PUBLISHED November 5th, 2016 06:00 am | UPDATED May 12th, 2023 05:18 am
Hardcore K-Pop fans may disagree with us, but believe us when we say that South Korea is not just about Seoul, street fashion, themed cafes, or pop culture. Nature sights and sounds are abound in the south like Geoje Island and Suncheon; but if you’re interested in the brilliant heritage of the Korean people, head to Gyeongju, situated in the North Gyeongsang Province.
The city is the old capital of the Silla Kingdom, one of the Three Dynasties of Korea. With an immense 992-year history (something you might know if you’re into K-period dramas), we’re pretty sure you’ll fall in love with Gyeongju too, so you should totally visit on your next trip to the peninsula.
Getting In
Gyeongju doesn’t have its own airport, so you’ll have to fly into Busan or Ulsan and take an express bus (about one hour). Alternatively, take an intercity coach from Seoul or Incheon International Airport, which takes four hours and costs around 40,000 Won. Gyeongju is also accessible via Saemaul Express (five hours) or the faster KTX high-speed train (two hours, around 40,000 Won) to Singyeongju station. From there, take a quick bus ride into Gyeongju city.
Unique K-Performance Shows
More than just K-Pop and K-Drama, K-Performance is the new in-thing in Korean tourism, encompassing everything from comedy and musicals to breakdancing and martial arts (see K-Performance in Seoul). Many artistic groups in Gyeongju take it a step further by incorporating history in their shows for unique expression and to share the city’s extensive history.
Extreme Performance FLYing
For a performance like you’ve never seen before, check out Extreme Performance FLYing, an exhilarating non-verbal fantasy performance that has been running for well over a year. It tells the amusing story of a hwarang (knight) and dokkebi (Korean goblin) travelling from the Silla era to the present, where they meet a high school cheerleading team and take part in a competition. Chock full of gymnastics, cheerleading, rhythm gymnastics, B-boying, and martial arts, the lengthy performance is nothing short of mouth-opening – for its incredibly athletic performers and slapstick humour. Don’t sit near the stage if you’re not prepared to be led up; you have been warned!
Venue: Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, Gyeonggamno 614 (Cheongun-dong 130), Gyeongju-si
Until: Open Run
Admission: 30,000 Won
Silla
Did you know that the Koreans have had contact with the Middle East since 1500 years ago? Based on the Iranian epic poem Kushnameh, Silla showcases the meeting of the civilisations of Silla and Persia along the Maritime Silk Road in a beautiful and tragic love story between the Persian prince and princess of Silla. Receiving accolades for its glamorous set, imaginative costumes, artistic lights and videos, expect a moving performance of invasion and resistance, revenge and birth, and the pain of losing one’s country. Plus, the characters are played using only silent movements, so language won’t be a barrier here.
Venue: Gyeongju World Culture Expo Park, Gyeonggamno 614 (Cheongun-dong 130), Gyeongju-si
Until: 31 December 2016
Admission: 20,000 Won
For more information on Korean performance tourism, up-to-date information on ongoing performances, and reservations, check out K-Performance.
Historical Ruins, Temples, and Cultural Sites
Gyeongju is home to a remarkable number of historical sites and cultural art, including palaces, temples, and fortresses. Several of them have also been featured in popular South Korean dramas such as Queen Seondeok and Wonderful Days.
Daereungwon Tomb Complex
There are tens of giant tombs around Gyeongju – shaped like huge mounds sticking out of the ground – but only one of them are fully excavated and open to the public. This is where the final resting place of kings and nobles of the Silla Kingdom can be found. Enter the Cheonmachong tomb as witness the lavish lifestyle of the king, full of relics, gold accessories, and also the only painting discovered from the Silla era.
Daereungwon Tomb Complex is located at 14 Gyerim-ro, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju.
Seokguram Grotto
Buddhism is the predominant religion in Korea, which explains the large number of Buddha statues everywhere. Itself a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find the famous Bonjon Statue, one of South Korea’s national treasures, inside the Seokguram Grotto. If you like giant Buddhas, this is a must-visit, though be prepared for a 10-minute walk up the gentle mountain.
Seokguram Grotto is located at 873-243 Bulguk-ro, Jinhyeon-dong, Gyeongju.
Shilla Millennium Park
A fascinating theme park based on the history and culture of the Silla Period, expect to find reproduced Silla architecture, artefacts, monuments like the Emile Tower and Seokbinggo, as well as Korea’s first hanok (traditional Korean house) hotel. There are plenty of entertainment presented daily, with shows like a horse-riding performance and elaborate drama skit.
Shilla Millennium Park is located at 55-12, Expo-ro, Gyeongju.
Cheomsongdae Observatory
Cheomsongdae, which means star-gazing in Korean, is the oldest astronomical observatories in Asia. Comprised of 365 stones to symbolises a whole year, the building was built during Queen Seondeok’s reign and has 27 tiers to represent the Silla Kingdom’s 27th monarch. Hang around in the park and you’ll see plenty of children and couples hanging around – a splendid place to people-watch and to catch the sunset.
Cheomsongdae Observatory is located at 169-5 Cheomseong-ro, Wolseong-dong, Gyeongju
Anapji Pond
Formally the secondary palace site of the Silla crown prince, this beautiful man-made pond is best viewed at night as it reflects the bright orange lights flooding out from the buildings. Reconstructed after the downfall of Silla, Anapji is romantic beyond fault, save for the large number of tourists and locals alike. This spot is perfect for night photography, but you might want to bring a tripod along to avoid shaky photos.
Anapji Pond is located at 102 Wonhwa-ro, Wolseong-dong, Gyeongju.
Bulguksa Temple
Don’t mistake this for just a temple; the Bulguksa Temple complex (designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995) is surprisingly huge and can occupy you for hours. Still used as a temple but many locals, Bulguksa is home to many cultural relics such as the Dabotap Pagoda, Seokgatap Pagoda, Yeonhwa-gyo and Chilbo-gyo Bridges, and the Golden Seated Amita Figure..
Bulguksa Temple is located at 15-1 Jinhyeon-dong, Gyeongju.
Spectacular Traditional Korean Fare
There are certain styles of traditional Korean cuisine in Gyeongju that cannot be found anywhere else in Korea.
Surime (110-32, Poseok-ro, Naenam-myeon, Gyeongju) – Enveloped by the Namsan Mountain, this restaurant is where Park Mi-suk, director of Surime and a graduate of the Royal Cuisine Institute, showcases her unique royal cuisine from the Joseon Dynasty. Most of the ingredients used are grown and made fresh (you’ll see an uncountable number of pots outside the storefront) to deliver the authentic taste of royal cuisine.
Aside from dining, Surime also offers a programme for visitors to learn more about royal cuisine, such as workshops and classes. This is where one can discover the beauty of Gyeongju and its prosperous history during the Silla era.
Yeonhwabaru (4827, Daegyeong-ro, Gyeongju) – This small building in the middle of nowhere is Gyeongju’s first restaurant to offer Korean temple cuisine, serving dishes with a large number of herbs and produce from the local mountains, without any artificial spices. You’ll find that the lacquered bowls and plates used are made of ash tree and lotus-flower-decorated, just like the way Buddhist monks do it.
Bonus: Gyeongju Pang – Be sure to try the special Gyeongju pang, a simple but delicious red bean bread. A hot favourite during the colder months, there’s no shortage of shops along the streets selling this local delight, especially in the Bomun Tourist Complex. Makes for great souvenirs too!
This post was made possible by Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore).