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Cheongju

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Cheongju is the capital city of North Chungcheong Province in South Korea.

Stad Cheongju
Stad Cheongju

It is a very large and important place for the region. The Geum River flows right through the center of the city. You can also find the Musimcheon River nearby. The Musim and Miho rivers flow together in the north. To the east and west, the Wuam and Bumo mountains stand tall. The city has four distinct seasons because it sits in a temperate zone. It is a place where nature and city life meet.

This city has a history that goes back to ancient times. People lived in the area during the Old Stone Age. You can find old settlements like the Durubong Cave Site. Later, Buddhism became very important after the Silla kingdom unified Korea in 676. Many temples were built during the Goryeo era. One special site is the Heungdeoksa Temple Site. This is where the Jikji was printed in 1377. The Jikji is the oldest book in the world printed with movable metal type.

Stad Cheongju
Stad Cheongju

Many amazing things were made or happened in Cheongju long ago. In the year 962, people built the Cheol Danggan. This is a tall flagpole made of twenty iron cylinders. It was used to hang flags to honor Buddha. The South Korean government named it a National Treasure in 1962. Another famous place is the Chojeonghaenggung temporary palace. King Sejong stayed there to treat an eye disease. It is even said he finished creating Hangul there.

Stad Cheongju
Stad Cheongju

Cheongju has changed a lot over the years. In 1908, the provincial government moved here from Chungju. The city grew very fast in the late 1900s. Its population went from 147,000 in 1970 to 582,158 in 2000. Today, the city is divided into several districts. These include Heungdeok, Seowon, Sangdang, and Cheongwon.

Stad Cheongju
Stad Cheongju

The city also has its own international airport. This airport helps people fly to other parts of Asia.

Visitors can find many interesting places to explore today. You can visit the Cheongju National Museum near Mt. Uam. There is also the Early Printing Museum to learn about books. For a quiet walk, you can go to Cheongnamdae. This was a private retreat for South Korean presidents for twenty years. It opened to the public in 2003. The city also hosts big events like the International Craft Biennale.

Stad Cheongju
Stad Cheongju

It is a busy hub for students and travelers alike.

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