Entering Suwon city, the capital of Kyonggi Province, one is immediately met with the spectacle of the high Changan Gate and long fortress wall that extends in both directions. The Fortress of Hwaseong ("Shining Fortress") was designated as a World Heritage site in 1997 by UNESCO for its historical significance and unique architectural style.
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was completed in 1796 during the reign of King Chongjo of the Choson Dynasty. The chief architect was Chong Yak-yong, a renowned scholar official and leader of the "practical learning"movement. In building the fortress, he made use of both Western and Eastern construction tools and materials, such as cranes, bricks and pulleys, and so made the fortress distinctive among the other fortresses of the East.