S.

Korea The Silla Kingdom, originally one of three kingdoms existed from 57BC to 935AD and left many historic sites. After a period of chaos the Goryeo Dynasty followed it, inventing the movable printing press among others. From 1395 on the Joseon Dynasty ruled Korea until its fall to Japan in 1910. Many grand palaces from this dynasty still exist. Changdeokgung Palace Build in the early 15th century, Changdeok Palace was home to many of the Korean kings. It was burned to the ground several times by invading armies and political rivals. Each time it was however reconstructed in its original design and was home to the royal palace, court and government until 1872. Koreas last Emperor, Emperor Sunjong lived here until his death in 1926. The grounds cover some 42 acres these days and you can find many of Koreas oldest structures here, such the Donhwamun Gate (main palace gate) which was build in 1412, the oldest bridge in korea build in 1411 and the former homes of the imperial family. Many of which had been destroyed by fire and rebuild again shortly afterward.These days the site is a UNESCO heritage site because its outstanding example of Far Eastern palace architecture and garden design. Blending in with its environment, trees and hills.(Image by jrwooley6) Jongmyo Shrine Dating back to the 14th century the Korean Jongmyo Shrine holds spirit tablets for each of the Joseon kings and queens (1392 - 1910). When it was built in 1394 it was thought to be one of the longest buildings in Asia, if not the longest. The main hall, known as Jeongjeon, had seven rooms.More rooms where added to accommodate later kings and queens until there were 19 rooms in total, with 34 tablets. The south entrance gate was reserved for spirits to enter and exit, the east gate was for the king, and the west gate was for the performers of the royal ritual. (Image of the Jongmyo Shrine by billmiky) Haeinsa Temple Haeinsa Temple (Temple of Reflection on a Smooth Sea) in Koreas South Gyeongsang Province is home to more than 80,000 wooden print blocks which it has housed since 1398. The temple itself was first constructed in 802 after two monks returning from China healed King Aejangs wife. The wooden print blocks contain the whole of the Buddhist Scriptures. The wooden blocks took 12 years to carve and they have been maintained in excellent condition. The site is on the UNESCO world heritage list, and its noted for its ingenious technology for preserving the wooden blocks.(Image credit:

iStockPhoto) Gyeongbok Palace Located in Northern Seoul, Gyeongbok Palace was first build in 1394, and continuously expanded until it had grown to some 330 buildings with nearly 6,000 rooms becoming the grandest of all palaces build by the Joseon dynasty of Korea. Part of the palace was burned down during the 7 year war with Japan (1592-1598), and all of it, save 10 building was destroyed during the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1911. At the end of the second world the main buildings left were the Imperial throne room and the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. The palace is now open to the public, and houses the National Folk Museum of Korea.(Image of Gyeongbok Palace by Steve Longus) Gyeongju Gyeongju is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South Korea. It is located on the coast of the East Sea (Sea of Japan). Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla which arose at the turn of the 1st millennium, and ruled most of the Korean Peninsula by the 7th century until the 9th centuries. A vast number of archaeological sites from this period remain in the city. From the mid-7th century, Gyeongju was the center of Korean political and cultural life. The city was home to the Silla court, and the great majority of Koreas elite. The city holds 1000 years of Shilla heritage with a vast number of ancient ruins and archaeological sites found throughout the city. The Gyeongju National Park holds many such sites, such as the Royal Tomb Complex, the Cheomseongdae observatory (Asiast oldest surviving observatory), the Anapji royal pond garden, and the Gyerim forest. The National Museum hosts many important artifacts and treasures that have been found in sites around the city.(Image of Temple near Gyeongju by eimoberg) Mt. Seoraksan National Park The Mt. Seoraksan national park attracts tourists all year round, but the main season for Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The forest is interrupted by rocks and small mountain flows, and the trees are colored yellow and red. The valley contains many beautiful sites and is well worth a day visit. The Yukdam waterfall and the Biryeong waterfall are located on the left side of the valley, about a forty minute walk from the main car park. (Image by eimoberg) Beopjusa (Popchusa) Temple

Beopjusa is a Buddhist temple, the main temple for the Jogye Order. Originally constructed in 653 it was burned to the ground during the Japanese invasion in 1600 but the building was reconstructed in 1624. At some point there were some sixty buildings at the site, home to more than 3,000 monks. A one meter high cauldon, some three meters across, used to serve rice to this many people still stands today.(Temple grounds by Yoo Chung) Bulguksa Temple Located some 16 kilometers from Gyeongju in Southeast Korea the Bulguksa temple is one of the oldest and most beautiful Buddhist temples in Korea. Original construction began around 514 AD, during the reign of the 23rd Silla King. It was constructed to blend in, rather than stand out from its surroundings, rocky and rock covered foothills and the temple is constructed on a series of stone terraces. After its expansion in the 8th century the temple had some 80 buildings but only a few remain today but many of the original staircases, platforms and pagodas are intact. The seven staircases of the temple as called bridged, as the link this world to the land inhabited by the Buddha. Some of these bridges include: Bridge of White Clouds, Bridge of Azure Clouds, Seven Treasures Bridge and Lotus Bridge. The two pagodas found in one of the temples courtyards are beautiful examples of traditional Korean architecture.(Image of Bulguksa Temple by eimoberg) Seokguram Grotto Established in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham, the Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea. Construction began in 742 when Gim Daeseong resigned his position in the Silla kings court or in 751. With the surrounding portrayals of gods, Bodhisattvas and disciples, all realistically and delicately sculpted in high and low relief, it is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in the Far East. It is now one of the best known cultural destinations in South Korea. Viewing the sunrise over the sea is especially popular.(Image of Seokguram Grotto from Wikipedia)

