Goguryeo Moves its Capital to Gungnae-seong

King Yuri moved the capital from Jolbon to Gungnae-seong on the Yalu, the capital for the next four centuries.

The Samguk sagi says King Yuri moved the capital to Gungnae in his 22nd year and built Winaam Fortress. The walled city on the Yalu plain was paired with a mountain fortress behind it (Hwando), where the court took refuge in war. Gungnae fell to Guanqiu Jian of Wei in 244 and to Murong Huang of Former Yan in 342.

Some ten thousand tombs survive around Ji’an, from stepped stone pyramids such as the General’s Tomb to painted chamber tombs such as Muyongchong and Gakjeochong. They became World Heritage in 2004 as the Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom.