Pyongyang: Koguryo History and Buddhist Heritage

When looking for a hotel in Pyongyang, it helps to consider which themes you want your trip to focus on: early city history, Buddhist heritage, Koguryo tombs, or animal husbandry. Historical traces range from the walled city to temple remains and tombs with mural paintings. This can help you choose Pyongyang as a travel destination based on your interests before looking for hotels for your stay.

Koguryo history in the cityscape

The walled city in Pyongyang was built between 552 and 586 and served as the capital of Koguryo until 668. Its remains are scattered across the city center. Six gates, two generals’ terraces, and two pavilions have survived; the remains also include sections of wall in the mountains. Their scattered locations and varied forms give an impression of several surviving elements, rather than a single preserved structure.

The entry “Historic Relics of Koguryo’s Capital City in Pyongyang” is on UNESCO’s Tentative List and includes remains of a walled city as well as Koguryo tombs dating from the 5th to the 7th century. The city fortifications and tombs offer different ways to explore Koguryo history: the former point to the ancient capital, while the latter lead to the tombs and their mural paintings.

Temples and tomb art

Yongmyong Temple dates from the late 4th century and was one of the earliest Buddhist temples on the Korean Peninsula. Buddhist relics, including a pagoda and a stupa, have survived at the temple site. Here, the temple’s early history and surviving examples of Buddhist architecture stand side by side.

The Koguryo Tomb Complex extends across Pyongyang and surrounding provinces. It comprises 63 individual tombs, 16 of which have mural paintings. The images depict clothing, food, domestic life, and burial customs, as well as religious practices and motifs from Buddhism, Taoism, and the Four Deities. The subjects depicted thus range from daily life to religious beliefs. Unlike the gates and sections of wall, the paintings offer insight into ways of life and belief.

A different focus: the zoo

A report by KBS WORLD Radio dated April 22, 2026, describes the Pyongyang Central Zoo as a natural zoo focused on scientific animal husbandry and improvements to animal welfare. The report lists more than 650 animal species and 5,000 animals in its collection. This adds a different travel theme alongside the historical sites: animal husbandry, as covered in the report.

Historical perspectives within the broader destination of North Korea

Within the broader destination of North Korea, Kaesong offers a different historical focus. The Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong comprise twelve component areas that bear witness to the history and culture of the Koryo dynasty from the 10th to the 14th century. These include the archaeological site of Manwoldae Palace, Kaesong Namdae Gate, Koryo Songgyungwan, Sonjuk Bridge, and royal mausoleums.

First consider which of these perspectives matters most for your trip, then begin your search for hotels in Pyongyang with that focus in mind.

Discover more destinations: Pyongyang

Go to the broader travel overview: North Korea.