FechTin Go · South Korea · Gyeongbuk

Daereungwon Tomb Complex

dokaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0

Twenty-three Silla royal tombs rising out of the city like enormous grass hills.

Gyeongju is called a museum without walls, and Daereungwon is its opening chapter: round earth mounds tens of metres high, covered in smooth green grass, sitting in the middle of the town. One of them — Cheonmachong, the 'heavenly horse tomb' — was excavated and opened, and you can walk inside to see the coffin, the gold crown and the painted saddle flap showing a winged white horse. At sunset the mounds throw long shadows across the grass and the whole place turns unreal.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Daereungwon Tomb Complex?

April and October–November

How much does it cost to visit Daereungwon Tomb Complex?

3,000 KRW

How long do you need at Daereungwon Tomb Complex?

1.5 hours

What are the opening hours of Daereungwon Tomb Complex?

09:00–22:00, last entry 21:30

Did you know

• Twenty-three large burial mounds of the Silla aristocracy.
• Cheonmachong, excavated in 1973, yielded a gold crown and the 'Heavenly Horse' painting.
• The mounds are built of stone and earth, some over 20m high.
• Part of the UNESCO Gyeongju Historic Areas.

Travel tips

• Walking or cycling is the best way to see Gyeongju.
• Late afternoon light is best for photographing the mounds.
• Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are next door and best seen after dark.

Source: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=84258

Updated: 2026-08-04