Namhansanseong, Mountain fortress in Gyeonggi, South Korea.
Namhansanseong is a mountain fortress in Gyeonggi with walls stretching 12 kilometers across mountain peaks, featuring gates, stone barriers, and military structures at about 480 meters elevation. The site includes residential and storage areas, administrative buildings, and defensive installations distributed across the terrain.
King Injo ordered the fortress built in 1624 in response to regional conflicts, using Buddhist monk soldiers for construction. It was later used as an emergency capital during the Joseon Dynasty when the main capital faced danger.
The fortress shows building methods that blend Korean, Japanese, and Chinese techniques from the 17th century. Walking through the gates and along the walls, you can see how these different traditions came together in the construction.
The fortress is reachable by subway Line 8 to Sanseong station, with buses running to the fortress entrance. The site sits in hilly terrain, so bring comfortable walking shoes and plenty of water.
The fortress was designed to house up to 4000 people within its defensive walls, making it a functioning refuge during wartime. This capacity shows how thoroughly it was planned as an emergency capital.
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