Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond동궁과 월지

At a glance

Donggung was a detached palace of the Silla royal court: the crown prince lived here, and the kingdom held banquets here to celebrate good news or welcome honored guests. After Silla fell, geese and ducks settled on the pond, so it became known as Anapji ('pond of geese and ducks') until it was renamed Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in 2011. Excavations found traces of 27 buildings, including Imhaejeon; in 1980 three building sites and the pond were restored, and the lit pavilions mirrored in the water are now a signature Gyeongju night view.

Book ahead

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Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond · 4 tours & tickets

1. GetYourGuideGyeongju private night taxi tourA 2.5-hour private night taxi tour from your Gyeongju hotel: Cheomseongdae, Woljeong Bridge and Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond.Book
2. KlookDonggung & Wolji full-day small-group tour from BusanA full-day small-group tour from Busan. The listing's name points to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and a sunset visit to Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond; check the itinerary on the listing.Book
3. KKdayBusan and Gyeongju essential day tourA day tour from Busan: Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory in Haeundae, then Bulguksa Temple and Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond.Book
4. GetYourGuideGyeongju day trip with night tour from BusanA 7–8-hour trip from Busan by van: Daereungwon, Hwangnidan-gil (with snacks), Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond and Woljeong Bridge at night.Book

Places to stay nearby

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Map

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Tips

• 01
  Come in the evening, when the rebuilt halls are lit and reflected in the pond; remember that ticket sales end at 21:30.
• 02
  Cheomseongdae is about 900 m to the west, so the two make an easy evening walk together.

Nearby

Gyeongju National MuseumA thousand years of Silla in one place: history and art galleries, royal finds from Wolji Pond and 1,300 stone pieces outdoors, free to enter.Cheomseongdae ObservatoryA bottle-shaped Silla stone tower about 9 m tall, believed to date from Queen Seondeok's reign and used to watch the sky; free and open into the evening.Woljeonggyo BridgeA rebuilt Silla-era wooden bridge over the Muncheon stream, with gate towers at both ends and open until 22:00 for the night lights.Gyochon Traditional VillageA hanok quarter on the site of Silla's first national academy, home to the Choi family house and next to Woljeonggyo Bridge.