Koguryo Kingdom ruled over parts of northern China and the northern half of the Korean Peninsula from 37 BC to 668 AD, it was the most powerful kingdom of North- East area of China and played an important role in the history of north-east Asia. The site listed in the World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO includes archaeological remains of three cities and 40 tombs: Wunu Mountain City, Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City - 14 tombs are imperial, 26 are nobles, and all belong to the Koguryo culture.


Wunu Mountain City is only partly excavated. Guonei City, within the modern city of Ji'an, played the role of a supporting capital after the main Koguryo capital moved to Pyongyang. Wandu Mountain City, one of the capitals of the Koguryo Kingdom, contains many vestiges including a large palace and 37 tombs. Some of the tombs have elaborate ceilings designed with roof wide spaces without columns and carry the heavy load of a stone or earth tumulus (mound) which was placed above them.


The result of the justification for the site is that they come up to 5 out of 6 Criterions to be listed in the World Cultural Heritage Site.
(i): The tombs represent a masterpiece of the human creative genius in their wall paintings and structures.
(ii): The Capital Cities of the Koguryo Kingdom are an early example of mountain cities, later imitated by neighboring cultures. The tombs, particularly the important stele and a long inscription in one of the tombs, show the impact of Chinese culture on the Koguryo (who did not develop their own writing). The paintings in the tombs, while showing artistic skills and specific style, are also an example for strong impact from other cultures.
(iii): The Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom represent exceptional testimony to the vanished Koguryo civilization.
(iv): The system of capital cities represented by Guonei City and Wandu Mountain City also has influence on the construction of later capitals built by the Koguryo regime; the Koguryo tombs provide outstanding examples of the evolution of piled-stone and earthen tomb construction.