While
Seoul attracts most of the attention, two major cities outside the
capital, Kyongju and Pusan, are also worth visiting.
Kyongju
on the east coast was once the capital of the Shilla Kingdom in 676 AD.
Designated by UNESCO as one of the world's ten most historically
significant sites, it is called by many the 'Museum Without Walls'.
Major
sites of interest include Tumuli Park which is a collection of 20 royal
Shilla tombs located in the middle of Kyongju, among which Ch'onmach'ong
(the Flying Horse Tomb) is the most famous. This tomb yielded more than
10,000 treasures, including golden crowns which can be seen in the Kyongju
National Museum.
Another
important tomb is King Muyol's Tomb in the foothills of Mount Sondo,
south-west of Kyongju. This king unified the three kingdoms into the
Shilla Kingdom and his tomb was constructed by King Munmu in 661AD.
The
Pulguksa Temple on the western slope of Mount T'ohamsan is one of Korea's
best known temples and is a monument to both the skill of the Shilla
architects and the depth of Buddhist faith at the time. While most of the
wooden buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries, all the stone
bridges, stairways and pagodas are original. Built in the same period is
Sokkuram Grotto, one of Asia's finest Buddhist shrines. Buddha sits gazing
out over the forested hills and across the East Sea to the horizon. The
building has a granite dome and is a truly amazing architectural feat.
Also
worth a visit is the Kyongju Folk Crafts Village located between Pulguksa
Temple and the Pomun Lake Resort. Here visitors can see many different
kinds of traditional crafts being made which can be bought at reasonable
prices. East of Kyongju is the Tomb of King Munmu, a unique underwater
crypt built in the 7th century.
Pusan
lies two-and-a-quarter hours by train or one-hour-twenty-minutes by
express bus south of Kyongju. With a population of four million, it has
been an international port city since 1878 and has a natural harbour,
excellent beaches, beautiful natural scenery and a number of special
attractions. It is possible to catch a ferry to Japan from Pusan.
Ulsukdo
Island at the mouth of the Nakdong River, is one of four great rivers in
Korea, and a paradise for migratory birds. Yongdusan Park is a welcome
touch of greenery in the heart of the city and is the site of Pusan Tower
whose observation deck offers a spectacular view over the city to the
coast of Japan.
T'aejongdae
Park on the tip of Yongdo Island south of the downtown area is heavily
forested with rugged cliffs dropping straight down to the sea. Haeundae
beach is the most popular place to spend a few days in the sun as it is
two kilometres long with a gentle curve, shallow water and many good
facilities. Nearby is the Haeundae Hot Springs which date back to the
Shilla Kingdom and also the Pomosa Temple built in 678 AD.
Once
based in Pusan, visitors can make the 46 kilometre trip to T'ongdosa
Temple one of the three largest temples in Korea, which was built during
the Shilla Kingdom. It houses some precious Buddhist relics and has a
spectacular view, or you can journey even further afield to the city of
Chinju, once the capital of the ancient Kaya Kingdom. The castle in the
heart of the city is best known for the famous battles fought here during
the Japanese invasions in the late 16th century.