Perfect^^ UNESCO World Heritage Gyeongju Tour

It is a representative temple of the Silla Dynasty, founded in 751 (10th year of King Gyeongdeok’s reign) by Kim Dae-seong. However, according to the “Bulguksa Gogeumchanggi,” “the year after Ichadon was martyred, in 528 (15th year of King Beopheung’s reign), King Beopheung’s mother, Lady Yeongje, and Lady Giyun founded this temple and became a nun.”

Bulguksa is the Buddhist land that the Silla people longed for, the ideal world of peace. The Silla people’s desire for the Buddhist land is expressed here in three aspects. One is the Saha world of Sakyamuni Buddha based on the Lotus Sutra, the other is the Paradise of Amitabha Buddha based on the Infinite Life Sutra, and the other is the Lotus World of Vairocana Buddha based on the Avatamsaka Sutra.

These three are each expressed in their own unique way through the overall composition of a section centered on the Daeungjeon, another section centered on the Geungnakjeon, and the Birojeon.

The Gyeongju National Museum is Korea's premier museum, offering a comprehensive overview of Silla's cultural heritage. Here, visitors can explore the condensed history of the millennium-long Silla Kingdom, which lasted from 57 BC to 935 AD. Notably, visitors can see the authentic Silla Golden Crown, crafted 1,500 years ago. Visiting Gyeongju as your first stop before exploring the historic site will enhance your experience. You can witness the historical flow of Silla, its splendid art and culture, and its relics. The outdoor exhibition hall showcases over 1,300 stone artifacts, including temple bells, stone pagodas, stone Buddhas, stone lanterns, and stone pedestals.

The Silla tombs located in the Daereungwon area of Gyeongju are a representative ancient tomb complex of Silla, consisting of the burial sites of Silla kings and aristocrats from the Old Silla period. The tombs are of the stone-mound wooden-chamber style, and it is presumed that most remain unlooted due to the difficulty of looting caused by construction techniques. Excavations have been conducted since the Japanese colonial period, yielding numerous artifacts including metal relics such as gold crowns and large vessels, as well as pottery and daily necessities. These are important sites that provide decisive data for understanding the culture of Old Silla.

Woljeonggyo is a wooden bridge built in Gyeongju, the capital of Unified Silla. Built over the Namcheon River in Gyeongju, it served, along with Iljeonggyo, to connect Wolseong, the royal palace where the king resided, with the Namsan area on the opposite side and Dodangsanseong (an earthen fortress located on the hill across the way). Woljeonggyo was first recorded in the *Samguk Sagi* (History of the Three Kingdoms) as having been constructed in 760, the 19th year of the reign of King Gyeongdeok, the 35th king of Silla, and it functioned as a transportation route for Seorabeol. During the Silla period, its name was Woljeonggyo, using the character *jeong* (meaning clean), but it was changed to Woljeonggyo using the character *jeong* (meaning to settle) during the Goryeo Dynasty. The bridge was completed in 2013, and the full structural restoration was finished in 2018.

Through Woljeonggyo, one can glimpse the artistry and architectural skills of the Silla people.

Cheonmachong is a tomb in Gyeongju that is tentatively believed to be the tomb of King Jijeung, one of the 21st or 22nd kings of Silla. It is 47m in diameter and 12.7m high, and was excavated in 1973, and 11,297 burial items were unearthed, including the Cheonmado (National Treasure No. 207), a gold crown (National Treasure No. 188), and a gold hat (National Treasure No. 189). Among the relics, a painting of a pure white Cheonmado flying into the sky made of birch bark was unearthed, giving it the name Cheonmachong. In addition, a painting of a Western king and a horseman were also unearthed. It is currently located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (within Daereungwon), and the interior of the tomb has been restored and is open to the public. Let’s step into the tomb from 2,000 years ago and imagine the elegance of the Silla Dynasty and the lives of its kings. The admission fee is 5 dollars.

Admire Haeundae Beach from Dongbaekseom Island, located south of Haeundae Beach, hear the legend of the Little Mermaid, explore the coastal cliffs, take memorable photos, and experience Korea's most famous beach.

It is the most famous beach in Busan. It is 1.5km wide and has a beautiful coastline, making it the perfect place to spend your busy life and enjoy swimming. Especially in the summer, it is the perfect place to spend a summer vacation. There are other things to do in the area such as Dongbaek Island, Busan Aquarium, and yacht marina.

At Gwangalli, a popular tourist destination for young people, you can eat live octopus (paid experience) and taste fish cake soup while looking at the Gwangan Bridge.

It is a popular attraction for young people. In Gwangalli, there are not only beaches but also restaurants and cafes with unique atmospheres and famous fashion stores that are just as good as those in the city.

There are also various foods and things to see, and the beautiful night view of Gwangalli Bridge is especially spectacular at night. Around the beach, there is a romantic cafe street, about 300 raw fish restaurants, an outdoor stage where various festivals such as the Busan Sea Festival are held, and you can also see a drone show every Saturday.

When you reach the summit of Hwangnyeongsan Mountain, you will be amazed by the refreshing and unobstructed views and the panoramic vista of Busan bathed in light. In particular, you will feel a thrill at the incomparable night view. Hwangnyeongsan features a total of three observation decks, each offering a unique atmosphere. Considered a top date spot for young people in Busan, experience the city's charm while admiring the scenery in all directions. On clear days, you can even see Tsushima Island in Japan.

Gamcheon Culture Village began in the 1950s as a home for the difficult lives of Korean refugees and continues to the present, preserving the history of Busan, a cross-section and trace of the nation's modern history. The uniqueness of Gamman Bay is demonstrated by the terraced group of residential structures arranged in an orderly manner along the foot of the mountain and the maze of alleyways leading to all paths. The 『Village Art Project』, which was started by local artists and village residents to preserve the characteristics and historical value of Gamcheon, became a stepping stone for the project to create Gamcheon Cultural Village, and starting with this project, various public contests were attracted, and in 2015, about 1.4 million people participated. This has become a popular attraction to visit.

Songdo Marine Cable Car was reborn as the ‘Busan Air Cruise’ brand in June 2017 through a restoration project to revive the old reputation of Songdo Beach, the first public beach in Korea.

With a maximum height of 86m, it runs 1.62km across the sea from Songnim Park on the east side of Songdo Beach to Amnam Park on the west side, offering a thrilling ride as if you were in the middle of the sea while looking out over Songdo Beach, Busan Yeongdo, Namhang Bridge, Songdo Coastal Trail, and undulating rock walls. See it for yourself.

In addition, it offers various experiences and theme facilities such as ‘Dino Adventure’ where giant dinosaurs make sounds, ‘Songdo Doppelmeier World’, the first cable car museum in Korea, and ‘VR Sky Swing’, the first aerial acrobatics in Asia, offering the best enjoyment as a tourist cable car.

Tourists who do not use the cable car can walk along the skywalk to see Geobuk Island and Songdo Beach and hear stories about the Korean mermaid legend.