Gyeongju UNESCO World Heritage Site Tour

Off on our Tour

Today we are heading out on a long tour to Gyeongju, which used to be the capital of Korea.

The temperature is a comfortable 24° and it’s overcast. The forecast is calling for torrential rain in the afternoon. Warnings in Korean have been coming on all cell phones about the rain and flooding. Oh yeah!

Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple

Our first visit is to Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple, the most famous temple in Korea. It is a Silla Buddhist Temple originally built 774AD but burnt by the Japanese in 1593 AD. It was restored in 1969.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains six national treasures including two special stone pagodas. And two gilt bronze statues.

I loved the guardians at the gate with their smaller demons at their feet.

We stop for lunch (an uninspiring Korean buffet) before heading to our next stop.

Gyochon Traditional Village

The Woljeong Bridge is the first thing we see. Because we are coming back at night we only spend a few minutes taking pictures of it in the daylight before we walk through to the village.

As we exit the covered bridge, it starts to rain and the raincoats and umbrellas come out.

The village was basically run by the Gyeongju Choi Clan who kept their wealth for twelve generations. A Silla princess also had her home there.

By now the rain is just pouring down.

Dereungwon Royal Tombs

Daereungwon Royal Tombs are wooden chamber tombs inside stone mounds covered in dirt and lush, green grass There are so many of them, built for Silla’s Kings and the royal family between the fifth and early sixth century.

And now things have escalated to thunder, lightning and seriously pouring rain.

We are given time to explore Hwangnidan-Gil. A trendy street filled with shops, cafes, photo shops and restaurants. However, the rain is at its worst so we find a cozy restaurant and order seafood ramen soup with dumplings.

Dongguan Palace & Wolji Pond

It is dark out but the rain has stopped when we get to Dongguan Palace and Wolji Pond. They are so pretty; all lit up and reflecting in the water. This was the palace of the Silla Crown Prince around 674 AD.

Woljeong Bridge

We saw it by day but it is truly spectacular when lit up at night. We cross the bridge and come back across the lighted stepping stones further up stream. This gives us the vantage point for the perfect shot.

Unfortunately, that’s when the skies decide to open up.

We get back into Busan shortly after nine with thunder and lightning all around. It was a full day.