Goguryeo Cultural Relics and Historic Sites Tourist Scenic Area is located in Ji'an City, Tonghua City, Jilin Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, centered on the historical relics of the Goguryeo Dynasty, covering important cultural remains such as Guonei City, Wandu Mountain City, royal mausoleums, and noble tombs. The total area of the scenic area is approximately 43 square kilometers, distributed in Ji'an urban area and surrounding mountainous areas. It is one of the best-preserved Goguryeo cultural site groups in the world and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004. There are 42 remaining Goguryeo-period relics in the scenic area, including 14 royal mausoleums, 26 noble tombs, and 2 city sites, which collectively demonstrate the political, military, cultural, and funerary systems of the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 BC - 668 AD). Among them, the murals in royal mausoleums and noble tombs, as well as architectural forms, have extremely high historical and artistic value, serving as important material for studying the history of ancient ethnic groups in Northeast Asia.
Historical Culture
Goguryeo was an ethnic minority regime in ancient Northeast China, founded by Jumong in Hesi City (present-day Huanren, Liaoning) in 37 BC. It moved its capital to Guonei City (present-day Ji'an) in 3 AD, and Ji'an served as the political, economic, and cultural center of Goguryeo for 425 years. In 427 AD, Goguryeo moved its capital to Pyongyang, but Ji'an remained an important "secondary capital".
The relics in the scenic area witness the rise and fall of Goguryeo. Guonei City, as the capital of Goguryeo, was first built in 3 AD, with a city wall circumference of 2,713 meters and remaining height of 3-4 meters. It is one of the best-preserved ancient capital sites in Northeast Asia. Wandu Mountain City, a military garrison city of Goguryeo, formed a "plain city and mountain city" capital system with Guonei City, a unique layout in ancient Northeast Asian capital planning.
Murals in royal mausoleums and noble tombs are the essence of Goguryeo culture, depicting scenes such as hunting, warfare, banquets, and myths, such as the "Four Gods" (Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise) and "Fuxi and Nuwa". These murals integrate Central Plains culture with nomadic cultural characteristics. In 2004, "Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Goguryeo Kingdom" was inscribed on the World Heritage List, including Guonei City, Wandu Mountain City, 12 royal mausoleums, 26 noble tombs, and the Haotaiwang Stele in the scenic area, becoming a cultural heritage shared by China and the DPRK.
Main Attractions
Haotaiwang Stele
The Haotaiwang Stele is a monument commemorating the 19th Goguryeo king, Damdeok (Haotaiwang), built in 414 AD, located east of the Haotaiwang Mausoleum. The stele is made of breccia tuff, 6.39 meters high, 1.34-2 meters wide, without a stele cap. The four sides of the stele are inscribed with 1,775 characters in clerical script, recording Haotaiwang's life and Goguryeo's expansion, serving as an important document for studying Goguryeo history. The inscriptions involve relations with Silla, Baekje, and Wa, providing key evidence for clarifying ancient international relations in Northeast Asia. Currently, the stele is protected in a stele pavilion, allowing visitors to view the inscriptions up close.
General's Tomb
The General's Tomb is the mausoleum of the 20th Goguryeo king, Jangsu, built in the 5th century. Known as the "Oriental Pyramid" for its resemblance to Egyptian pyramids, it is a square terraced stone-chamber tomb, 13.1 meters high, with a base side length of 31.58 meters. Constructed with over 1,100 granite blocks, it has 7 tiers of steps, each paved with stone slabs, with edge stones forming an "eave-like" structure. The tomb top once had large stone carvings, now only the base remains; the chamber, in the center of the top, contains a stone sarcophagus bed and was looted in early times. Surrounded by 3 auxiliary tombs, its rigorous layout makes it a representative work of Goguryeo royal mausoleum architecture.
