Hwangnyongsa Temple Site, Gyeongju

The site of Silla's largest temple, located in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, where a colossal nine-story wooden pagoda once stood tall. The nine-story wooden pagoda, erected during the reign of Queen Seondeok, was a symbol of national protection embodying the wish to subdue the surrounding countries, but it was burned down and lost during the Mongol invasions. Although only the foundation stones remain today, their scale allows one to imagine the might of Silla Buddhism. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas.