Not to become a broken record or anything, but most tourists just bounce down to Gyeongju for a long weekend, hit up the big tourist sites, and head home Sunday night. It’s a shame really. You can barely even scratch the surface of what Gyeonju has to offer in 2 days. [...]
Browsing the archives for the ancient carvings tag
6 Aug 10
2 Comments
Posted in Arts & crafts, Bomun-dong, Buddhist culture, Downtown, East Sea, Food & drink, Geumcheok-ri, Gyeongju, Gyo-dong, Namsan-dong, Outside Gyeongju, Ruins & remains, Sites to see, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10, hiking, history, shopping
Tagged Anapji Pond, ancient carvings, architecture, Bomun Resort, Bulguksa, cycling, downtown, East Sea, Eonyang, Gyeongju, Gyodong, hiking, history, Namsan, Restaurants, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, temples, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
Tagged Anapji Pond, ancient carvings, architecture, Bomun Resort, Bulguksa, cycling, downtown, East Sea, Eonyang, Gyeongju, Gyodong, hiking, history, Namsan, Restaurants, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, temples, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
10 Jul 10
Continued from Part 1….
5. Neoseo-ri Tombs (너서리왕릉): Once surrounded by houses, the half dozen or so tombs of Noseo-ri have been cleared of buildings and made into oasis-like park in the midst of downtown Gyeongju. Just across the street from Bonghangdae tomb, this park is a great spot for tomb watching, an afternoon picnic or [...]
3 Comments
Posted in Gyeongju, Sites to see, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10, history
Tagged 12 Animals, ancient carvings, architecture, Chinese Zodiac, Gyeongju, history, legends, people, Shilla Dynasty, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
Tagged 12 Animals, ancient carvings, architecture, Chinese Zodiac, Gyeongju, history, legends, people, Shilla Dynasty, Tips for tourists, Tombs, Top 10
12 May 10
Coming up in about a week and a half is my absolute favorite holiday in Korea: Seokga Tanshinil (석가탄신일), or Buddha’s Birthday. Every temple in Korea celebrates Buddha’s Birthday one way or another. Most hang lanterns, have special ceremonies and serve a special group lunch or dinner for parishioners. A few of the larger or [...]
2 Comments
Posted in Buddhist culture, Bulguk-dong, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, holidays
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
Tagged ancient carvings, architecture, Buddha's Birthday, Buddhism, Bulguksa, Golgulsa, Gyeongju, holidays, lantern parade, Seokkuram, Seonmudo, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, video
4 May 10
Continued from Part 1:
5. The Buddha Boulder (부처바위) of Tapgol Valley (탑골): Tucked behind the quaint beauty of Oknyeongam Hermitage (옥룡암) in Tapgol (pagoda) Valley is a large rock outcropping covered with Buddhist carvings. There are dozens of cryptic images including meditating Buddhas, flying Devas, pagodas, and even winged lions! The quiet magic of [...]
3 Comments
Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Tips for tourists, Top 10, history
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Seokkuram, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
28 Apr 10
One of the cool things about Gyeongu is that it’s literally covered with ancient stone Buddhas from the Unified Shilla Dynasty (통일 신라), most dating back to around the 7th or 8th centuries C.E. Very little is generally known about the sculptors who chiseled out these masterpieces way back when, though they were probably carved [...]
2 Comments
Posted in Buddhist culture, Gyeongju, Statues & carvings, Tips for tourists, Top 10, history
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Byeondosan, cycling, Geumgangsan, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Namsan, ruins, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Tips for tourists, Top 10
3 Apr 10
I know it’s all the trend these days, but I figured it was about time I sat down and wrote out my personal top ten “to do” list for Gyeongju. Some of these I’ve posted on already, and if I haven’t yet, I hope to soon. So here they are in brief; counting down from 10 [...]
5 Comments
Posted in Buddhist culture, Festivals, Food & drink, Gyeongju, Restaurants, Ruins & remains, Statues & carvings, Temples & shrines, Tips for tourists, Top 10, hiking
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Bulguksa, cycling, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Korean food, Restaurants, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, Top 10
Tagged ancient carvings, Buddhism, Bulguksa, cycling, Gyeongju, hiking, history, Korean food, Restaurants, Shilla Dynasty, sights to see, Spring, temples, Tips for tourists, Top 10
6 Feb 10
I’ve been running this blog now for almost 3 months and it’s nearly criminal I’ve not said anything yet about Mt. Namsan (남산) as I think it’s one of the coolest things about Gyeongju. Mt. Namsan’s not nearly as tall as some of the mountains around here (just under 500 meters actually) but what makes [...]
26 Jan 10
Though it’s not quite Korea’s answer to the Shaolin Monastery of China, Golgulsa Temple (골굴사) is one of the more unique temples in the Gyeongju area and it’s pretty darn cool. If you’re on your way over to King Munmu’s tomb (문무대왕릉) on the East Coast, it’s well worth taking an hour or so to [...]
