Renewal:2019-03-05 23:23:05

Cheomseongdae Observatory 첨성대(국보 31호)

  • +82-54-779-8744,<br> +82-54-772-3843
  • gyeongju.go.kr
169-5, Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Cheomseongdae is the oldest existing astronomical 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 structure is a beautiful combination of straight lines and curves, and was designated as National Treasure No.31 on December 20th, 1962.

Cheomseongdae was built in a cylinder shape with stones 30cm in diameter. 362 stones were piled up to make 27 levels. Roughly 4.16m up from the bottom there is a 1㎡ 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 '井' (jeong).

It stands 9.17m high and the base stone on each side measures 5.35m.
The Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and the 24 solar terms (also known as the astronomical solar year) 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. The 362 stones used to build Cheomseongdae represented the 362 days in a lunar year.

Utilization information

・Information : • 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
•For more info: +82-54-779-8744,
+82-54-772-3843

・Parking Facilities : Available at Daereungwon parking lot

・Operating Hours : Summer 09:00-22:00 / Winter 09:00-21:00

Admission Fees

Free

Facilities for the Handicapped

Reserved parking spaces

Access

Seoul to Gyeongju
[Train]
From Seoul Station, take a train to Singyeongju station.
(Express KTX Line: operates 20 times a day / Travel Time: 2 hours)
* Operating hours differ on weekdays and weekends.

-OR-

From Seoul Station, take a train to Gyeongju Station.
(KTX - Mugunghwa Line: operates 18 times a day, stops at Dongdaegu Station / Travel Time: 3 hours)

[Bus]
From Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus bound for Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. (Operates 25 times a day / Travel Time: 4 hours)

Dong Seoul Bus Terminal: +82-1688-5979
Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal Service Center +82-1666-5599 / Office: +82-54-772-2377
Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal +82-54-772-2377
Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal +82-54-741-4000
Korail Customer Service: +82-1544-7788 / English service: +82-1599-7777

Gyeongju to Cheomseongdae Observatory
From Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal or Gyeongju Station, take Bus 10, 11, 60, 600, or 700 and get off at Silla Hoegwan or Wolseong-dong Community Center Bus Stop.

From Singyeongju Station, take Bus 60, 61 or 700 and get off at Wolseong-dong Community Center.

169-5, Cheomseong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do


Review(0)

Nearby information


intro Access Review

Nearby information

Yosokkoong

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Named after Silla King Muyeol's daughter, Princess Yoseok, Yosokkoong serves traditional Korean food. The resturant is run by the Choi family, who settled on the site of Princess Yoseok's house in the Joseon Dynasty, and has passed on the restaurant and family recipes through 12 generations.

539m

Sukyoung Sikdang

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Housed in an old hanok (traditional Korean house) Sukyoung Sikdang (숙영식당) is a restaurant famous for its glutinous barley rice meal. Various kinds of grains are mixed with glutinous barley rice to make a sticky and savory rice dish complete with seven different kinds of wild greens. For an e

728m

Hwangnam Bread

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Hwangnam-style bread was first made by Choi Yeong-hwa in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, in 1939. The Gyeongju Choi family has a rich history of baking and rice cakes with red bean, and has passed on the secrets of their trade from generation to generation. When it came time for Choi Yeong-hwa to learn the

844m

Pyeongyang Naengmyeon Gyeongju Branch

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

The restaurant of Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (평양냉면, cold noodles) has been around for 65 years and thus is very famous in Gyeongju. Its noodles are hand-made from starch of Korea-grown buckwheat and potato and broth is made by deeply boiling beef bones. So, noodles are chewy and broth tastes rich

1001m

Kisoya - Gyeongju Branch

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

‘Kiso’ refers to the area located in the Gifu Prefecture in Japan where wheat and buckwheat are produced. Kisoya is a Japanese franchise restaurant established in 1988 that specialized in Udon and Donkatsu (pork cutlet). The restaurant only uses wheat and buckwheat produced in Kiso for i

1109m

Toobbul Korean BBQ

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in downtown Gyeongju, Toobbul Korean BBQ serves only the best quality hanu (Korean beef). Hanu is regarded as a delicacy because of its expensive price and premium quality. Toobbul offers a lunch hour special where diners can get the same quality of hanu at 35% cheaper th

1859m

Daegwallyeong Pollack Stew - Gyeongju Branch

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

This restaurant boasts the typical rustic look of a hwangto building, exemplifying the beauties of the past with traditional folk dishes. At night, customers can hear the soft melodies of live music.

2671m

Myeongdong Kalguksu (명동칼국수)

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Boasting 30 years of tradition, the Gyeongju chain restaurant of the original Seoul Myeongdong Kalguksu serves top-grade food made with the freshest ingredients. The Myeongdong Kalguksu Gyeongju restaurant has been open for two and a half years, and has already become recognized as one of the best r

3101m

Gyeongju Seongdong Market

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Seongdong Market, situated in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, opened in 1971 and is comprised of around 300 stores and 30 street vendors. The market is on the opposite side of Gyeongju Station to the east.

