Gyeongju - A City built on the History

I have learned at my middle school history class that Korea Peninsula has Three Kingdoms Period  in history as China has a same-named period. Those three kingdoms were Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla. Through fighting with others, finally, Silla (57BC-935) conquered the other two kingdoms and occupied most of the Korea Peninsula. 

Gyeongju was the capital of that Silla Kingdom.

I arrived at Singyeongju in the early morning, and planned to take a bus to Yangdong at 7:50 am. I have checked the timetable in advance, but unfortunately it changed to 8:50 am. NO COMMENTS... The KTX Singyeongju Station is a little far from the Gyeongjy Station of local line located in the center of Gyeongjy City. I must go into the city first, look around and visit Yangdong then. OK, let me catch a bus. I must say it was inconvenient here comparing with Seoul that no signboard was written in other languages besides Korean. There was a bus waiting at bus stop. I had to ask the driver if this bus was bound for the inner town by pointing a map. The driver spoke Korean loudly and showed me the number of bus I should take. An old woman was waiting for that bus with me. She was very friendly and spoke Korean loudly to me too. It must mean "I also take that bus, follow me." -- I enjoyed guessing what Koreans said.

Gyeonjyu Station in the downtown

After about 20 minutes, I got off the bus. It was kind for the bus driver to show me the direction of Gyeonjyu Station, though he had no smile face. It was too early to borrow a bicycle. I decided to walk to Bunhwangsa, an old temple built in Silla era. Bunhwangsa is a small temple with few structures, and really old.The pagoda in the temple is special. It' s said that the pagoda is an important thing to research Silla culture. I've never seen that style in China or Japan before. Since Buddhism was spread from China to Korea then to Japan, I wondered where this style came from and wnet to. 

The Bunhwangsa Pagoda

Main Gate (left) & entrance (right) of Bunhwangsa 

Near the Bunhwangsa, there is the ruin of Hwangnyongsa which is considered the largest temple in Korea history. Hwangnyong written in Chinese characters means Yellow Dragon. Matching the name, this temple was built for protecting the Kingdom of Silla in 6th century. Ironically, this temple was destroyed by Mongolian invasion in 1238 when it was the Goryeo Dynasty. I like this ruin with herbs reached my knees. It was a quiet place and so wide that I could view the far mountains and maybe the ancient dynasties.

Ruin of Hwangnyongsa (the pillars are remains of the temple)

Since I thought it was far and seemed not a bus would come to take me away, I took a taxi to the Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical  observatory in East Asia. It is a simple tower made by stone, and the shape is like a glass bottle of milk in the past time. It's cute. I like its shape and like its name more. The Cheomseongdae written in Chinese character means "the tower of looking up stars with respect ". Through this name, I can image the scene that ancient people observe sky on the tower.

Cheomseongdae

Around the Cheomseongdae there are a great number of tumuli of Silla Kings. Contrary to the tombs of Chinese emperors, they are simple without attached structures. They're similar to those in Japan which are covered by trees. It's really so many tumuli that looks like green waves when you see them in a moving car.

Tomb of Naemul of Silla

Cheonmachong, means Heavenly Horse Tomb, is likely the only tomb people can walk in. It's in the Tumuli Park Belt. Maybe because of Saturday, many people went there with family. 

Tumuli Park Belt

Lovely girl with her brother

 I'm sad to say Korea has many wonderful foods, but I haven't eaten much enough. I had some snacks for lunch near Gyeongju Station. It was good taste and price, and I could eat while walking. After the lunch, I went north to Yangdong, returned to the station, and move to south for Bulguksa.

Lunch