Ji'an 集安市

Setting and landscape

The city lies on the southern slopes of the Changbai range, and woodland covers roughly two thirds of its area. The Laoling Mountains (老岭山脉) across the city shut out cold northern winds while moist Yellow Sea air travels up the Yalu valley; the city government ranks Ji'an first in Jilin for rainfall, accumulated temperature, frost-free days and low wind. The border with North Korea runs 203.5 kilometres along the river.

History

Under Emperor Wu of Han the area belonged to the Xuantu Commandery (玄菟郡). Goguryeo moved its capital here to Guonei City (国内城) in AD 3 and left for Pyongyang in 427; the city government counts 425 years and 19 kings. Closed to settlement under the Qing, the area became Ji'an County (辑安县) in 1902, renamed with new characters (集安县) in 1965. It became a county-level city in 1988 and a national historical and cultural city in 1994. On 1 July 2004 the Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom were inscribed on the World Heritage List.

What to see

The modern town is built on Guonei City, whose west and north walls and four corners survive. Wandu Mountain City (丸都山城), the wartime capital, stands on a hill north of the town. The Donggou Tombs (洞沟古墓群) cover 34.2 square kilometres; a 1966 survey counted 11,300 tombs, divided into seven zones, including the General's Tomb (将军坟), the Taiwang Tomb (太王陵) and more than 30 tombs with painted murals such as the Tomb of the Dancers (舞俑墓). The Gwanggaeto Stele (好太王碑), called the "first stele east of the sea" (海东第一碑), stands within its own scenic area in town.

The Yalu River National Gate scenic area (鸭绿江国门景区) includes the border railway bridge and a corridor marking the Chinese crossing into Korea in the Korean War. Wunü Peak National Forest Park (五女峰国家森林公园) has waterfalls and plank walkways through autumn-red forest.

Food and local products

The city government calls Ji'an the home of Chinese ginseng, with 1,700 years of use and about 500 of cultivation, and the only producing area of 'biantiao' ginseng (边条参). Ji'an biantiao ginseng, Ji'an ice wine (集安冰葡萄酒), chestnuts (集安板栗) and Yalu River salted duck eggs (集安鸭绿江咸鸭蛋) are national geographical-indication products.

Getting oriented

Ji'an is Tonghua's only border city and one of China's three rail crossings to North Korea. The Jilin section of the G331 border highway begins here, and the Shenyang–Baishan high-speed railway (沈白高铁) serves the city.

Highlights

• Guonei City 国内城: Goguryeo capital from AD 3; west and north walls and four corners survive under the modern town.
• Wandu Mountain City 丸都山城: Goguryeo wartime capital on a hill north of the town.
• Donggou Tombs 洞沟古墓群: 11,300 tombs counted in 1966 across seven zones, with over 30 mural tombs.
• Gwanggaeto Stele 好太王碑: Goguryeo stele known as the "first stele east of the sea".
• Yalu River National Gate scenic area 鸭绿江国门景区: Border scenic area with the railway bridge to North Korea.
• Wunü Peak National Forest Park 五女峰国家森林公园: Forest park with waterfalls and plank walkways.