Gyeongju National Museum
Various Relics of the Silla Period All Together

The Gyeongju National Museum exhibits numerous relics dating from the Silla Dynasty. The museum is divided into three main halls and an outdoor garden, housing a total collection of 2,700 pieces. The museum contains various items excavated throughout Gyeongju and neighboring areas, as well as sculptures and paintings. Relics unearthed from the old burial mounds of the Silla Period, including splendid jewels and ornaments can be found in the Ancient Tomb Hall.

The outdoor garden contains Korea's largest bell (National Treasure No. 29). Officially known as the Divine Bell of the Great King Seongdeok, this 3.3 meter-high bell is better known as Emile Bell because it is said to sound like a child crying for its mother.

Descriptions are available in English throughout the museum.

Cheonmachong Tomb

Large ancient tombs of kings and noblemen of the Silla Dynasty can be seen around Gyeongju at the Daeleungwon Park. There are twenty-three large tombs located here; the most famous ancient tomb being Cheonmachong and Hwangnamdaechong. In an excavation of the area in the 1970’s, Cheonmachong was discovered with a painting of mounted horse. This painting is the only discovered painting from the Silla Era. You can also view the inside of Cheonmachong. There are 11,526 remains and crowns of the king inside the tomb demonstrating the lavish lifestyle of the king.

Anapji Pond

As said in the historical book of Samguk-sagi, during the 14th year of King Munmu’s reign (AD 661~681) in the Silla period (57 BC ~ AD 935), a large pond was dug and small mountains were built all within the palace walls. Additionally, beautiful flowers were planted and rare animals were brought in to create an exquisite garden environment. It is at Wolseung (fortress erected in AD 101 during the Silla period) that we can find Anapji pond. In 1974, an excavation revealed large spherical shapes (measuring 200 meters in diameter and 180 meters in height) indicating that 3 islands were located in the pond. Anapji pond can presently be viewed in its near original splendor, thanks to restoration efforts.

Andong Hahoe Village has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon dynasty. Moreover, the village was not artificially created; there are people who actually live there.

Three sides of Hahoe Village (Important Folk Material No.122) is surrounded by the Nakdonggang River. Because the river swirls around the village, the village is named Hahoe(河回), and is also called the spinning river village.

There are houses designated as National treasures, such as Yangjindang (No.306) and Chunghyodang (No.414). Also there are other important folk material such as the Hahoe Bukchon House (No.84), Hahoe Namchon House(No.90) and Hahoe Juilje(No.91).

Hahoe Village is also famous for the Byeolsin exorcism, the mask dance and the Hahoe Mask. The Hahoe Byeongsan Mask is the oldest mask in Korea and is used in the Hahoe Mask Dance. Hahoe Village became famous from the visit of Queen Elizabeth in 1999. Many events featuring the Mask Dance are held.

Course 1: Seokguram Grotto / Bulguksa Temple / Gyeongju National Museum.

Course 2: Mt. Namsan, a sacred place of Silla Culture / Gyeongju National Museum.

Yangdong Folk Village (Historic site 154)

Just 16 kilometers outside of Gyeongju, center of Silla culture, lies the Yangdong Folk Village, where traditions from the Chosun Dynasty remain strong. Designated as Important Folk Material No. 189, this village contains about 360 tile-roofed and straw-thatched houses, some of which have been preserved for 200 to 500 years. Three of the larger private houses have been designated as Treasures. One of the Chosun Dynasty's great Confucian scholars, Lee Eonjuk, whose pen-name was Hoejae, was born here in 1491.

In memory of Hoejae, Oksan Seowon was built in 1572. Seowon was the higher level educational system in the Chosun Dynasty. Located in the middle of four beautiful mountains, this school educated many scholars in the latter half of Chosun Dynasty.

Pohang Jukdo Market

Located in the downtown Pohang, this market is the center of local people to buy everything: agricultural product, cloth, home appliance and utensil, shoes, and many others. The most famous place is the fish market where you can find various fishes such as pollack, mackerel, snapper, flounder, and even live octopus. Since 1954 this market was formed. Nowadays, there are about 1,200 small shops in 150,000 m2 area. You can feel how ordinary Koreans live.