Guonei City
Guonei City is the site of Goguryeo's capital, located in the center of Ji'an urban area. The city wall, built with rammed earth and faced with stone, has a circumference of 2,713 meters, 6 city gates, with remaining east, west, and north walls 3-4 meters high and 7-10 meters wide at the base. Palace and government office ruins have been found in the city, with numerous Goguryeo-period roof tiles and pottery unearthed. Today, the Guonei City site is integrated into an urban park, allowing visitors to walk along the wall ruins and experience the ancient capital's layout, with display boards introducing its historical changes.
Wandu Mountain City
Wandu Mountain City is situated on the Longshan Mountain range, 2.5 kilometers northwest of Ji'an urban area. It served as a military garrison city of Goguryeo and, together with Guonei City, formed a "dual-city system" capital. The mountain city has a circumference of 6,947 meters, with the highest altitude reaching 676 meters. The city walls were built along the contours of the mountains, and the remaining sections of the walls are 2-5 meters high. There are 5 city gates, and within the city, there are ruins such as palace sites, water reservoirs, and watchtowers. Among them, the palace site is located in the center of the mountain city, covering an area of approximately 35,000 square meters. It once served as a summer resort for the Goguryeo kings and a place for handling political affairs during wars. The watchtower stands at the highest point of the mountain city, offering a bird's-eye view of Guonei City and the surrounding plains, embodying its military defense function. The construction of the mountain city made full use of the natural terrain, making it an outstanding example of ancient mountain fortress architecture.
Yushan Noble Tombs
Yushan Noble Tombs are concentrated in the Yushan foothills northeast of Ji'an urban area, with 26 remaining tombs, mostly earthen-sealed stone-chamber tombs, some with exquisite murals on interior walls. Among them, the murals in Tomb 5 of Wukui Graves are most famous, with "Four Gods" and "Immortal" paintings on the chamber walls and ceiling, vivid in color, smooth in line, painted with mineral pigments, well-preserved after millennia. Integrating Central Plains immortal beliefs with Goguryeo life scenes, these murals represent the peak of Goguryeo art. Currently, some tombs are open to visitors, who can enter through passageways to view the murals.
Cuisine
Ji'an Fire Pot
Ji'an Fire Pot is a local specialty, using a charcoal-heated cast-iron pot with charcoal at the bottom and mixed ingredients such as meat slices, tofu, bean sprouts, and pickled cabbage stir-fried on top. Ingredients include fresh pork, beef, streaky pork, paired with local tofu and wild vegetables, seasoned with special sauce, eaten while cooking, with a rich aroma. The "time-honored fire pot restaurants" around the scenic area offer an average consumption of about 50 yuan per person, a must-try to experience Ji'an's culinary culture.
Goryeo Fire Pot
Similar to Ji'an Fire Pot but with richer ingredients, including rice sausages and blood sausages, characteristic of Korean cuisine, reflecting multi-ethnic culinary integration. On "Goryeo Fire Pot Street" in Ji'an urban area, a pot suitable for 4 people costs about 180 yuan, better when paired with corn cakes or cold noodles, especially warming in winter.
Cold Noodles
Influenced by Korean cuisine, Ji'an cold noodles are made from buckwheat, served with beef soup, kimchi, eggs, and shredded cucumber, with a sweet and sour broth. A local specialty is adding apple slices for fruity flavor, priced at about 15 yuan per bowl, available in Korean restaurants near the scenic area, refreshing in summer.
Wild Vegetable Rice Wraps
Wild Vegetable Rice Wraps use wild vegetables picked from Ji'an's mountains, such as shepherd's purse and aralia shoots, blanched and wrapped in lettuce leaves with rice, eggs, and bean paste, tasting fresh and nutritious. Priced at about 25 yuan per serving, it is a seasonal delicacy in spring, reflecting local use of natural ingredients.
Tickets
Combined ticket: 70 yuan per person.
As of July 7, 2025, no official WeChat public account has been found. Tickets can be purchased on-site at the scenic area visitor center.
