km 0 2024-02-23

60 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
054-772-3369

Located near the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs in Gyeongju, Sugyeong Sikdang is housed in a renovated old building, featuring ochre-colored exterior walls and a thatched roof that create a folksy ambiance. Its signature dish is chalboribap jeongsik (steamed barley rice set menu), accompanied by doenjang jjigae (soybean paste jjigae). Patrons have the option to customize their bibimbap by adding gangdoenjang (seasoned soybean paste) and gochujang (red chili paste) to their taste. Additionally, the restaurant offers pajeon (green onion pancake) and deodeok muchim (deodeok salad), each prepared using their own secret recipes.

Hwangnamguan [Korea Quality] / 주식회사 황남관 [한국관광 품질인증]

1.2 Km 18904 2020-12-16

1038, Poseok-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-3518-4582

Located in Gyeongju City, Hwangnamgwan is a traditional Korean style accommodation which opened in April 2014. The place looks like a small hanok village with 4 one-story buildings and 2 two-story buildings, constructed on about 5000㎡ of building site. The buildings are equipped with modern convenience facilities but manage to preserve the antique flavor of traditional Korean house. All rooms are equipped with a bathroom. A bathtub is installed in the largest room, Numaru Suite. Auxiliary facilities include the seminar room which is located in the two-story building. There are a cafe and a pizza restaurant on the first floor for meetings or simple meals. Guests are given discount coupons for the cafe. Various traditional plays can be enjoyed in the hanok. It is possible to take photos with the beautiful Hwangnamgwan building in the background wearing traditional Korean clothes. You can also play Neolttwigi, Tuho, and Jegichagi in the wide yard and experience twisting legs, bastinado, turning the millstone, fulling, Pogurak (dancing play), etc. which have appeared on TV dramas. It is possible to receive discounted services at nearby affiliated facilities: 50% discount at Spalux Jjimjilbang, Kids Cafe, and Sport Town Bowling Center. Famous tourist attractions such as Cheonmachong Tomb, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Banwolseong Fortress are within walking distance; and the National Gyeongju Museum and Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park are likewise not far from Hwangnamgwan.

Cheonmachong Tomb (Daereungwon Ancient Tombs) (천마총 (대릉원))

1.2 Km 110909 2023-07-14

9, Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-743-1925

Daereungwon Ancient Tombs are one of the most well-known sights in Gyeongju, a history park home to 23 small and large ancient tombs. The area is dotted with tranquil trails among the tombs like the largest tomb in Hwangnam-dong, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb; Cheonmachong Tomb, the place where Cheonmado, a saddle flap painting, was excavated from; and the tomb of King Michu, nicknamed the “Tomb of the Bamboo Warrior.”
Cheonmachong Tomb, excavated in 1973, has a x_height of 12.7 meters and a diameter of 50 meters. Its excavation unearthed many artifacts, such as the famous Gold Crown from Cheonmachong Tomb. Its name comes from Cheonmado, a mudguard saddle flap with a painting of a heavenly horse. Cheonmachong Tomb is the only tomb in the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs to be opened to the public.
The tomb is thought to have been constructed between the late 5th century and early 6th century. Artifacts excavated from the tomb include a gold crown, gold cap, gold waist belt, gold diadem, and gilt-bronze shoes worn by the buried. The gold crown, in particular, is known as the largest and the most elaborate of all gold crowns unearthed in Korea. The artifacts themselves can be found in Gyeongju National Museum, so don’t miss the chance to see them in person.
Another must-visit site is the Daereungwon Magnolia Photo Area, a lone magnolia tree standing between the beautiful curves of ancient tombs.

Gyeongju Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex (경주 대릉원 일원)

1.2 Km 13734 2022-12-26

9, Gyerim-ro, Gyeonju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-750-8650

Gyeongju Daereungwon Tomb Complex consists of five tombs, Ancient Tombs of Gyeongju Nodong-ri, Noseo-ri, Hwangnam-ri, Hwango-ri, and Inwang-ri. The tombs are distributed in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, and are located in the Daereungwon area. Within Daereungwon Tomb Complex is Cheonmachong Tomb, which was excavated in 1973. Furthermore, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb was excavated between 1973 and 1975, and is a set of twin tombs belonging to a presumed married couple.

Gyeongju Ssambap Street (경주 쌈밥거리)

1.2 Km 0 2024-02-08

9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Gyeongju Ssambap Street, developed around the Daereungwon Ancient Tombs in Gyeongju, offers a diverse culinary experience. A highlight is ssambap (leaf wraps and rice), a dish featuring fresh vegetables accompanied by substantial side dishes like fish, meat, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste jjigae) made from homemade soybean paste. Additionally, this street presents a variety of snacks, including Hwangnam ppang (Hwangnam bread) prepared with red beans and flour, and jjondeugi, a traditional chewy snack made from cornmeal and sugar. Nearby attractions include the Cheomseongdae Observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, Woljeonggyo Bridge, and the Gyeongju National Museum.

Sugyeongsa (수경사)

1.3 Km 0 2024-04-08

25 Sajeong-ro 57beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Sugyeongsa is a fusion Korean food restaurant renovated from a temple and a pond. The entrance is paved with marble and stone, creating a mysterious yet neat atmosphere, and the interior is simple, preserving the original form of a hanok and using white tones. The signature dish here is beef bulgogi with lotus leaf rice. The soy sauce-seasoned Gyeongju beef bulgogi, and lotus leaf rice will work up an appetite. The lotus leaf rice is a combination of rice and mixed grains wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed for an even healthier taste. Seasonal vegetables and side dishes are also provided. Also on the menu are Daereungwon deep-fried cheese, made with cheese rind, and beef brisket japchae pasta with seven kinds of vegetables, perilla seeds, and lotus root chips. A delicious meal can be enjoyed by anyone thanks to the restaurant's reinterpretation of traditional Korean food.

Hwangnam Bread (황남빵)

1.3 Km 2 2023-07-12

783 , Taejong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

When Hwangnam Bread was created in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, in 1939, people began to refer to it as “the bread from Hwangnam.” Over time, the name stuck. The late Choi Yeong-hwa, the founder of Hwangnam Bread, was a scion of the Gyeongju Choi family who came up with this masterpiece when he was 21 years old after much trial and error. Mr. Choi’s creation is based on the tradition of rice cakes and bread made with sweet red beans, passed down throughout the generations in his family. Even today, 80 years after the creation of the bread, it is only flavored with red beans. Another defining feature of Hwangnam Bread is the delicate comb pattern inspired by the aesthetics of the Silla period.

Hwarang Guesthouse [Korea Quality] / 화랑게스트하우스[한국관광 품질인증]

1.4 Km 694 2020-09-09

136-1, Wonhyo-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-10-2473-8329

Hwarang Hostel is located near Daereungwon in Gyeongju.
The three-story guest house has ten rooms in all, and there are two types of rooms - double and quad. Every room is equipped with exclusive toilet and bathroom for the user’s convenience.
The atmosphere of the lobby on the first floor is very relaxing and cozy, furnished with various kinds of books including travel guides.
Communal PC and fax, refrigerator, and washing facility are available. Daereungwon ancient tombs, Cheomseongdae observatory, and Donggung & Wolji palace site are within walking distance from the guest house.
Hwarang Hostel boasts of the best location considering the transportation and tourist destinations. You can also rent a bike for 7,000 won a day.

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (경주 동궁과 월지) - Area information - Korea travel information