Daereungwon, Royal tomb complex in Gyeongju, South Korea

Daereungwon is a park-like burial ground in central Gyeongju holding 23 Silla tumuli, including the twin mounds of Hwangnam Daechong, 120 m north-south by 80 m east-west with the northern mound 23 m high. The 13 m-high, 47 m-wide Cheonmachong has an entrance cut into it for visitors. The mounds appear as rounded grassy hills of dry, pale grass, with a single white-blossoming tree standing among them.

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.

Tomb names come from what was found inside: Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse Tomb) is named for a white horse painted on a saddle flap, the only known painting from the Silla period. Nearby stands the tomb held to be that of King Michu, 13th ruler of Silla (reigned 262–284), whose soldiers with bamboo leaves in their ears were said to have driven off invaders.

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.

The complex was formed in 2011 by merging five separately designated tomb groups, including Nodong-ri and Hwangnam-ri, into one Historic Site No. 512. The single tree with white blossoms standing among the mounds is a magnolia, a spring landmark of the park.