Silla heritage shines in Gyeongju: a tour of Korea's 'golden kingdom'

Silla heritage shines in Gyeongju

Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) for almost a thousand years. The city retains historical and cultural traces of Silla, dubbed "a golden kingdom."

Held under the theme "Light of a Millennium, Coexistence of Generations," the World Heritage Festival is being held in Gyeongju Historic Area, Gyeongju Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. Fifteen programs including "Finding Myself at Seokguram Grotto" and "Fly Again, Yellow Dragon" highlight the history and culture of the kingdom.

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'Ah, the Night of Silla'

This interactive history tour explores Silla's leading heritage sites such as Gyerim Forest, Cheomseongdae Observatory and Cheonmachong Tomb and historical figures of the kingdom. Visitors are greeted by and mingle with the Silla isageum (king) and hogong (prime minister), adding a special touch to a serene night in Gyeongju.

Jeon Ik-jae, a tourist from Incheon, said, "It felt more vivid to see history firsthand and listen to explanations that I'd learned only through textbooks."

'Gyeongju World Heritage Palsang' (Eightfold Path)

Most festival programs are held either early in the morning or at night. For those who want to explore Gyeongju without time constraints, "Gyeongju World Heritage Palsang" (Eightfold Path) is recommended. This interactive content allows visitors to visit the eight sites in Gyeongju and learn about the city's history and culture through quizzes and missions.

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The first stop was Yangdong Village, whose traditions date back over 500 years as the venue was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. Strolling around the village feels like walking into a scene from a historical K-drama. Admission is KRW 4,000.

Next was Bulguksa Temple, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. This structure houses outstanding architecture from the Unified Silla (676-935) era such as Seokgatap (Three-story) Pagoda, Dabotap Pagoda, and the bridges of Cheongungyo and Baegungyo.

German visitor Caterina Brunetti said, "Bulguksa is a place to experience Korean history with the entire body amid tranquility."

The other stops were Bonghwangdae Tomb, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Wolseong Moat, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in Gyeongju Historic Area.

The gargantuan Bonghwangdae is a tomb with circumference of 250 m. Old trees still grow on its slopes, creating a distinct landscape.

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A leading cultural heritage that comes to mind when thinking of Gyeongju is Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia. Built during the reign of Silla Queen Seondeok, who ruled from 632-647, the structure possesses breathtaking beauty day and night.

The Silla people a thousand years ago used the observatory to determine farming periods based on the sky's movements and predicted the nation's fate based on constellations.

Dubbed a time capsule of Silla history, Wolseong Moat is a small body of water steeped in history. Built to defend the Silla royal palace, the moat boasts a serene setting surrounded by green grass and trees.

Numerous artifacts such as wooden tablets and earthenware have been discovered at the bottom of the pond, reflecting the lives of the people at the time.

Donggung Palace and Wolji Moat formed a royal villa for Silla. At night, the place is illuminated in golden light to create a beautiful spectacle that reflects the splendor of the kingdom a millennium ago, punctuating Silla's reputation as the "golden kingdom."

This place represents the essence of Silla's landscape architecture. Admission is KRW 3,000.