Valley of Pyramids – Wandu Mountain City: the Ancient Korean Kingdom in China
Amid the misty mountains of Jilin, near the city of Jian in northern China, stand the ruins of an ancient Korean kingdom.
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Misty mountains and small grass-covered tombs amid early morning light at Wandu Mountain City.
Located on the Chinese side of the Yalu River opposite North Korea today, Wandu Mountain City, started as a fortress to guard the nearby capital of Guonei (now modern Jian).
But by 209 AD, Wandu Mountain City had become the capital of the ancient Korean Kogoryo kingdom.
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Misty early morning amid the ruins of the pyramid tombs at Wandu Mountain City (in China), but once part of the ancient Korean Koguryo Kingdom.
While there’s not that much to see at Wandu – a stone guard tower, palace foundations and a (renovated) city wall, it’s the valley of tombs that seize attention.
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Aerial Drone shot of valley of tombs at Wandu Mountain City. Note: part of the old city walls that follow the entire mountain ridge (in a complete – 7 km circle).
The “Tombs of the Nobles” at Wandu Mountain City are mix of burial mounds, large stone cairns and small pyramids.
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Walking the old city walls of Wandu – the capital of the ancient Korean Kingdom of Kogoryu, overlooking the “Tombs of the Nobles”.
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TOP: Amid the circular mountain walls of Wandu was city and terraced palace; BOTTOM LEFT: our van parked next to tomb ruins on country road, Wei cutting firewood for our portable stove; BOTTOM RIGHT: Wei inspects the old fort walls as we hiked up the steep surrounds above the ruined city.
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Pyramid tombs seem from ruins city walls that follow the surrounding mountains.
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Unfortunately, entering the tombs interior wasn’t possible; however, site information boards depict some fascinating murals.
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Wandering the Tombs of the Nobles early morning in Wandu Mountain City ruins near Jian in northern China.
