The city of Gyeongju (Kyongju) is more than 2,000 years old and contains most of the historic remains of Korea's 5,000 year history. For about a thousand years between 57 B.C. and 935 A.D. it was the capital of the Shilla dynasty, the greatest to flourish among the Three Kingdoms of the Korean peninsula at that time.
After the unification of the Korean peninsula in the mid-7th century, Gyeongju became the centre of Korean political and cultural life. The city was home to the Shilla Dynasty court, and the great majority of the kingdom's elite. Its prosperity became legendary, renowned as far away as Egypt. During its peak, the population probably exceeded one million.
 After the fall of the Shilla Kingdom, Gyeongju began to decline in prosperity and population. Today there are about 350,000 Gyeongju residents. It is a small city scattered with ancient ruins. Two of Gyeongju’s historical sites, Golgul Temple and Bulguk Temple, are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the early 20th century many archaeological excavations took place, mostly on the numerous tombs which survived the centuries of invasions fairly well. In 1915 the Gyeongju National Museum, was set up to exhibit the findings of these excavations.
Gyeongju has been described as Korea’s equivalent of Japan’s historic Kyoto: an open-air museum that has become the historical pride of the Korean people. The contemporary residents of this city have proudly upheld their duty to preserve their cultural heritage as best they can. Gyeongju is the most prominent historical monument of the country.
Thousands of historic buildings and objects have been well maintained throughout the city, making it a museum without walls. Exploring the city is very convenient as many sites are within easy walking distance from each other.
 The Eastern Historic Zone contains some of the city's most famous sites. This area of Gyeongju is located east of the downtown area, along T'aejong-ro. It contains a number of historic sites and cultural properties, including several dozen royal tombs. The main sites in this area include Anapji Pond, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Gyeongju National Museum, Kyerim Woods and Tumuli Park.
Aside from the historical draw, perhaps Gyeongju’s most charming aspect is its mountains which are widespread throughout the city. Numerous hiking trails meander through ever-changing forests, blooming with springtime flowers, vibrant fall foliage, and winter’s silent snow.
Gyeongju sits 370 kilometres southeast of Seoul with a coastline of 33 kilometres. There are no islands or large bays, only the small indentations made by the streams flowing off of the mountains. Because of this, the city has no significant ports. However, there are 12 small harbours. Gyeongju is connected to nationwide rail and expressway networks, which facilitate both industrial and tourist traffic.
Due to its coastal location, Gyeongju has a slightly milder and wetter climate than more inland regions of Korea. In general, however, the city's climate is typical of South Korea. It has hot summers and cool winters, with a monsoon season between late June and early August. As on the rest of Korea's east coast, summer and autumn typhoons are not uncommon so travellers need to exercise caution. The best time to travel is in the spring from March to May. The average annual temperature is 12.2°C (54° F). Because Gyeongju extends over a wide area (1,323 square kilometres), the weather differs slightly by region. The western portions show more extremes in temperature and the eastern portions are quite temperate with their mountainous areas and the sea.
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