Gyeongju City Creates 'Exploration Path' Modeled After '9-Story Wooden Pagoda' at Hwangnyongsa Old Site ... Completion by Year-End

Part of Gyeongju City's Hwangnyongsa Restoration Project Linked to the 'Silla Wangyeong Special Act'

Panoramic view of the site of Hwangnyongsa Temple.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] A trail shaped like the nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangnyongsa, a representative architectural structure of the Silla Dynasty, will be built on the old site of Hwangnyongsa.

According to Gyeongju City on the 14th, as part of the Silla Royal Capital Special Act, a lawn plaza and walking trail including the trail will be created on a 22,300㎡ space northwest of the 'Hwangnyongsa History and Culture Center' with a project cost of 956 million KRW.

The plan centers on a 65-meter-long trail shaped like the nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangnyongsa laid on its side. Gyeongju City will shape the trail using 'wire mesh blocks' made by incorporating stone materials and roof tile fragments excavated during the Hwangnyongsa site excavation.

In addition, shrubs such as Rhododendron mucronulatum, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, and white azalea will be planted along the trail to create a beautiful green space. The project is scheduled to begin construction in May and be completed in December after a seven-month construction period.

Once the maintenance project is completed, it is expected to serve as the so-called 'Hwangnyongsa Excavated Artifacts Exhibition Hall,' where artifacts excavated during the Hwangnyongsa site excavation can be displayed and research results disclosed. Earlier, Gyeongju City received final approval in January this year after review by the Cultural Heritage Administration's Historic Site Subcommittee in November last year.

Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju said, "Once the construction is completed, it will become a new local attraction as an outdoor space to exhibit the stone materials and roof tile fragments excavated during the excavation, along with the Hwangnyongsa History and Culture Center."

Meanwhile, the nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangnyongsa was built in 643 (the 12th year of Queen Seondeok of Silla) and was burned down during the Mongol invasion in 1238 (the 25th year of King Gojong of Goryeo), leaving only the site today.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.