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GYEONGJU : South Korea's ancient city of Gyeongju may not be on every traveller's itinerary.
But this cultural capital, which has been described as the Korean equivalent of the Incan capital Cuzco in Peru, is full of archeological surprises.
The ancient Korean city of Gyeongju dates back to the first century BC.
It was also the capital city of Korea's Silla Kingdom for over 1,000 years.
It recently made headlines when a 70-tonne granite statue of Buddha, which fell face-down 1,300 years ago, was unearthed with its features intact.
Experts said its nose missed a rock by only five centimetres when the statue toppled.
These days, visitors to this ancient cultural capital city in Gyeongsang province are greeted by a new landmark – the Gyeongju Tower.
An 82-meter high tower combines the city's historical past with the latest technology.
The futuristic tower is just one of the many highlights of the Gyeongju World Cultural Expo this year.
The event, which first began in 1998, is based on the concept of a museum city without walls.
Gyeongju may be off the beaten track for most international tourists but its wealth of archeological treasures and cultural sites makes it a fitting location for the expo.
"Gyeongju was Silla's capital for 1,000 years. It is through the window of 1,000 years that we host this expo. This capital was ruled by one dynasty for 1,000 years and the cultural assets can be found everywhere," said Kim Kwan Yong, governor of northern Kyongsang province.
The event, which brings together cultures from some 40 countries, is being held biennially.
Last year's expo was held in the ancient Cambodian city of Angkor, while the next one will be in Thailand in 2009. - CNA /ls
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