Cheomseongdae Observatory
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| Address |
| Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeonsangbuk-do |
| Description |
Cheomseongdae is the oldest existing astral observatory in Asia.
Constructed during the reign of Queen Seon-Deok (632-647), it was used
for observing the stars in order to forecast the weather. This stone
architecture is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, designated
as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962.
Cheomseongdae was
built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm big. 362 stones were piled up to make
27 levels. 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1m square entrance and a space to
hang a ladder under it.
The inside is filled with soil up to the 12th
level, and the 19th, 20th, 25th, and 26th levels all have long rocks hanging on
two areas, shaped as the chinese letter '?' (jeong). The ends of these rocks
stick outside.
It stands 9.17m high and the base stone on each side
measures 5.35m.
The Vernal Equinox, the Autumnal Equinox, the Winter
Solstice and the Summer Solstice and the 24 solar terms were determined by the
observation of stars. The pavilion stone is believed to have been used as a
standard of deciding directions, north, south, east and west.
362 stones
were used to build Cheomseongdae. This number of rocks represented the number of
days in a lunar year.
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| Directions |
1. From Gyeongju Station, walk toward Gyeongju Office of Education and
walk 130 m.
2. Across from Gyeongju Bus Terminal, take the Gyeongju National Museum
bound bus No.600 or No.601 and get off at Wolseong-dong Office.
3. Taxi takes 5 mim.
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| Information |
1. Information: Private Park Control Office +82-54-772-3632 (Kor)
2. Hours: 9:00 - 21:00
3. Closed: None
4. Admission Fee:
|
Adults |
Teenagers |
Children |
| Individuals |
300 won |
150 won |
100 won |
Groups
(30 people or more) |
200 won |
100 won |
100 won |
- children: ages
13 and younger / Teenagers: ages 14-19
- Age under 6 and over 65 - free
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