Gonnei City Site (Guonei City) (国内城遗址)

Gonnei City Site (Guonei City, Guoneicheng) is the ruined plains capital of the Goguryeo kingdom, in the centre of Ji'an City, Jilin Province, on the border with North Korea. It served as the capital from 3 AD until the court moved to Pyongyang in 427 AD, and it paired with the mountain fortress of Wandu as a fortified urban centre. Over the centuries the town of Ji'an grew over much of the ancient city, so what survives are sections of stone wall in the town centre and archaeological traces among modern streets. The walls were built of carefully cut granite blocks and once enclosed a roughly rectangular city, with gates and corner towers. The site is one component of the UNESCO World Heritage property Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom, inscribed in 2004. Visitors walk along the preserved wall fragments, read interpretive signs and look at excavated areas, a visit that takes about one hour. Viewing is free, and the exterior is accessible all day. The site works well combined with the nearby Ji'an Museum, which holds artefacts including pottery, tiles and objects recovered from the city and tombs. Because the ruins are integrated into the town, there are few crowds, and even in summer the site is usually quiet. Walking or taking a taxi within Ji'an is easy. The best time for a visit is May to October, with good light in the morning and late afternoon. The ruins are modest compared with the mountain fortress and royal tombs, so visitors benefit from reading about Goguryeo history beforehand or going with a local guide who can explain what the surviving stonework represents.