Guri

Guri (Korean: 구리; lit. 'Town of Nine Villages'; Korean pronunciation: [ku.ɾi]) is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is located immediately to the east of Seoul, in the heart of the Capital Metropolitan Area. The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty are located in the city. The hill of Achasan, site of the Baekje-era Achasanseong and numerous hiking trails, is located here; the city also has pleasant walking paths along Wang-suk-cheon, a small creek separating Guri from Namyangju. The traditional town market in Doldari (Guri's downtown around what used to be a "stone bridge") provides a cheap alternative to department stores. Guri first became a separate city in 1986. It had previously been considered part of Yangju from antiquity until 1980, and part of Namyangju from 1980 to 1986. The name "Guri" was first used in 1914, at which time the area was a myeon in Yangju.