Ganghwa Mountain Fortress Wall West Gate

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Goryeo moved the capital to Ganghwa and built the fortress here in order to resist invasions by Mongolia. Part of the fortress was constructed in the pattern of the capital city. Large numbers of men were mobilized from each province to build it from 1232 to 1234, and the fortress was erected like the capital city.

Ganghwa north Mountain was called Songak Mountain (this mountain is near the capital Songak) and new the palace, Yengyeong-gung. The West gate was named Cheomhwa-ru. The fortress gates were also named after the gates of the capital city.

Originally, it was built out of some type of mud but was rebuilt using stone in the early Joseon Period. The fortress is 7,122 meters/4.4 miles around with four gates.