Cheomseongdae Observatory
Address: 839-1, Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
How to get there
By bus: From Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, you can ride the #60 or #61 bus for 6 stops, which takes about 8 minutes, and get off at Cheonmachong bus stop. You then need to walk for about 3 minutes to get to the observatory.
From Gyeongju Station, you can ride the #70 bus for 13 stops, which takes about 23 minutes, and get off at Express Bus Terminal/Intercity Bus Terminal bus stop. From here you can take the #61 bus and ride for a further 6 stops, which takes around 7 minutes, and get off at Cheomsongdae bus stop. From here it's a 4 minute walk to the observatory.
On foot/by taxi: Walking isn't really an option from Gyeongju Station as it is far away from the main town. If you're not taking the bus, I recommend you take a taxi. The taxi ride from the station should take around 19 minutes and cost about 15,400 won.
It is possible to walk from the Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal, and it will take about 20 minutes. If you'd prefer to take a taxi from there, it will take about 6 minutes and will cost around 4,000 won.
Cheomseongdae Observatory
Designated as a national treasure of Korea in 1962, Cheomseongdae Observatory is possibly the most famous historical landmark in Gyeongju. The observatory was built during the Silla Dynasty under the rule of Queen Seondeok (r. 632-647), and is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia. This alone makes the monument very impressive and a must-see when visiting Gyeongju. The structure itself holds significant meaning that may not be obvious at first. The observatory tower is cylindrical and consists of 365 stones which represent the number of days in a year. It measure 9 metres in height and has 27 layers which represent Queen Seondeok who was the 27th ruler of Silla. It's also said that these layers represent the number of days in a month, as long as you add the layers of stones at the top and bottom of the structure to that number. Records suggest that astronomers could use a ladder to reach the window in the centre of the observatory and climb inside, or alternatively rest on the top of it and gaze at the stars. This structure would have been of great significance during the Silla period as people relied heavily on the stars for farming as well as for horoscopes which could be used to make predictions about politics and the future of the Kingdom.
The observatory is free to visit and can be found in the centre of two small ring-shaped fences. I personally think it is most impressive when visited at night as multicoloured lights are projected onto the structure making it glow like a beacon in the darkness.
Surrounding Area
Cheomseongdae is located in the middle of a large green open space, north of which you can find downtown Gyeongju, and to the south, you can visit Gyerim Forest and Woljeonggyo Bridge. When visiting Cheomseongdae, there is so much more to see than the observatory itself. Beside the observatory, there is a garden planted out with colourful seasonal flowers. If you continue to walk through the garden, you'll come to a field which is also planted with seasonal flowers, for example there are hundreds of sunflowers here during the summer months.
A little south of the observatory you'll be able to see a few isolated hills in the middle of another field. These are in fact not hills but some of the numerous royal burial tombs that can be found in several locations around Gyeongju, and they date back to the Silla Dynasty. Opposite these tombs, you'll find a large field filled with colourful flowers. Again, these change with the seasons, for example there are poppies in late spring and vibrant wildflowers in the summer.
