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• Information
  Introduction
  Hwangnyongsa Temple Site is located in front of Bunhwangsa Temple in Guhang-dong, Gyeongju. During the Silla Era, the Hwangnyongsa Temple was the nation’s largest temple and housed the bulk of the country’s major Buddhist treasures.
  
  Construction of the temple began in 553 on a field east of the royal compound under the commission of King Jinheung. The king originally planned to build a palace, but decided to build a temple instead, after receiving reports that a yellow dragon had been spotted on the building site. The temple was thus named Hwangnyongsa (Temple of Yellow Dragon) and was completed in 569, seventeen years after construction began. The temple murals featured an old pine tree drawn by Artist Solgeo. During the Silla Era, the temple was the center of state-sanctioned Buddhism.
  
  Later, when monk Jajang was studying in China during the Tang dynasty, he came across a god as he was passing by Taihe Pond. The god said to him, “The yellow dragon, which is my eldest son, is guarding Hwangnyongsa Temple upon orders of Brahma, the Creator. If you build a nine-story pagoda upon your return to Silla, the neighboring states will surrender and pay tribute, and the royal cause will be stronger. Once the construction of the pagoda is complete, prepare a memorial service for the local gods and pardon any of the country's criminals. If you follow all I have told you, no other state will dare invade Silla.”
  
  After this encounter, Jajang returned to Silla and convinced Queen Seondeok to build the nine-story pagoda. Master architect Abiji of the neighboring state Baekje designed the pagoda and the project was built by Yongchun and 200 men using wood and stone. The night before the columns were to be erected, Architect Abiji of Baekje dreamed of the fall of Baekje and refused to complete the project. With a peal of thunder, an old monk and a man of great strength suddenly appeared from the temple's main hall, erected the columns, and magically disappeared. Abiji was so shocked at the sight that he accepted his country’s future demise as the fate of the gods and once again restarted work on the temple. (From Samgungnyusa, the Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms)
  
  In the twenty-three years following the completion of the pagoda, Queen Seondeok unified the Three Kingdoms; later, numerous scholars pointed to the pagoda as a contributing factor in the unification. Of the three treasures of Silla, two were located at Hwangnyongsa Temple. The largest bell of Silla was also in the temple, but was taken away during the Mongol invasion. The highest monks of Silla preached at the temple, and many kings came to listen to the Buddhist teachings.
  
  During excavation work in July 1969, the massive foundation stones of the sermon hall, auditorium, and pagoda were found. Eight years of archaeological excavations and studies revealed the unique layout of the temple grounds, which consisted of one pagoda and three halls; also found were 40,000 or so ancient artifacts. Though foundation stones and other structures from the bottom of the temple were identified through excavation, there are no historical clues about the temple’s upper design, making the restoration of the temple in its entirety practically impossible. The size of the temple, based on archeological findings, was about 70 acres, roughly eight times larger than that of Bulguksa Temple.
  
  Current Status
  Historic Site No. 6 (Designated on January 21, 1963)
  
  
• Tourist Sites

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    Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond (경주 동궁과 월지)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Monuments/ Historical Sites
    Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond was a secondary palace used by the crown prince of the Silla Kingdom. It also served as a banquet site for important nat...

  • 

    Bunhwangsa Temple (분황사)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Temples/ Religious Sites
    Bunhwangsa Temple is located next to Hwangnyongsa Temple Site in Gyeongju, and is famous for Stone Brick Pagoda, National Treasure No. 30. The temple was built ...

  • 

    The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok (성덕대왕신종)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Monuments/ Historical Sites
    The Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, the largest Korean bell preserved, stands 3.75-meter tall, has a lip diameter of 2.27 meters, and is 11 to 25 entimeters wide...

  • 

    Gyeongju National Museum (국립경주박물관)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Museums
    Gyeongju National Museum houses numerous historical and cultural artifacts of the Silla dynasty (57 BC - AD 935). The museum provide various programs including ...

  • 

    Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage] (경주역사유적지구 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Monuments/ Historical Sites
    The Gyeongju Historic Area, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage on November 2000, is an area that embodies the time-honored history and culture of Gy...

• Accommodation

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    Nadul Hanok [Korea Quality] / 나들한옥 [한국관광 품질인증]

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Hanok
    Nadeul Hanok was opened in 2018 with brand-new facilities, in a location just a minute’s walk from Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju. You can feel a sense ...

  • 

    Wiyeonjae Hanok Stay [Korea Quality] / 위연재 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Hanok
    This hanok (traditional Korean house) is located very near to Cheomseongdae Observatory. Its location in front of the Gyeongju Historic Areas allows guests to r...

  • 

    Hwarang Guesthouse [Korea Quality] / 화랑게스트하우스[한국관광 품질인증]

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Short Term Rental
    Hwarang Hostel is located near Daereungwon in Gyeongju. The three-story guest house has ten rooms in all, and there are two types of rooms - double and quad. Ev...

  • 

    141MINIHOTEL [Korea Quality] / 141미니호텔 [한국관광 품질인증]

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Inn/Motel
    'Located in Gyeongju, the capital of Silla Kingdom for 992 years, 141 Mini Hotel lets you enjoy hotel services at motel room rates. It has sauna, book café, sma...

  • 

    Gyeongju Soohojeong [Korea Quality] / 경주수호정 [한국관광 품질인증]

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Hanok
    Gyeongju Suhojeong, located in front of the Gyeongju Daereungwon, is a Hanok guesthouse in a ㄱ shape. The traditional house was built in 2015 in accordance wit...

• Restaurants

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    Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Korean Food
    The restaurant of Pyeongyang Naengmyeon has been operated through two generations and thus is very famous in Gyeongju. Its noodles are hand-made from starch of ...

  • 

    Yosokkoong (요석궁)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Korean Food
    Named after Silla King Muyeol's daughter, Princess Yoseok, Yosokkoong serves traditional Korean food. The resturant is run by the Choi family, who settled on th...

  • 

    Yongganggukbap (용강국밥)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Korean Food
    The locals’ favorite restaurant that sells Korean-style soups. The best menu at this restaurant is rice soup. This Korean dishes restaurant is located in Gyeong...

  • 

    Goguryeoganeungil (고구려가는길 (낙지랑 쭈꾸미랑))

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Korean Food
    This restaurant boasts the typical rustic look of a hwangto building, exemplifying the beauties of the past with traditional folk dishes. At night, customers ca...

  • 

    Myeongdong Kalguksu (명동칼국수)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Korean Food
    Myeongdong Kalguksu serves top-grade food made with the freshest ingredients. Visitors can try kalguksu and various mandu dishes in a cozy atmosphere.

• Shopping

  • 

    Gyeongju Seongdong Market (경주 성동시장)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Traditional Markets
    Gyeongju Seongdong Market has approximately 300 stores and 30 vendors. The market as found its place as the city’s representative local marketplace since its op...

  • 

    Gyeongju Jungang Market (경주 중앙시장)

    Region : Gyeongju-si Gyeongsangbuk-do
    Type : Traditional Markets
    Opened in 1983 as an official market, Gyeongju Jungang Market is the main marketplace for Gyeongju locals. Nearly 700 stores selling clothing, oils, rice cakes,...

• Transportation
  Directions
  [Bus]
  From Seoul Express Bus Terminal, take a bus to Gyeongju Bus Terminal.
  From Gyeongju Bus Terminal Bus Stop, take Bus No. 10, 11, 15, 16, 16-1, 17, 18, 100, 150, or 277-1 and get off at Bunhwangsa Temple or Gyeonggosageori Intersection Bus Stop.
  
  

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