Introduction
Pyongyang is situated on the middle plain in the northwest of the Korean peninsula.
Its name means “a flat land”.
The Taedong River, one of the longest rivers in Korea, runs through the city, and there extend vast plains on both sides of the river, dotted with low hills.
Topographically, the northern mountains keep off the cold northwestern wind in winter, and the eastern and southern plains are exposed to cool southeastern and southwestern wind, thus providing favorable conditions for tour activities.
The average annual temperature is 9.5℃ and the average annual precipitation is about 1 000㎜.
In spring, Pyongyang presents the scene of a sea of flowers as in Mangyongdae famous for beautiful landscape and various kinds of flowers are in full bloom on Moran Hill, which is called a garden of the capital and the streets lined up with apricot trees.
Walking along the banks of the Taedong and Pothong rivers is fine, and the boating on the rivers adds luster to the attractiveness of the city in summer.
The scene of Pyongyang in autumn is very charming for clear and blue sky, fresh air and autumnal tints on the hills.
In winter when it snows in large flakes, the mild weather, white snow and frostworks give rise to a special feeling of the city.
Pyongyang is a city associated with time-honored history, brilliant culture, wisdom and talents of the Korean nation.
It is one of the cradles of mankind and a city of culture with 5 000-year-long history.
There remain a lot of historical relics left by the Korean ancestors one million years ago, which prove the emergence of mankind.
It was the capital of Ancient Joson (early 30th century B.C.-108 B.C.), the first state in Korea, and Koguryo (277 B.C.-A.D.668), a millennium power in the East. There are many historical relics showing the long history and brilliant culture of the Korean people, including the Mausoleum of Tangun, founder-king of Ancient Joson, and the Mausoleum of Tongmyong, founder-king of Koguryo.
After Korea’s liberation from the Japanese military occupation on August 15, Juche 34 (1945), Pyongyang began to open a new page in the history of its development as the capital of the DPRK.
In the city there is the native home in Mangyongdae where the President was born.
In the city the glorious Workers’ Party of Korea was founded in October Juche34 (1945) and the DPRK, in September Juche37 (1948).
During the three-year-long Korean war (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953), the city was completely ruined by bombing.
After the ceasefire, it has been turned into a modern and beautiful city. It boasts of attractive green foliage and all kinds of flowers and many monumental edifices, including the Tower of the Juche Idea and the Arch of Triumph.
Today Pyongyang is changing into a more magnificent and beautiful city of creation, construction and miracle day by day.
Tourist attractions
- Monumental Edifices
- Revolutionary Sites
- Museums
- Educational Establishments
- Cultural and Art Establishments
- Sports Facilities
- Parks and Recreation Grounds
- Historical Relics
- etc
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
Kumsusan Palace of the Sun
Grand Monument on Mansu Hill
Grand Monument on Mansu Hill
Tower of the Juche Idea
Tower of the Juche Idea
Monument to Party Founding
Monument to Party Founding
Chollima Statue
Chollima Statue
Kim Il Sung Square
Kim Il Sung Square
Mansudae Assembly Hall
Mansudae Assembly Hall
Arch of Triumph
Arch of Triumph
Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery
Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery
Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification
Monument to the Three Charters for National Reunification
Friendship Tower
Friendship Tower
Liberation Tower
Liberation Tower
Kim Il Sung ’s birthplace in Mangyongdae
Kim Il Sung ’s birthplace in Mangyongdae
Revolutionary Site on Ssuk Island
Revolutionary Site on Ssuk Island
Jonsung Revolutionary Site
Jonsung Revolutionary Site
Korean Revolution Museum
Korean Revolution Museum
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum
Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum
National Gifts Exhibition House
National Gifts Exhibition House
Korean Central History Museum
Korean Central History Museum
Korean Art Gallery
Korean Art Gallery
Three-revolution Exhibition House
Three-revolution Exhibition House
Party Founding Museum
Party Founding Museum
Kim Il Sung University
Kim Il Sung University
Kim Chaek University of Technology
Kim Chaek University of Technology
Kim Won Gyun University of Music
Kim Won Gyun University of Music
