Gyeongju | Encountering a Thousand-Year History at Cheonmachong

Daereungwon, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is actually composed of over twenty ancient tombs. Covered with lush green grass, entering Daereungwon feels like stepping into a cluster of miniature matcha hills. Instead of feeling eerie, the well-planned greenery gives the area a park-like atmosphere.

This burial site is estimated to date back to the 5th century, with Cheonmachong being the most fascinating among them. To prevent tomb raiding, the royal aristocracy of the time avoided leaving inscriptions or markers that might attract attention. Interestingly, the excavation of Cheonmachong in 1973 was accidental—the archaeological team originally intended to excavate the neighboring Hwangnam Daechong but decided to test their methods on Cheonmachong first. This led to the discovery of over ten thousand ancient artifacts.

Cheonmachong stands 12.7 meters tall with a diameter of 50 meters. Beneath the mound lies a hidden world, featuring a stone-piled layer and a wooden burial chamber measuring 6.5 meters long, 4.2 meters wide, and 2.1 meters high. Inside, treasures such as a golden crown, golden belt, and golden shoes were unearthed. The tomb was named Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse Tomb) due to the depiction of a heavenly horse found on a saddle excavated from the site.

📍Address: 14 Gyerim-ro, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
🚗 From Singyeongju Station, take bus No. 50 or 70; it takes about an hour to reach.

Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Sep 25, 2025