Tumuli Park (Daereungwon)

Overview

Daereungwon (commonly called Tumuli Park) is a 125,000 m² complex of 23 monumental burial mounds in the heart of Gyeongju, the resting places of Silla kings and aristocrats from the 1st to 9th centuries CE. The gently rounded grass-covered mounds create a surreal, almost lunar landscape in the middle of the modern city.

Highlights

• Cheonmachong (Heavenly Horse Tomb): The only tomb visitors can enter — a cross-section display shows the wooden burial chamber and replicas of the gold crown and birch-bark saddle painting that give it its name.
• Hwangnamdaechong (Great Tomb of Hwangnam): The largest double mound in the park, 23 metres high and 120 metres long, where a queen's tomb yielded more gold than her king's.
• Night Illumination: The mounds are softly lit at night, making an evening stroll through the park especially atmospheric.

History

The park preserves burials spanning from the Saro confederacy period (1st century) through the Unified Silla era (8th–9th centuries). Systematic excavation began in the 1970s, uncovering thousands of gold ornaments, glass vessels from the Roman Empire, and horseback riding gear.

Visitor Tips

• Sunset and night: The park stays open until 22:00 — the lit mounds at dusk are a highlight.
• Combine with: Cheomseongdae and Wolseong are within walking distance.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours at a leisurely pace.