Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대)

0m 109092 2023-07-07

140-25, Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-772-3843

Cheomseongdae Observatory, constructed during the reign of Queen Seondeok (r. 632-647), is one of the landmark of Gyeongju. The observatory was built in a cylinder shape at approximately 9 meters in x_height. The observatory consists of 365 stones, symbolizing the number of days in a year. The rocks are piled in 27 layers symbolizing the 27th ruler, Queen Seondeok, and the days in a lunar month by adding the of two rock layers on top.

Ipungnyeo Guro Ssambap (이풍녀구로쌈밥)

189.9898529493131m 42147 2024-02-23

155 Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
054-749-0600

Near the Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju, Ipungnyeo Guro Ssambap is renowned for its signature dish, Guro ssambap (leaf wraps and rice set menu). The dish is accompanied by jeyuk bokkeum (spicy stir-fried pork) and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste jjigae), along with a diverse array of side dishes and ten different types of vegetables for wraps. The restaurant focuses on preserving the natural flavors of the ingredients, using minimal chemical seasonings. Its commitment to providing a hearty and wholesome meal attracts numerous visitors.

Gyeongju Gyerim Forest (경주 계림)

195.5921526793347m 24780 2020-07-06

Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-779-8743

Gyerim Forest is located between the Cheomseongdae Observatory and Wolseong Fortress. The forest is thickly populated by ancient zelkova and willow trees rooted on gently sloping hills and along the small stream in the northwest part of the woods. According to legend, the forest is closely associated with myths surrounding the birth of Alji, the founder of the Gyeongju Kim clan. As such, it is designated national Historic Site No. 19.
Legend has it that King Talhae heard a rooster crying from deep inside the Sirim Woods. Chancellor Hogong was sent to investigate. Upon arriving, he found a rooster crying underneath a tree on which hung a golden box. Hogong immediately reported his find to the king, who instructed him to bring the golden box into the palace. The king opened the box and found a small child inside, Kim Alji. The forest, which had previously been called ‘Sirim’ or ‘Gurim’, became known as ‘Gyerim’, ('gye’ meaning rooster). The name Gyerim was also used to refer to the Silla kingdom.
Alji was adopted as the king’s son, but because the crown was passed on to King Pasa of the Park family, he never ascended the throne. The Kim clan later became the royal bloodline with the coronation of King Naemul some years later.
The memorial stone recording the birth of Kim Alji was erected in the third year of King Sunjo's rule in the Joseon dynasty. Located close to the royal fortress of Silla, the forest is still deeply revered as the mystical birthplace of the first ancestor of the royal Kim clan of Silla. Yellow canola blossoms along the path connecting Daereungwon with Gyerim and Banwolseong only add to the magical ambiance of the forest.

Gyeongju Royal Tomb of King Naemul (경주 내물왕릉)

205.5984627824867m 13450 2020-04-04

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

King Naemul was the 17th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (in power from 356 to 402) and became the second king of the Kim family name. King Naemul was known as the first king to initiate the king title of ‘Maripgan’ and was known for spreading cultural advancements from China to the Korean people. When the allied forces of Baekje and Japan attacked, he asked Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo for help and led the people to victory, contributing to the increased strength of the Silla Kingdom. After his rule, the throne was exclusively ceded to members of the Kim family clan.

The royal tomb of King Naemul is a large mound (22 m in diameter and 5.3 m in x_height) that sits on the northern hill of the Confucian school of Gyeongju. The edge of a natural stone is exposed around the bottom of the mound, pointing to the fact that the inner chamber tomb was made of stone. In the historical document Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms), no records are found about the tomb, but the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms) describes the king’s tomb as being located in the southwest of Cheomseongdae, which is consistent with the tomb’s location.

Wiyeonjae Hanok Stay [Korea Quality] / 위연재 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

207.1124104577638m 4 2021-03-29

7, Jjoksaem-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

This hanok (traditional Korean house) is located very near to Cheomseongdae Observatory. Its location in front of the Gyeongju Historic Areas allows guests to reach major sights in Gyeongju like Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and Hwangnidan-gil Street by foot. This hanok symbolizes the historicity of the city of Gyeongju in that during its construction a female skeleton and accessories made out of precious metals were excavated from the site. The accommodation’s name comes from the idiom “Muwijayeon (leaving nature as it is),” combining bamboo and pine trees with green grass, show its dedication to ideals of rest and philosophy.
There are five rooms in total, all ondol (under-the-floor heating system) rooms for two. Korean paper lining the walls and old-fashioned furniture speak to the ideal beauty of hanok. The raised floor space, which is attached to the “Munmu” room, is a great place to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. All rooms have modern bathrooms with shower facilities, and a complimentary breakfast is served in the cafe on site from 8:00 to 9:00 in the morning. The complex has abundant parking spaces for the guests.

Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival (경주벚꽃축제)

303.58683852121277m 62847 2023-03-20

10 , Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-777--5951~3

Historical city of Gyeongju annually hosts the Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival from late March to early April. Visitors to Gyeongju will be able to enjoy a festival that combines cherry blossoms with art and culture.

SOSEOLJAE [Korea Quality] / 소설재(첨성대점) [한국관광 품질인증]

363.4510690065728m 1156 2020-09-09

46, Poseok-ro 1050beon-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-7357-7412

As a traditional Korean guesthouse with modern facilities but with some traditional features of a Korean house such as wooden floor and ceramic tiled roof intact, Soseoljae is located next to Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju. It also has an old well in the garden. Each guestroom is furnished with bathroom and air conditioner for the convenience of the guests. The single-story guesthouse has a total of 11 rooms that can accommodate 2-4 people depending on the size of the room. The two-story stand-alone guesthouse located right next to the main gate can accommodate six, and it has a small tea room. The guesthouse has a cafe at the entrance. It's conveniently located near Cheomseomdae, Daereungwon Ancient Tombs, and Hwangnyongsaji (Hwangnyongsa Temple Site) as well as Gyeongju Station and Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal.

Yosokkoong (요석궁)

444.4277766934514m 53073 2020-07-14

19-4, Gyochonan-gil, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-772-3347

Named after Silla King Muyeol's daughter, Princess Yoseok, Yosokkoong serves traditional Korean food. The resturant is run by the Choi family, who settled on the site of Princess Yoseok's house during the Joseon dynasty, and has passed on the restaurant and family recipes through 12 generations. All the foods served are made with organic ingredients, for a healthy taste that cannot be found anywhere else.

Seokbinggo (Stone Ice Storage) (경주 석빙고)

495.43022381161234m 24923 2020-04-06

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

Seokbinggo means a freezer made of rocks. It is an ancient refrigerator only in Korea. It is located in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Era (BC57-AD935). The appearance of this wonderful vestige is humble and simple. But you will not be disappointed at the entrance of the freezer. You can feel the cold from inside the structure. Half of Seokbinggo is underground while the other half is above ground, signifying the scientific propensity of Korea. The floor, walls, and ceiling are made of granite and have an airway. The walls are covered with limestone to keep off moisture and water. The floor is slanted to allow melted ice to funnel out. Frozen ice was popular for the upper class. From historical annals, it is assumed that Seokbinggo was made at least 1,500 years ago. Seokbbingo has been designated as National Treasure No. 66.

Silla Cultural Festival (신라문화제)

562.2278826537051m 7295 2023-09-14

Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-777-5953~4

Silla Cultural Festival is held to promote the excellence of Silla history and culture and to give pride to Gyeongju residents. The festival features a combination of traditional and modern aspects.

Cheomseongdae Observatory (경주 첨성대) - Area information - Korea travel information