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Built as a mountain fortress of the Koguryo Kingdom (277 BC-AD 668) between the third century and the fifth century, Taesongsan Fort shows well the characteristics of Koguryo’s mountain fortress architecture.

The fort, which was 7 076 metres in circumference and whose walls were 9 284 metres long including double walls, is one of the kingdom’s many large mountain fortresses.

It was a defence fortress for safeguarding Anhak Palace, a royal palace of Koguryo.

It linked six peaks with a 274m-high peak at the centre and embraced two wide and deep valleys, which could accommodate lots of people and keep a large amount of combat equipment and war supplies.

It was built by making good use of natural and geographical conditions.

Rugged mountain ranges are connected in the north of the fortress and its east and west sides have steep slopes. Its south side has a valley facing a river and was surrounded by strong double walls.

Therefore, the fortress was very difficult for the enemy to attack, but favourable for the Koguryo people to defend.

The stones of the fortress were the natural ones trimmed by certain sizes in the shape of quadrangular pyramid, those collected in the mountain and its vicinity. The walls were firmly and evenly built by fitting together stones crisscross and had bastions at important points to attack the enemy from the front and sides.

What is noticeable in the building of the fort’s walls is its basic facilities. In consideration of the possibility of the walls’ bases crumbling due to frequent penetration of water, stones were buried deep into the ground at certain intervals and the spaces were left intact or filled with sand to drain water well.

Dozens of sites of big or small gates were discovered at the fortress and the biggest and important of the gates was the Nam Gate.

The fortress was very rich in water sources.

According to a legend, nine dragons lived in the pond of the fortress and when the pond almost ran dry by a severe drought, the dragons did wonders to always prevent it from drying.

Thanks to the policy of the state on protecting national heritage, the fort and relics in its vicinity were surveyed and unearthed extensively and the Nam Gate of the fort, a section of the fort wall on Somun Hill, general’s terraces and major old ponds were restored to their original state.

The fort is a valuable cultural heritage element showing the long history and culture of Pyongyang.