Historical Remains

Historical Remains in Pyongyang | UNESCO sites in Pyongyang

Historical Remains in Pyongyang

Pyongyang with a long history is the site where Taedonggang Culture, enriched the ancient Oriental culture, had been created. It was the capital of Kojoson, first ancient state established 5,000 years ago by Tangun, founder of Korean nation, and later it was the capital of Koguryo, known as the powerful state in the Korean history.

Historical remains and relices from the primitive, ancient and middle ages to the modern days, including the remains of the Taedonggang Culture are preserved in Pyongyang. From old times Pyongyang has been called Ryugong meaning a city of willows. It affords magnificent views with mountains high and low, including the Moran Hill, Taesong and Ryongak Mountains and River Taedong, thus it gives the impression of a city in park.

Sites in Pyongyang included into Preliminary UNESCO World Heritage List

There are a number of sites in Pyongyang included in the preliminary UNESCO World Heritage List:

• Paleolithic cave sites: Komunmoru Site (upper Paleolithic Age), sites of Neolithic Age, sites of Bronze Age
• The Tomb of King Tangun (founder king of the Ancient Korea)
• Castles sites such as Hwangdae Castle and Chongamdong Earthen Castle
• Villages sites such as Namgyong Site and Pyodae Site
• The ruins of Anhak Palace and parts of Mt. Taesong Fortress built by Koguryo dynasty
• The defensive works of Jangan Fortress built by Koguryo dynasty (the first urban fortress built in Korea) which has been utilized by the later dynasties without any modification to its structure or purpose, and there are still the gates and other parts of the fortress such as Taedong Gate, Pothong Gate, Ulmil Pavilion and Ryongwang Pavilion
• In the heart of the city there remain Sungryong Hall and Sungin Hall and other temples, Confucian buildings, the five-storied octagonal pagoda in Yongmyong Temple and other numerous stone buildings