Gyeongju

Coordinates: 35°51′N 129°13′E / 35.850°N 129.217°E / 35.850; 129.217
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gyeongju
경주시
Anapji pond; Top right: Bell of King Seongdeok; middle left: Seokguram; middle right:Bulguksa temple; bottom left: Yangdong Folk Village; bottom right: Cheomseongdae
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Korea Standard Time)
Area code+82-54
WebsiteCity of Gyeongju

Gyeongju (

Cheongdo and Yeongcheon to the west, Ulsan to the south and Pohang to the north, while to the east lies the coast of the Sea of Japan.[1] Numerous low mountains—outliers of the Taebaek range—are scattered around the city.[6]

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of

World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.[15][16] The many major historical sites have helped Gyeongju become one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea.[5][17]

The city of Gyeongju was united with the nearby rural Gyeongju County in 1995 and is now an urban–rural complex.[18] It is similar to 53 other small and medium-sized cities with a population under 300,000 people in South Korea.[19] As well as its rich historical heritage, Gyeongju today is affected by the economic, demographic, and social trends that have shaped modern South Korean culture. Tourism remains the major economic driver, but manufacturing activities have developed due to its proximity to major industrial centers such as Ulsan and Pohang. Gyeongju is connected to the nationwide rail and highway networks, which facilitate industrial and tourist traffic.[20][21][22]

History