The Bulguksa temple, classified as Historic and Scenic Site No. 1 by the South Korean government

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Gyeongju

Known as ‘the museum without walls’, Gyeongju (경주) has more tombs, temples, rock carvings, pagodas, Buddhist statuary and palace ruins than any other place in South Korea. It's a lovely city, stuffed to the gills with history.


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Bulguksa Temple is the most beautiful and historical Buddhist temple in Korea. It is also number one tourist destination outside of the capital city, Seoul. 1500 years old Bulguksa temple shows glorious architectural sprits and skills of Silla Dynasty. Even though wooden structures of the temple had gone through numerous renovations, stonemasonry works are original, and also highlights of Bulguksa temple. Bulguksa temple is not a ruin, inhabited monks of the temple has kept all the Buddhist religious services last 1,500 years. Therefore Bulguksa temple is one of the most popular tourist’s destination as well as sacred place among Korean Buddhists. To go to Historical Gyeongju city where Bulguksa temple is located, it takes 4 hours by driving, and 2 hours by high speed train from the capital city of Seoul, but it is more than worth to make 2~3days trip to Historical Gyeongju. The city of Gyeongju itself is like an enormous outdoor museum in which vast parts of the city were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bulguksa Temple was designated as a World Cultural Asset by UNESCO in 1995.

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