The trails
Through the pines.
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Namsan is a 494-metre peak at the heart of Gyeongju National Park, just south of the city of Gyeongju, South Korea. Its name means south mountain; it covers about eight kilometres north to south, with some 180 peaks and 40 valleys. Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly a thousand years, and the mountain is full of its remains, from royal tombs and temples to stone pagodas and rock carvings, so it was added to the UNESCO list with the Gyeongju Historic Areas in 2000. Koreans call it a museum without walls. You see rocky trails climbing through pines over granite slopes, huge boulders on the ridge, and from the peaks a view over the Gyeongju valley, golden rice fields and villages. Lotus ponds and farming villages lie at the foot, with small traditional houses among the trees. It is about 10 km from central Gyeongju in a straight line. There are many trails taking hours, and some religious carvings line the way, so treat them with respect.
Through the pines.
Rice fields.
On the ridge.
South of Gyeongju, South Korea
For the many Silla remains scattered over it.
From two hours to a full day.