Saturday to Sunday: The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch heads to Gyeongdang Province this weekend to visit Gyeongju. Known as Korea’s “museum without walls,” Gyeongju is regarded as one of the world’s most important ancient cultural cities by Unesco.
On Saturday afternoon the group will visit the tomb of General Kim Yushin, a respected Silla leader, then visit the Gyeongju National Museum, the second largest museum in Korea, which contains artifacts from the Silla Dynasty.
On Sunday morning the group will go to the Sokkuram Grotto to watch the sunrise and see the Great Buddha. Built inside a cave in 774, the temple at Sokkuram is Korea’s National Treasure No. 24. It is located below the peak of Toham Mountain so that it can catch the first light of day.
The group will then head to Bulguk Temple, Korea’s most well-known temple, which contains six National Treasures. After Bulguk Temple, the group will visit the Gyeongju Folk Handicraft Village, Silla Arts and Science Museum and the Poseok Pavilion.
The bus leaves from Yongsan Post Office, near Sinyongsan Station, line 4, exit No. 1 at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and will return to Seoul at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The tour costs 188,000 won ($113.19) for members and 208,000 won for non-members.
Phone (02) 763-9483, or e-mail raskb@kornet.net