경주, Capital of the 신라 Kingdom

A short distance north of Busan lies the city of GyeongJu (경주), sometimes known as KyeongJu.

경주 is a very interesting city, as it is a former capital of Korea.  More specifically, 경주 was the capital city of the Silla (신라) dynasty, the first kingdom to unify all people living on the Korean peninsula under one king.  The 신라 dynasty existed from about 57 BC until about 1000 AD.

Still today, there are many relics of the 신라 dynasty in 경주.  Most of them are the tombs of the 신라 royal family.  Members of the 신라 royal family were buried under rather large burial mounds, often shaped like the hills that surround 경주, called tumuli.  One tumulus, located in the city's tumuli park, has been partially excavated and turned into a museum.  It is known as the "heavenly horse tomb", and the public can enter it and view its structure, as well as replicas of the artifacts that were discovered within it.  The original artifacts are probably at the GyeongJu national museum.

A tumulus in "tumuli park".

The tomb of General Kim YuShin.

A tumulus in 경주, with a small hill in the background.

More tumuli in 경주, with small hills in the background.

A few other relics from the 신라 era still remain in 경주, like the astronomical observatory called Cheomseongdae (첨성대) and the Gyerim forest (계림).

The 첨성대 observatory.

계림 forest.

And another impressive 경주 site is the Bulguk temple (불국사).  The temple's name can roughly be  translated as "temple of Buddha's country", or "temple of Buddha's people", and may date back to the year 528.  It is the home of many historical treasures of the Korean nation, including two large stone pagodas.  Behind it, on mount Tohamsan (토함산), is the Seokguram grotto (석굴암), within which is located a large stone statue that is a UNESCO world heritage treasure.

Bulguk temple (불국사).

and one of its pagodas...

and the other of its pagodas.

More modern sites of interest in 경주 include traditionally styled homes, as well as a shrine called Tongiljeon Hall built by Korea's most infamous dictator, Park Chung-hee.  This hall honours three of the most important 신라 dynasty figures, King Muyeol, King Munmu, and general Kim YuShin.  It also features a number of paintings depicting the unification of the Korean peninsula by the 신라 kings.

A traditionally styled home in 경주.

One of the buildings of Teongiljeon hall.

Today, modern 경주 is a peaceful town.   Like most Korean cities, it does have a few high-rise apartment buildings, but most of its buildings are not very tall.  And there is much agricultural land around the city.

Some high-rise apartment buildings in 경주.

A rice field in 경주.

A view of 경주 from 토함산.

경주 is definitely worth a visit.