Hwangnyongsa Temple Site

Welcome to the magnificent city of Gyeongju, widely considered one of South Korea's most enchanting hidden gems. While many travelers immediately flock to the bustling streets of Seoul or the coastal energy of Busan, this ancient…

As you walk through the entrance pathways of the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, the wind sweeps freely across the open grass. The lack of towering walls allows your eyes to stretch all the way to the distant mountains, giving you an…

You have now arrived at the western edge of the temple complex, a site of immense importance for modern archaeology. Between the years of nineteen seventy six and nineteen eighty three, a massive eight year excavation project…

Step into the vast expanse of the main courtyard, and prepare to be enveloped by the strict architectural discipline of the ancient Silla Kingdom. As you stand in this central space, you are experiencing the foundational…

You have now arrived at the most legendary and awe inspiring feature of the Hwangnyongsa site: the massive ruined base of the Nine Story Wooden Pagoda. Take a moment to walk around the perimeter of these incredibly dense…

Move your attention to the absolute center of the pagoda's stone grid. Here lies the Simchoseok, the massive central pillar foundation stone. …

Walking directly north from the pagoda base, you arrive at the ruins of the Geumdang, or the Golden Hall. While the pagoda was the towering symbol of the temple, this hall was the primary indoor worship space. …

As our tour comes to a close, take one last, sweeping look across the vast, eighty thousand square meter expanse of the Hwangnyongsa Temple Site. The sun may be beginning to set, casting long, golden shadows across the ancient…