Gyeongju

Gyeongju is a city in eastern North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. It has more than a thousand years of recorded history as the capital of the Silla Kingdom, from 57 BC to 935 AD, and is often described as a living museum of ancient Korea due to its extensive concentration of historic sites and artifacts.

Geography and setting: Located on the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula, Gyeongju sits in a landscape of hills, rivers, and historic sites. The area around the city includes lakes and parklands such as Bomun Lake, which serves as a major resort and tourist area while preserving the region’s historical character.

Heritage and sites: The city is home to several important UNESCO World Heritage sites as part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas, including Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto. Its landscape preserves numerous royal tombs in Tumuli Park (Daereungwon), ancient city walls, and temples. Cheomseongdae, an ancient astronomical observatory, is another prominent landmark. The concentration of ruins, pagodas, statues, and pottery from the Silla era makes Gyeongju a key source for understanding early Korean Buddhist art and statecraft.

Museums and modern life: The Gyeongju National Museum houses a large collection of artifacts from the Silla period and other eras. Today, the city combines historic preservation with contemporary cultural life, hosting festivals, markets, and crafts that reflect its long heritage while functioning as a regional hub for education and tourism.