Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom

In 2004, Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom was inscribed on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.
Located in and around the Ji'an, Jilin, China, Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom reprent the highest culture of ancient Koguryo kingdom (37 BCE – 668 CE) that ruled what is now Northeast China and the northern Korean Peninsula.
The site includes archaeological remains of three cities and 40 tombs: Wunu Mountain City, Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City, 14 tombs are imperial, 26 of nobles. All belong to the Koguryo culture, named after the dynasty that ruled over parts of northern China and the northern half of the Korean Peninsula from 277 BC to AD 668. Wunu Mountain City is only partly excavated. Guonei City, within the modern city of Ji’an, played the role of a ‘supporting capital’ after the main Koguryo capital moved to Pyongyang. Wandu Mountain City, one of the capitals of the Koguryo Kingdom, contains many vestiges including a large palace and 37 tombs. Some of the tombs show great ingenuity in their elaborate ceilings, designed to roof wide spaces without columns and carry the heavy load of a stone or earth tumulus (mound), which was placed above them.