1246m

Gyeongju Jungang Market

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Opened in 1983 as an official market, Gyeongju Jungang Market has almost a hundred years of history. Nearly 700 stores selling clothing, oils, rice cakes, vegetables, general goods, and meat operate with nerly 2,000 workers. The market is held every fifth day, on 2nd and 7th day of each month.

1554m

Silla Culture Experience Center

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Silla Culture Experience Center was established to offer various cultural programs featuring Gyeongju in the basement level between Daereungwon Tomb Complex and Cheomseongdae Observatory. Cultural programs include making chocolates in the shape of Gyeongju's cultural assets, making a golden crow

234m

Gyeongju Royal Tomb of King Naemul

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

King Naemul was the 17th monarch of the Silla Kingdom (in power from 356 to 402) and became the second king of the Kim family name. King Naemul was known as the first king to initiate the king title of ‘Maripgan’ and was known for spreading cultural advancements from China to the Korean

261m

Gyeongju Gyerim Forest

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Gyerim Forest is located between the Cheomseongdae Observatory and Wolseong Fortress. The forest is thickly populated by ancient zelkova and willow trees rooted on gently sloping hills and along the small stream in the northwest part of the woods. According to legend, the forest is closely associate

265m

Gyeongju Wolseong Palace Site

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

This was the location of the palace fortress during the Shilla Dynasty (57 BC ~ AD 935). The fortress takes after its name, which, literally translated, means 'a crescent moon shape on top of a hill'. The famous history books of Samgukyusa mention that Shilla’s 4th King Seoktalhae (AD 57~80) thoug

455m

Seokbinggo

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Seokbinggo means a freezer made of rocks. It is an ancient refrigerator only in Korea. It is located in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Era (BC57-AD935). The appearance of this wonderful vestige is humble and simple. But you will not be disappointed at the entrance of the freezer. You can

455m

Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongju Gyochon Village is a hanok village that allows visitors a look inside life of famous the Choi Clan. Visitors can see the House of the Gyeongju Choi Clan (Important Folklore Material No. 27) and try some Gyeongju Gyodong Beopju Liquor (Important Intangible Cultural As

493m

Gyeongju Historic Area [UNESCO World Heritage]

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

The Gyeongju Historic Area, registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage on November 2000, is an area that embodies the time-honored history and culture of Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (新羅, 57-935)The Gyeongju Historic Area can be divided into 5 major sections.The first s

749m

Gyeongju Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

According to the historical records of Samguk-sagi, Wolji Pond was built during the 14th year of King Munmu (r. 661-681 AD) of the Silla Kingdom (57 BC-935 AD). Small mountains were created inside the palace walls, beautiful flowers were planted, and rare animals were brought in to create an exquisi

839m

Nadeul Hanok

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Nadeul Hanok was opened in 2018 with brand-new facilities, in a location just a minute’s walk from Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju. You can feel a sense of healing in nature in the traditional style house, built in environment-friendly construction method with wood and earth. The ‘

171m

Wiyeonjae Hanok Stay [Korea Quality] / 위연재 [한국관광 품질인증/Korea Quality]

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

This hanok (traditional Korean house) is located very near to Cheomseongdae Observatory. Its location in front of the Gyeongju Historic Areas allows guests to reach major sights in Gyeongju like Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and Hwangnidan-gil Street by foot. This

192m

Soseoljae Chung (소설재(첨성대점))[한국관광품질인증제/ Korea Quality]

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

420m

Gyeongju Suhojeong

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Gyeongju Suhojeong, located in front of the Gyeongju Daereungwon, is a Hanok guesthouse in a ㄱ shape. The traditional house was built in 2015 in accordance with traditional architecture using natural materials such as pine tree, red clay, straw, and others; thus, it is cool in summer and warm in w

760m

Hwarang Guesthouse - Goodstay

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in Gyeongju City, the Hostel Hwarang is within easy reach of public transport services (including a bus stop), making it the ideal base for visiting various tourist attractions such as the Bomun Tourist Complex, Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Tomb of King Munmu, and Columnar Joints. The

830m

화랑게스트하우스 (Hwarang Guesthouse)[한국관광품질인증/Korea Quality]

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

833m

Hwangnamgwan

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in Gyeongju City, Hwangnamgwan is a traditional Korean style accommodation which opened in April 2014. The place looks like a small hanok village with 4 one-story buildings and 2 two-story buildings, constructed on about 5000㎡ of building site. The buildings are equipped with modern conven

835m

141 Mini Hotel - Goodstay

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in Gyeongju City, the old capital of the Silla Dynasty for 1,000 years, the 141 Mini Hotel offers tourists and business travelers high-class hotel services coupled with the simplicity and convenience of a motel. The hotel is equipped with various convenient facilities such as a sauna, book c

858m

Gyeongju Gaon Guest House - Goodstay

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

Located in the middle of Gyeongju City, the Gyeongju Gaon Guest House is within easy reach of excellent public transportation services, offering easy access to the surrounding tourist attractions. The guesthouse is situated at the heart of local culture as various cultural facilities including Hwang

920m

Blueboat Guesthouse Gyeongju (블루보트게스트하우스 경주점) [한국관광품질인증/Korea Quality]

Gyeongsangbuk-do >

937m