Wander From Home: Travel Back In Time in South Korea’s Gyeongju, A Sageuk Lover’s Haven

PUBLISHED July 7th, 2020 05:00 am | UPDATED May 12th, 2023 05:18 am

Gyeongju is fondly dubbed Korea’s ‘museum without walls’, though it’s more like an open trove of National Treasures – 31, to be exact. This coastal city was the ancient capital of the powerful Silla dynasty (57 BC – 935 AD), which unified the three kingdoms of Korea (if you love your historical dramas, you’d already know this). With so many Silla-age architectural marvels to boast of, it’s almost unfair that Gyeongju is rich in natural beauty too – from cherry blossoms to picturesque peaks. Get an eyeful of this storied city with our virtual tour.

Pay Your Respects to Silla’s Royalty

No, those aren’t grassy hills – they’re burial mounds in which rest Silla’s long-lost ruling class. Home to over 20 royal tombs, Tumuli Park‘s unique undulating landscape makes for a lovely stroll. Chief among them is Cheonmacheong, the only royal burial ground open to public in South Korea. Here, a stunning gold crown decked with 58 jade pieces was excavated, among other treasures; you can still see replicas of gold ornaments and fine pottery found within. Delve deeper into the tombs’ history with this video tour, or try spotting the massive Hwangnam Daechong – a double-humped tumulus containing both a king and queen – here.

Stroll Through The Crown Prince’s Palace

Once a hub of political intrigue (well, at least in K-dramas), Donggung Palace was constructed nearly 1500 years ago as the Crown Prince’s residence. Only Wolji Pond and three pagodas have been restored from a once sprawling complex, but they’re more than enough for a peek into Silla’s architectural splendor. Take a walking tour through the pavilions, each graced with Chinese-style slanted roofs and intricate Tang carvings, and find zen beside the serene manmade pond, designed to inspire meditation.

Catch Cherry Blossom Season

Each April, sakura-pink blooms burst in South Korea, and Gyeongju ranks among the country’s best spots to feast your eyes. The paths around tranquil Bomun Lake are lined with masses of cherry trees – and if the glorious sight makes you want to run amongst them, the city even hosts a cherry blossom marathon. While we wait for springtime to come round again, here’s two blissful minutes of Gyeongju’s cherry blossoms to brighten your week.

Take A Heritage Hike at Mt. Namsan

Set in the heart of Gyeongju National Park, Namsan is a mountain shrouded in myth. At its foot lies Najeong Well, supposedly the mystic birthplace of Silla’s founder King Park Hyeokgeose. Then there’re the dozens of stone Buddha sculptures watching over every twist and turn of the lush forest trail, some colossal and carved directly into the mountain face. Get introduced to Namsan’s sacred stone residents with this virtual tour, and catch a glimpse of the largest sitting statue of them all – the engraved figure of Sakyamuni in Samneung Valley.

Get Buzzed On Boepju

Gyeongju has its very own type of rice wine: gyodong beopju, a clear wine brewed with glutinous rice. Historical mentions of this illustrious tipple date back as far as the 12th century – it was the drink of kings and featured in ceremonial rites for royal ancestors. Today, beopju is still brewed as it has been for centuries – in the head-house of Gyeongju’s Gyerim Choe clan, using a recipe handed down for generations. Get an in-depth look into its almost ritualistic brewing process here, or snag a taste of this royal tipple here.

Wander The Holy ‘Land of Buddha’

Bulguksa Temple is one of the few surviving examples of Silla architecture, and what a fine specimen it is. Perched on the slopes of Mount Tohamsan, this graceful complex was designed to embody the ‘land of Buddha’, from the Daeungjeon (Hall of Enlightenment) to the Geungnakjeon (Hall of Supreme Bliss). Explore the grounds with this 360° video tour, and be sure to spot the two original stone pagodas dating back to 751 CE – Dabotap, an intricate octagonal structure carved in bamboo and flower forms, and Seokgatap, an elegantly simple affair ringed by eight lotus flower stones.

Explore The Sacred Seokguram Grotto

Up for a scenic hour’s hike? Not far uphill from Bulguksa Temple lies Seokguram Grotto, a granite cave temple carved out in the 8th century. Step through into the perfectly circular inner chamber to find a monumental statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha, towering at 3.45-metres’ height. This serene-faced colossus faces east out to sea – a form of protection against the Japanese pirates of that era. If you can tear your eyes away, the bodhisattvas, devas, and disciples sculpted in relief around him are just as marvellous. Constructing a domed ceiling was no mean feat, so dive into this virtual tour for deets on just how this masterpiece was achieved.

Enjoy Traditional Cultural Performances

Gyeongju’s cultural calendar is packed with festivals year round, from pottery-making programs in April to June’s World Traditional Instrument Festival to the exuberant Silla Cultural Festival in October. With so much heritage to celebrate, you can expect plenty of cultural buzz ongoing anytime you visit. For a sneak peek of some of Gyeongju’s cultural spectacles, check out this mesmerizing video of salpuri, a sorrowful, shamanistic dance performed to expel evil spirits.