Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

​​Historical Context​​

The Goguryeo Kingdom, founded in 37 BCE by ethnic minority groups in Northeast China, became a regional power spanning modern China and the Korean Peninsula. Its relics, inscribed as a ​​UNESCO World Heritage Site​​ under criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v), include:

• ​​Capital Cities​​:

  • ​​Guonei City​​: A rare ​​plains-city​​ with intact stone walls (2,738m perimeter), serving as the administrative hub after 3 CE.
  • ​​Wandu Mountain City​​: A ​​military stronghold​​ with 7 gates and triple-walled defenses, used as a provisional capital.
  • ​​Wunu Mountain City​​: The first capital (37 BCE) in Huanren, partially excavated.

• ​​Tombs​​:

  • ​​14 Royal Tombs​​: Stepped-pyramid structures like the ​​General's Tomb​​ (31m base, 7-tier granite) and ​​King Jangsu's Mausoleum​​.
  • ​​26 Noble Tombs​​: Decorated with murals depicting feasts, hunting, and lotus motifs (Buddhist influence).

​​Architectural and Cultural Highlights​​

1. ​​Defensive Innovations​​:

   • Wandu Mountain City's ​​water reservoirs​​ and ​​dry-stone walls​​ (no mortar) demonstrated advanced engineering.
   • Guonei and Wandu's "​​plains-mountain twin-city system​​" influenced later Goguryeo capitals.

2. ​​Artistic Legacy​​:

   • ​​Murals​​: 101 tombs feature paintings of daily life, celestial beings, and Chinese-inspired calligraphy.
   • ​​Gwanggaeto Stele​​: 6.3m monument documenting Goguryeo's conquests and Chinese cultural impact.

3. ​​Cultural Fusion​​:

   • ​​Ondol heating systems​​ in tombs.
   • ​​Lotus designs​​ in murals post-Buddhism's arrival.

​​Visitor Experience​​

• ​​Key Sites​​:

  Attraction	Highlights
  General's Tomb	"​​Oriental Pyramid​​" with 1,100 granite blocks
  Wandu Mountain City	Panoramic views of Yalu River
  Gwanggaeto Stele	Oldest surviving Goguryeo text

• ​​Practical Information​​:

  • ​​Hours​​: 8:30–17:00 (Apr–Oct); 9:00–16:30 (Nov–Mar).
  • ​​Tickets​​: ¥70 combo pass (cities + tombs).
  • ​​Transport​​: Buses from Ji'an Railway Station (20 mins).

​​Conservation Status​​

• Protected under China's ​​Cultural Relics Protection Law​​ since 1961.
• Digital preservation projects for fragile murals.

This site bridges ​​Korean history​​ and ​​Chinese archaeology​​, offering unparalleled insights into ancient Northeast Asian civilization.