Dandong

辽宁，丹东

This city is known as the gateway to North Korea. Now, why is that? It’s because just across the river, is the city of Sinuiju, North Korea. Both Dandong and Sinuiju are just separated by Yulu River. Dandong isn’t really a city I would typically visit but after hearing that you can see across the river to get an insight into our neighbour, it had instantly sparked my curiosity. I had booked a river view room at the Hilton Garden Inn to stay for the night.

I did have the chance to walk along the Yulu River Broken Bridge, allowing me to walk half way across the river. The China half of the bridge is still intact and is now a tourist attraction, whereas the Korean half has been destroyed during the war and is now fully dismantled. The most interesting thing about being half way is seeing the difference in city development between the two cities (picture above).

There is another bridge called the Sino-friendship bridge connecting China and North Korea via train and road. You can see trucks and cars travelling along here during the day and evening for tourism and business.

I believe the Beijing to Pyongyang train stops at both of these cities. It would have been an insightful trip if I had crossed over via train however visa applications to North Korea had been temporarily frozen and wasn’t accepting new applications until September. I had visited Dandong in August but being able to get a view into our mysterious neighbour just across the river was enough for now. The first set of photos are of Dandong. Scroll further down to see across the river.

And now here’s an insight to our neighbour, Sinuiju, North Korea.

Places featured in this post
Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge (中朝友谊桥)
Yalu River Broken Bridge (鸭绿江断桥)
Moon Island (月亮岛)

Other Places I have Visited
Korea Street (高丽街)

Places I didn’t get the chance to visit
Tiger Great Wall (虎山长城)
Phoenix Mountain (凤凰山)
Deer Island (大鹿岛)
Forest Park of Five Dragons Mountain (五龙山森林公园)
Green Valley (青山沟)
Kuandian (宽甸)
Hekou (河口景区)