TRAVEL: Gyeongju's historic sites draw visitors amid autumn foliage

경주불국사 — Bulguksa temple bustle with tourists in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. AJP Cho Bo-hee

GYEONGJU, November 14 (AJP) - South Korea's southeastern city of Gyeongju used to be the most popular field trip destination for students.

Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla that thrived for over 1,000 years, the city, home to numerous national treasures, still attracts hordes of visitors and tourists.

Among its many landmarks, the most iconic are Bulguksa temple and Cheomseongdae observatory.

The temple, one of the country's most famous tourist attractions, is especially crowded at this time of year, as vibrant late-autumn foliage creates a stunning backdrop to its centuries-old structures, stone pagodas, and pavilions.

Following the city's successful hosting of this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, several photo spots have seen a surge in tourists. This includes the temple's iconic two-part stone stairway, with Cheongungyo forming the lower section and Baekungyo the upper, featuring a gracefully curved, rainbow-shaped arch at its base.

Bulguksa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the country's most famous Buddhist temples, dating back to the ancient period of Silla, and has undergone several renovations and additions over the centuries.

Other must-see masterpieces are stone pagodas Dabotap and Seokgatap, standing in front of the main hall.

Dabotap exudes intricate, ornate elegance with sophisticated craftsmanship, while Seokgatap, simpler in form, is admired for its clean symmetry and refined minimalism. They are considered among the finest examples of stone pagodas.

Another must-see is Cheomseongdae in the nearly area, a stone tower that served as an astronomical observatory for the ancient kingdom. Recognized as the world's oldest surviving structure of its kind, it is also one of the few that has been preserved in its original form in South Korea.

Cho Bo-hee jobo@ajupress.com