Opening Hours
The scenic area's opening hours are adjusted seasonally: peak season (April 1 - October 31): 8:00 - 17:00 (admission stops at 16:30); off-season (November 1 - March 31): 9:00 - 16:00 (admission stops at 15:30). Some sections of Wandu Mountain City are closed due to snow in winter (December - February), with only the lower site area open; mural tombs in Yushan Noble Tombs are limited to 200 visitors daily for protection, requiring advance registration at the visitor center.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the scenic area visitor center at 8:30 am, purchase tickets and visit Haotaiwang Stele first (40 minutes) to learn about Goguryeo's historical background; go to General's Tomb at 9:10 (1 hour) to admire the "Oriental Pyramid" structure; visit Guonei City Ruins at 10:30 (1 hour), walking along the wall to feel the capital's layout. Have lunch in Ji'an urban area at 12:00 noon, trying Ji'an Fire Pot. Go to Wandu Mountain City at 13:30 pm (2 hours), visiting palace ruins and watchtowers, overlooking the mountain city; go to Yushan Noble Tombs at 15:30 (1.5 hours) to view murals in Tomb 5 of Wukui Graves; end the trip at 17:00. If time permits, visit the Yalu River bank in the evening to enjoy China-DPRK border scenery.
Transportation
- Bus: City buses No. 1 and 3 in Ji'an reach Guonei City, Haotaiwang Stele and other attractions, fare 1 yuan; special buses to Wandu Mountain City depart from Ji'an Bus Station hourly from 8:00 - 16:00, fare 5 yuan, 20-minute ride.
- Self-driving: From Tonghua City, drive south along Jixi Highway (G303) for about 110 kilometers to Ji'an urban area, 2-hour drive; parking lots near Haotaiwang Stele and General's Tomb charge 5 yuan per small car.
- Train: Take train K7591 from Tonghua Station to Ji'an Station, 2.5-hour ride, fare 23.5 yuan; taxi from Ji'an Station to the scenic area visitor center is about 5 kilometers, costing 10 yuan.
- Tourist bus: Tonghua Tourism Distribution Center operates a special line to Ji'an Goguryeo sites in peak season (April - October), departing at 7:30 am and returning at 16:30 pm, fare 150 yuan per person (including round-trip fare and combined ticket), requiring advance booking 1 day prior.
Must-visit Attractions
- General's Tomb: Representative of Goguryeo royal mausoleums, with unique "Oriental Pyramid" structure, recommended visit duration 1 hour.
- Haotaiwang Stele: Important Goguryeo historical document recording key events, recommended visit duration 40 minutes.
- Wandu Mountain City: Model of ancient mountain fortresses, experiencing military defense systems, recommended visit duration 2 hours.
- Tomb 5 of Wukui Graves: Well-preserved murals showing peak Goguryeo art, recommended visit duration 1 hour (advance registration required).
Tour Suggestions
- Best visiting seasons are April - May and September - October, with blooming flowers in April - May and cool weather in September - October; rainy in summer, bring rain gear; cold in winter with some closed attractions.
- Most relics are outdoor, so wear comfortable sports shoes; take sun protection, hats and water bottles in summer.
- History enthusiasts can rent audio guides at the visitor center (30 yuan/unit, 200 yuan deposit) or hire interpreters (100 yuan/time, shareable) to learn about relic backgrounds.
- Mural tombs are dimly lit; no flash photography to avoid damaging murals; bring flashlights (allowed in some chambers).
- Ji'an urban area is small; stay downtown for easy access to attractions, with budget hotels costing 150 - 200 yuan/night.
Matters Needing Attention
- All relics are key cultural relics under protection; touching, climbing or carving is prohibited, with fines for violations and legal liability for serious cases.
- Follow rules when visiting mural tombs: no food or drinks, maximum 10-minute stay to protect murals.
- Some sections of Wandu Mountain City are steep, narrow and slippery in rain; stay safe, follow signs and avoid unopened areas.
- Respect customs of local ethnic minorities such as Koreans; observe etiquette in Korean restaurants and avoid noise.
- Many visitors in peak seasons (May Day, National Day holidays); arrive 1 hour early to avoid 10:00 - 14:00 rush; mural tombs have limited visits, register early.