Baekje Royal Tombs

Chungcheongnam-do


Buyeo has seven royal tombs, dating from AD 538 to 660. They're sealed for protection, but there's a re-creation of the most impressive one, which is painted with the four celestial creatures (dragon, tiger, tortoise and phoenix) that guard the compass points. There's also a small museum with a model of the oldest tomb, believed to be that of King Seong.

The tombs are on a hillside 3km east of Buyeo, a five-minute bus ride (₩1400, every 15 minutes) from Busosan-seong.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Chungcheongnam-do attractions

1. Buyeo National Museum

1.43 MILES

This museum houses one of the best collections of Baekje artefacts, and has extensive English captions, making it a good place to get a primer on pre…

2. Samchung-sa

1.59 MILES

This modest shrine inside Busosan-seong commemorates three Baekje officials. Seong Chun, a royal adviser, died in prison after angering the king. Heung Su…

3. Jeongnimsaji

1.67 MILES

All that remains here of the Baekje-era temple Jeongnim-sa is a 8.3m five-storey stone pagoda – though this alone is certainly impressive. There's also a…

4. Busosan-seong

1.73 MILES

This mountain fortress covers the forested hill of Buso-san (106m) and once shielded the Baekje capital of Sabi within its walls. Structures such as the…

5. Gungnamji Pond

1.77 MILES

In July, this pond explodes with colour as thousands of lotus flowers bloom. The Buyeo SeoDong Lotus Festival that month also transforms the surrounding…

6. General Gyebaek Statue

1.82 MILES

Despite being outnumbered 10 to one, General Gyebaek led his army of 5000 in a last stand against the final Silla and Chinese onslaught in AD 660…

7. Banwollu Pavilion

1.83 MILES

This pavilion on the grounds of Busosan-seong offers lovely views of the surrounding countryside.

8. King Seong Statue

1.88 MILES

This statue commemorates the king who moved the Baekje Kingdom's capital to Buyeo in AD 538. The king died in AD 554 – along with 30,000 soldiers – in a…