Pyongyang College of Tourism
Pyongyang College of Tourism
Pyongyang Secondary School No. 1
Pyongyang Secondary School No. 1
Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace
Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace
Pyongyang Students and Children’s Palace
Pyongyang Students and Children’s Palace
Grand People’s Study House
Grand People’s Study House
Changgwang Kindergarten
Changgwang Kindergarten
Kim Jong Suk Nursery
Kim Jong Suk Nursery
Kang Pan Sok Highschool
Kang Pan Sok Highschool
Changdok School
Changdok School
Pyongyang Primary School No.4
Pyongyang Primary School No.4
People’s Theatre
People’s Theatre
Moranbong Theatre
Moranbong Theatre
Pyongyang Grand Theatre
Pyongyang Grand Theatre
East Pyongyang Grand Theatre
East Pyongyang Grand Theatre
People’s Palace of Culture
People’s Palace of Culture
Central Youth Hall
Central Youth Hall
Pyongyang Circus Theatre
Pyongyang Circus Theatre
National Theatre
National Theatre
April 25 House of Culture
April 25 House of Culture
Pyongyang International Cinema House
Pyongyang International Cinema House
Mansudae Art Studio
Mansudae Art Studio
Korean Film Studio
Korean Film Studio
Pyongyang Embroidery Institute
Pyongyang Embroidery Institute
Kim Il Sung Stadium
Kim Il Sung Stadium
May Day Stadium
May Day Stadium
Pyongyang Indoor Stadium
Pyongyang Indoor Stadium
Mirim Riding Club
Mirim Riding Club
Ice Rink
Ice Rink
Yanggakdo Football Stadium
Yanggakdo Football Stadium
Sports Village in Chongchun Street
Sports Village in Chongchun Street
Thongilgori Fitness Centre
Thongilgori Fitness Centre
People’s Open-air Ice Rink
People’s Open-air Ice Rink
Meari Shooting Gallery
Meari Shooting Gallery
Pyongyang Gold Lane
Pyongyang Gold Lane
Mirim Aviation Club
Mirim Aviation Club
Moran Hill
Moran Hill
Kaeson Youth Park
Kaeson Youth Park
Mangyongdae Pleasure Park
Mangyongdae Pleasure Park
Taesongsan Pleasure Ground
Taesongsan Pleasure Ground
Ryongaksan Pleasure Ground
Ryongaksan Pleasure Ground
Rungna People’s Recreation Ground
Rungna People’s Recreation Ground
Munsu Water Park
Munsu Water Park
Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
Central Zoo
Central Zoo
Mausoleum of King Tangun
Mausoleum of King Tangun
Mausoleum of King Tongmyong
Mausoleum of King Tongmyong
Taedong Gate
Taedong Gate
Pyongyang Bell
Pyongyang Bell
Ryongwang Pavilion
Ryongwang Pavilion
Pothong Gate
Pothong Gate
Fort on Mt. Taesong
Fort on Mt. Taesong
South Gate of Fort on Mt. Taesong
South Gate of Fort on Mt. Taesong
Kwangbop Temple
Kwangbop Temple
Ulmil Pavilion
Ulmil Pavilion
Chilsong Gate
Chilsong Gate
Chongnyu Pavilion
Chongnyu Pavilion
Sungnyong Temple
Sungnyong Temple
Hyonmu Gate
Hyonmu Gate
Choesung Pavilion
Choesung Pavilion
Ryomyong Street
Ryomyong Street
Mirae Scientists Street
Mirae Scientists Street
Changjon Street
Changjon Street
Pyongyang Subway
Pyongyang Subway
Mausoleum of King Tongmyong
It stands in Ryongsan-ri of Ryokpho Distirct, 25 km away from the centre of Pyongyang.
It is the tomb of King Tongmyong (His original name is Kojumong), founder-king of Koguryo (277 B.C. – A.D.668), the first feudal state and the strongest in the history of Korea. It was moved to the present location in 427 when Koguryo moved its capital to Pyongyang, according to the manners of respecting their founder-king.
The present mausoleum was renovated true to the principle of fidelity to historical truth in May Juche82 (1993) on the occasion of the king’s 2 291st birth anniversary.
Covering an area of over 170 hectares, it is divided into three sections: the king’s mausoleum, Jongnung Temple and servants’ tombs.
The section of the mausoleum consists of a gate built in the Korean architectural style, the mausoleum, stone sculptures of civilian officials and military officers and other sculptures, tombstones and a shrine for memorial service.
There were a large number of valuable remains in the chamber of the mausoleum, but they were plundered by the Japanese imperialists during their military rule of Korea.
Seen on the walls in the chamber of the grave are mosaics depicting lotus flowers.
Jongnung Temple was built when moving the mausoleum in a bid to pray for the soul of King Tongmyong. It is a large temple covering an area of 37 000 square meters. It is surrounded by corridors 223 m long from west to east and 133 m long from north to south.
In the section of the subjects’ tombs are 15 tombs of the king’s loyal subjects who contributed to the founding of Koguryo.
The mausoleum of King Tongmyong was registered as a World Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO in Juche93 (2004).