n. Kkrea

Sariwon - Historical Sites in North Korea

Sariwon is a lively city located to the south of Pyongyang in North Hwanghae Province. If interested in seeing Korean ancient cultural relics, a trip here after having visited Mt. Changbang may be an appealing option on the way north from the DMZ. Sariwon is known to produce the country's tastiest Maccoli, a well known Korean alcoholic beverage. You will be able to see the Korean folkloric village which hosts the territorial map of Korea's cultural ruins and historical relics. The old part of town is also home to the Provincial History Museum, various pavilions and houses in the style of the Ancient and Middle era of Korea.

Travellers will have a chance to walk around the old town and enter one of the several Macolli bars where locals enjoy the local beverage.

The Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang (Korean: ) was built to commemorate the Korean resistance to Japan from 1925 to 1945. Built in 1982 on the Triumph Return Square at the foot of Moran Hill () in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang, the Arch of Triumph monument was built to honour and glorify President Kim Il-sung's role in the resistance against Japanese rule. Inaugurated on the occasion of his 70th birthday, each of its 25,500 blocks of finely-dressed white granite represent a day of his life up to that point.[1] The structure is modelled after the Arc de Triomphe and was deliberately built to be slightly larger than the one in Paris. It is the world's tallest triumphal arch, standing 60 metres (197 ft) high and 50 m (164 ft) wide.[2] The arch has dozens of rooms, balustrades, observation platforms and elevators. It also has four vaulted gateways, each 27 m (89 ft) high, decorated with azalea carved in their girth. Inscribed in the Arch is the "Song of General Kim Il-sung", a revolutionary hymn, the year 1925, when North Korean history states that Kim set out on the journey for national liberation and the year 1945, the end of World War II, which ended the Japanese occupation. The Arch is always part of official North Korean tours for tourists and visitors.

The Juche Tower (officially the Tower of the Juche Idea) is a monument in Pyongyang, North Korea. The tower is named after the principle of Juche, developed by Kim Il Sung as a blend of autarky, self-reliance, nationalism, isolationism, Korean traditionalism, and Marxism-Leninism. Completed in 1982, it is sited on the eastern bank of the River Taedong, directly opposite Kim Il Sung Square which is situated on the other side of the river. It was made to commemorate Kim Il Sung's 70th birthday. Kim Jong-il is officially credited as the tower's designer;[1] however, interviews with former North Korean officials contradict this assertion.[2] The 170-metre (560 ft) structure is a four sided tapering 150-metre (490 ft) spire (the tallest in granite) containing 25,550 blocks (365 70, one for each day of Kim Il Sung's life, excluding supplementary days), dressed in white stone with seventy dividers and capped with a 20-metre (66 ft) high, 45 ton, illuminated metal torch. It is possible to ascend the tower (there is a lift) and there are wide views over Pyongyang from the viewing platform just below the torch. In the base of the tower there are reception rooms where videos explaining the tower's ideological importance are sometimes shown. It is presumed to be modeled on the Washington Monument, which it surpasses in height by less than a metre.[3] The Juche tower is the second tallest monumental column in the world after the San Jacinto Monument, which is 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) taller. Associated with the tower is a 30-metre (98 ft) high statue consisting of three figuresone with a hammer, one with a sickle and one with a writing brush (an idealised worker, a peasant and a "working intellectual", inspired by the Russian Worker and Kolkhoz Woman statue. The combination of symbols recalls the flag of the Workers' Party of Korea). There are six smaller groups, each 10 metres (33 ft) high, symbolizing other aspects of Kim Il Sung's ideology. Also close to the tower is a wall of 82 friendship plaques, apparently from foreign supporters. Around the tower there are also pavilions and water features. It is claimed that the tower has become a popular site for North Koreans.[4] Pyongyang, the capital, often experiences power shortages; however, the Juche Tower is always brightly lit to preserve symbolic strength. A number of North Korean support groupsand the Gabonese president and North Korea ally Omar Bongohave supported the construction of the tower and are awarded plaques on the base of the tower.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and the east end lying north of it. It is 250 kilometres (160 miles) long,[1] approximately 4 km (2.5 mi) wide and is the most heavily militarized border in the world.[2][3] The Northern Limit Line, or NLL, is the de facto maritime boundary between North and South

Korea in the Yellow Sea and the coastline and islands on both sides of the NLL are also heavily militarized.[4]