Cheomseongdae Observatory

About

About
An astronomical observatory from the Silla period built during the reign of Queen Seondeok in Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It is located about 300 m from the northwest wall of Banwolseong, the site of the Silla royal palace. It is National Treasure No. 31 and is the oldest astronomical observatory in the world that still maintains its original form. It is also the only cultural heritage site among ancient structures on the Korean Peninsula, excluding tombs, that has been preserved in its original form without any later restoration or reconstruction. It is recorded in Samguk Yusa that it was built during the reign of Queen Seondeok of Silla in the mid-7th century. It is 9.17 m high, has a bottom diameter of 4.93 m, and an upper diameter of 2.85 m. It is a stone tower with a square door facing south in the middle and a shape of a circle in the upper part. Each side of the upper square points to the east, west, south, and north, and there are claims that it contained some kind of magical or academic message. This is because the cosmological view of the time was that the sky was round and the earth was square, and Cheomseongdae had the opposite shape. There is also a theory that it is a structure to accurately measure the symbolism of celestial bodies and seasonal changes. The night view is more beautiful than the daytime view. Not only Cheomseongdae, but also the surrounding walking paths are beautifully designed with indirect lighting, so it is also good to visit in the evening along with other night view spots such as Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond.

Admission Fee
Free

Opening Hours

Open 365 days a year
09:00 -22:00 (until 21:00 in winter)

Location

Address

839-1 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Quick Address

KTX Singyeongju Station :
Bus 700->Get off at Wolseong-dong Community Center, walk 4 minutes
Bus 1150, 1100 -> Express Bus Terminal-> Bus 605 ->Get off at Wolseong-dong Community Center, walk 4 minutes
Bus 61 ->Get off at Cheomseongdae, walk 2 minutes

Award

historic site

Keyword

south korea,gyeongsangbukdo,gyeongjusi,inwangdong,cheomseongdae observatory,ruins,observatory|silla dynasty,stone tower|historic site,landmark,night view

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Spot Location

Spot address display

• Inwang-dong
• Gyeongju-si
• Gyeongsangbuk-do
• South Korea
• Latitude : 35.834718
• Longitude : 129.21908883983053

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