Friday, July 24, 2020

cycling around historic Gyeongju

Drove to Geoncheon 건천 and parked the car near Geoncheon stadium and started cycling eastwards to Gyeongju 경주 along national highway No. 4. From the west side, you usually cross Seocheon bridge 서천교 to get to downtown of Gyeongju. Took a detour heading south to Bulguksa temple 불국사. The cycle trail leads along the bank of Seocheon and Namcheon river. Took some photos around Weoljeong bridge 월정교 recently restored and started south soon. Not far up from there, you can see rice green paddy fields these days. 
The 80 km route covers the roads which runs up mountain pass of Mt. Toham 토함산 via Bulguksa temple and downhill to the point in which national highway No. 4 connecting Gyeongju and Gampo 감포 meets the road. On the way back, you can take the old road partly closed due to landslide and cross the scenic pass named Churyeong 추령재. The road runs along the river between the mountains and the edge of Deokdong 덕동 reservoir and finally connects Bomun 보문 resort, and then runs alongside the bank of Bukcheon 북천 and Seocheon river. Crossed Seocheon bridge and returned back to the starting point, Geoncheon.