Daereungwon, Royal tomb complex in Gyeongju, South Korea
Daereungwon is a royal burial complex containing more than twenty large mounds scattered across a green landscape in Gyeongju. The mounds vary in size, with the largest rising several meters high and spanning considerable distances across the ground.
The site was built during the Silla Kingdom, an ancient state that ruled parts of the Korean Peninsula for centuries. Excavation work in the 1970s uncovered thousands of objects buried alongside royalty, shedding light on life in that distant era.
The site carries stories of ancient rulers whose names remain tied to local memory and regional identity. Walking among the mounds, visitors sense how these royal figures still shape how people understand their past.
The site is easy to explore on foot, with pathways connecting the burial mounds and helping visitors navigate the layout. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and allow time to walk between the different areas depending on your interest level.
Hidden beneath each mound are wooden burial chambers surrounded by layers of carefully placed rocks sourced from stream beds. This construction method reveals how ancient builders prevented decay and intrusion, preserving the graves for centuries.
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