In the middle of Gyeongju, just across the road from Daereungwon (대릉원) are two areas of tombs called Nodongni (노동리) and Noseori (노서리) Tombs (고분군) which together, with a dividing road, form a very picturesque park. What’s even better about this park is that it’s free, and in my opinion, better looking than Daereungwon, which you have to pay to get into, because of it’s un-manicured state. It’s looked after well, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that management is kept to a minimum, just a few seats for the old folks and the odd rubbish bin by the path.
These two areas used to be 리’s, roughly equivalent to a village in the government administrative hierarchy, before Gyeongju became a city (시). They kept the old names though, like Greenwich Village in New York.
On the north side of the park, there are some restaurants that back straight onto the park, perfect for a summer evening dine. Keep Hanaro Mart at 5 o’clock, cross the road and keep going until you see the tombs. You really can’t, and shouldn’t, miss them.
