Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage]

Registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in November 2000, the Gyeongju Historic Areas (慶州歷史遺蹟地區) encompass the history and culture of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Dynasty (57-935). They are divided into five historic districts based on the nature of the relics. The first is the Namsan District, a treasure trove of Silla Buddhist art. Gyeongju Namsan, often called an outdoor museum, breathes the spirit of Silla, with 37 Buddhist relics scattered across it, including Poseokjeong (鮑石亭, Historic Site), Tapgok Maaebulsang (塔谷 磨崖彫像群, Treasure), Cheonryongsa-ji Three-story Stone Pagoda (天龍寺址 三層石塔, Treasure), Chilburam Maaeseokbul (七佛庵 磨崖石佛, Treasure), and Bulgok Seokbuljwasang (佛谷 石佛坐像, Treasure). The second is the Wolseong District, the site of the Silla royal palace. It includes Gyerim (鷄林, Historic Site), Donggung and Wolji (東宮과 月池, Historic Site), the former auxiliary palace of the Silla royal palace, and Cheomseongdae (瞻星臺, National Treasure), the oldest astronomical observatory in the East. The third is the Daereungwon District, a cluster of tombs of Silla kings, queens, and nobles. It includes Nodong-ri Ancient Tombs (路東里, Historic Site), Noseo-ri Ancient Tombs (路西里, Historic Site), Hwangnam-ri Ancient Tombs (皇南里, Historic Site), O-reung (五陵, Historic Site), and Jaemaejeong (財買井, Historic Site). Excavations of these tombs have yielded valuable artifacts such as gold crowns, the Cheonmado (painting of a heavenly horse), and various earthenware, revealing the lifestyle of the era. The fourth is the Hwangnyongsa District, the essence of Silla Buddhism, preserving Hwangnyongsa-ji (皇龍寺, Historic Site) and Bunhwangsa Stone Pagoda. Finally, the Sanseong District, the core of the royal capital's defense facilities, includes Myeonghwal Fortress (明活山城, Historic Site), estimated to have been built 400 years ago.<br /><br />※ A total of 52 designated cultural properties within the Gyeongju Historic Areas are included in the World Cultural Heritage site.<br /><br /><strong>[ Namsan District (Historic Site) ]</strong><br />- Borisa Maaeseokbul (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Mireukgok Seokbuljwasang (Treasure), Yongjangsa-gok Three-story Stone Pagoda (Treasure)<br />- Seokbuljwasang (Treasure), Yongjangsa-ji Maaeyeoraejwasang (Treasure), Cheonryongsa-ji Three-story Stone Pagoda (Treasure)<br />- Namsansa-ji Dangganji (Treasure), Namsansa-ji Seokjeong (Local Cultural Heritage Material), Gyeongju Namsan-ri Three-story Stone Pagoda (Treasure)<br />- Gyeongju Bae-ri Seokbulipsang (Treasure), Yuneulgok Maaebuljwasang (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Samneung (Historic Site)<br />- Bulgok Seokbuljwasang (Treasure), Sinseonam Maaebosalban-gasang (Treasure), Chilburam Maaeseokbul (Treasure)<br />- Tapgok Maaebulsang (Treasure), Gyeongju Namsan Samneung-gye Seokjoyeoraejwasang (Treasure)<br />- Samneung Valley Maaegwan-eumbosal-sang (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Samneung Valley Maaeseokgayeoreajwasang/Seongakyeoreajwasang (Local Tangible Cultural Property)<br />- Samneung Valley Seongak Yukjonbul (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Ipgok Seokbuldu (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Chimsikgok Seokbuljwasang (Local Tangible Cultural Property)<br />- Yeoamgok Seokbuljwasang (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Yaksugyegok Maaebulipsang (Local Tangible Cultural Property)<br />- Baekundae Maaeseokbulipsang (Local Tangible Cultural Property), Poseokjeong-ji (Historic Site), Gyeongju Namsanseong (Historic Site), Seochulji (Historic Site)<br />- Silla Ilseongwangneung (Historic Site), Silla Jeonggangwangneung (Historic Site), Silla Heongangwangneung (Historic Site)<br />- Silla Naemulwangneung (Historic Site), Jima Wangneung (Historic Site), Gyeong-ae Wangneung (Historic Site), Gyeongju Najeong (Historic Site)<br />- Gyeongju Namsan-dong Seokjogamsil (Local Cultural Heritage Material)<br /><br /><strong>[ Wolseong District ]</strong><br />- Gyerim (Historic Site), Gyeongju Wolseong (Historic Site), Donggung and Wolji (Historic Site), Cheomseongdae (National Treasure)<br />- Naemulwangneung Gyerim Wolseongji-dae (Historic Site and Scenic Site)<br /><br /><strong>[ Daereungwon District ]</strong><br />- Michuwangneung (Historic Site), Gyeongju Daereungwon Ilwon (Historic Site), O-reung (Historic Site)<br />- Dongbu Historic Site Zone (Historic Site), Jaemaejeong (Historic Site)<br /><br /><strong>[ Hwangnyongsa District ]</strong><br />- Gyeongju Hwangnyongsa-ji (Historic Site), Gyeongju Bunhwangsa Mojeonseoktap (National Treasure)<br /><br /><strong>[ Sanseong District ]</strong><br /> - Gyeongju Myeonghwal Fortress (Historic Site)