Why this ride
376 km from Sŭngho 1-tong to Sŭngho 1-tong, about 6 h 47 of riding. On the way it passes Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group, Tokhung-ri Tomb, Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 and Kangso Three Tombs. It suits an unhurried touring pace.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Homam-ri Sasin and Kangso Three Tombs
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 376 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 6 h 47
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Homam-ri Sasin
The Four Guardians, the dragon of the east, the tiger of the west, the red bird of the south and the black tortoise entwined with a snake in the north, rule the walls of the Homam-ri tomb. Painted more than fifteen hundred years ago in the Koguryo kingdom, which dominated Korea and parts of Manchuria in those centuries, they are drawn in sweeping lines and bright mineral colours, and they twist across the stone as if in motion. The tomb is in the area around Pyongyang, in North Korea, and the whole group of Koguryo tombs was listed by UNESCO in 2004.
Read the complete Homam-ri Sasin write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Homam-ri Sasin is where the day begins. Next is Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group.
2. Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group
This is one of the few places in a ride collection that you almost certainly cannot ride to on your own, and it is worth saying so plainly. The Tomb of King Tongmyong lies in North Korea, southeast of Pyongyang, and the country admits foreign visitors only on guided tours, with fixed itineraries, official guides and no independent driving, let alone motorcycling. Still, it is a remarkable place, and knowing about it adds a layer to understanding the Korean peninsula.
Read the complete Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group comes up about 49 km into the recorded legs. Next is Tokhung-ri Tomb.
3. Tokhung-ri Tomb
Beneath a low grassy mound in the countryside south-west of Pyongyang lies one of the finest painted tombs of the ancient kingdom of Koguryo. Tokhung-ri was built in 408 for a high-ranking official, and its walls are covered in murals showing his life: processions, hunting scenes, officials paying respects, mythical creatures and a starry sky with the sun and moon. Unusually, it carries a long ink inscription giving the man's titles and the date, which makes it an important anchor for the history of the whole kingdom. It is part of the Complex of Koguryo Tombs inscribed by UNESCO in 2004.
Read the complete Tokhung-ri Tomb write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 111 km into the recorded legs you reach Tokhung-ri Tomb. Next is Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1, 36 km on.
4. Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1
This is a place almost no one reading these words will be able to reach on two wheels, and it is better to say so plainly. Tokhwa-ri Tomb No. 1 lies in the countryside north of Pyongyang, in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, among a group of burial mounds from the kingdom of Goguryeo. Independent travel in North Korea is not possible. Foreign visitors, when the country admits them at all, travel only on organised tours with official guides, follow fixed itineraries and are not allowed to drive or ride. Citizens of some countries, including the United States, are barred from travelling there by their own governments, and many others are strongly advised against it.
Read the complete Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1, about halfway. Next is Kangso Three Tombs.
5. Kangso Three Tombs
The three tombs at Kangso stand in a quiet part of the countryside near the west coast of North Korea, not far from the Taedong River. They date from the Goguryeo kingdom, probably from the late fifth or early sixth century, and each is a grass-covered mound over a stone chamber. The Great Tomb is the best known, painted inside with a vivid picture of the Four Guardians: the Azure Dragon of the east, the White Tiger of the west, the Red Phoenix of the south and the Black Tortoise entwined with a snake of the north. The painted ceiling shows clouds, flying figures and mythical creatures. The group belongs to the Complex of Koguryo Tombs, which UNESCO listed in 2004.
Read the complete Kangso Three Tombs write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Kangso Three Tombs sits at 147 km, about halfway. Next is back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1, 37 km on.
6. back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 comes up about 227 km into the recorded legs. Next is back through Tokhung-ri Tomb.
7. back through Tokhung-ri Tomb
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tokhung-ri Tomb write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 265 km into the recorded legs you reach back through Tokhung-ri Tomb. Next is back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group.
8. back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group, late in the day. Next is Homam-ri Sasin.
9. Homam-ri Sasin
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Homam-ri Sasin write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
The route ends here after 376 km.
Leg by leg
Homam-ri Sasin to Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group
Homam-ri Sasin → Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group is 49 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group to Tokhung-ri Tomb
Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group → Tokhung-ri Tomb is 62 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Tokhung-ri Tomb to Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1
Tokhung-ri Tomb → Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 to Kangso Three Tombs
Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 → Kangso Three Tombs is 37 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Kangso Three Tombs to back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1
Kangso Three Tombs → back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 is 41 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 to back through Tokhung-ri Tomb
back through Tokhwa-ri Tombs No. 1 → back through Tokhung-ri Tomb is 38 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Tokhung-ri Tomb to back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group
back through Tokhung-ri Tomb → back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group is 60 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group to Homam-ri Sasin
back through Tomb of King Tongmyong and Jinpha-ri group → Homam-ri Sasin is 50 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.