Gyeongju Travel | Travelogue of Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, the Palace Where Moonlight Resides

#DomesticTravel Gyeongju is a city that is more beautiful at night than during the day. The place that stands at the peak of that night is Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. This place, where the shadow of the palace falls on the quietly shining pond, is filled with the ancient romance that was built as the garden of the Silla royal family. 📍 Where is it? Location: 26 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do (within 10 minutes by car from Gyeongju Station) Parking: 56 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Parking Lot: 707 Guhwang-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 💡 Donggung and Wolji Tour Guide > Admission Fee Adults 3,000 won / Groups 2,400 won Youths 2,000 won / Groups 1,600 won Children 1,000 won / 800 won > Operating Hours 09:00 ~ 22:00 (※ Admission ends 30 minutes before closing) 🏯 What kind of place is it? Donggung and Wolji (formerly Anapji) are palace gardens built during the Silla Dynasty to be separate palaces of the royal palace and to receive and entertain VIPs. ‘Donggung’ means the residence of the crown prince, and ‘Wolji’ means the pond where the moon stays. In the 1970s, restoration and excavation discovered over 20,000 relics, revealing the essence of the Silla Dynasty’s royal court culture. 🌿 Travel Points 1️⃣ Day and Night, the Charm of Two Faces During the day, it is a quiet and neat walking course, great for feeling the historical relics, and at night, the lights come on and transform it into a mecca for reflection photos! In particular, the 30 minutes before and after sunset are the prettiest. 2️⃣ Photo Spots The reflection of the buildings on the calm waters of Wolji is a must-capture scene. No matter where you take a picture, you will get a picture-perfect photo, whether it is the stone pedestal, the calm pond path, or the traditional buildings sparkling in the lights. 3️⃣ A Space with a Story In addition to its significance as a palace site, Donggung and Wolji offer a glimpse into the garden culture, artistic sense, and harmony with astronomy and nature of the Silla people. The poetic interpretation of the pond, as the name suggests, ‘a pond where the moon is reflected,’ also adds to the romance. 💡 Travel tips 📷 Bring a tripod and a telephoto lens! The night view reflected in the quiet water is clearer when captured with a telephoto lens. 👟 Comfortable shoes are a must! It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to walk the entire circumference. 🌕 If you visit on a night when the full moon rises, you can truly experience the meaning of ‘Wolji.’ ☕ There are many cafes with a Hanok feel and restaurants with great night views nearby. #Gyeongju #GyeongjuTravel #PlacesToVisitInGyeongju