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If you are not willing to venture taking Beijing North Korea tour, but still want to have a glimpse of the hermit state of North Korea,  a short trip to Dandong is a good alternative.  Separated by Yalu River, Dandong is a border city opposite to  Sinuiju, North Korea.   For more information on Datong, check out the link : Dantong tour.

Dandong can be easily reached from Beijing by taking the overnight train T 27  for Dandong  which takes about 14 hours. or you may bus from Shenyang or Dalian.

Dandong offers a good choices of accommodation including the luxury stay at Wanda Realm Dandong and Crowne Plaza Hotel Dandong.  For cheaper hotels,  you may choose Chinese chain hotels – Home Inn, Huating Express and 7 Days Inn.

For drinking and beverage,  Peter’s Coffee House is highly recommended which is run by a Canadian family who have stayed in Dandong for a long time. Beside coffee, Peters also serve up a  good all day breakfast, burgers and sandwiches.

Traveling around the city of Dandong is easy and comfortable, a pedestrian friendly city. Taxi rides are cheaper and convenient.

I’ve rounded up the top things to do or the Top 10 Attractions in Dandong which may help you plan your own trip to Dandong.

1. Yalu River  Park 鸭绿江公园
South of downtown Dandong, Yalu River Park is about 3.4km long with boardwalk along Yalu River. It is a comfortable stroll along the boardwalk in the park. Lots of activities are going on in the park,especially during summer time. You may see the border area of North Korea from here and take boats to have a closer look.

Having a picnic in the park is a great way to spend your day; Browsing souvenirs from North Korea (North Korean postage stamps & currency notes):  Renting Korean dresses to take photographs, and buy snacks; tasting authentic North Korean food and the list could be much longer.

Entrance Fee: free
How to get there: Just walk there

2. Yalu River Broken Bridge  鸭绿江断桥
The “Broken Bridge” is the first bridge ever built over Yalu River.  It was constructed between August 1909 and October 1911, an iron bridge, 944.2 meters long, 11 meters wide with 12 arches.

In December,  1950, the bridge was bombed by US Air Force during the Korean War. The bridge has been left less than halfway cross the river from Chinese riverside, hence the name of Duanqiao ( Broken Bridge).

Now it has become an intriguing sight in Dandong.  You can stroll along the Broken Bridge, feeling the Korean War by looking at the bullet and shell holes and bomb-damaged remains.

Entrance Fee: RMB30
How to get there: Just walk there

3. China and North Korea Friendship Bridge 鸭绿江桥（中朝友谊桥）
About 100 meters on the upper reaches of the Broken Bridge is the second bridge on Yalu River, now also known as China and North Korea Friendship Bridge. The built was originally built between April, 1937 and 1943.  The bridge is 940.8 meters long with 569.9 meters on China’s side.

Several over-all renovation and repairs have been done to make the bridge both stronger and supportive. The bridge is the official border crossing  between China and North Korea. Now tourists can walk through the bridge to enter North Korea for sightseeing. No photos on the bridge.

Entrance Fee: RMB20
How to get there: Just walk there

4. North Korean Border at Dandong  朝鲜边境
So Dandong is within a toss of a baseball to the North Korean shoreline.  A glimpse of the stark shoreline is one of the purposes of many tourists who make trips to Dandong.  The stark and sharp difference between the two shorelines of China and North Korea is quite interesting.

There are two ways for having a glimpse of the North Korean Border.  One is standing on the Hushan Mountain (Tiger Great Wall ) where you can have an-eye bird view of the river the shoreline. The other is to take the speed boat from the pier at the foot of Hushan Mountain.  The 30-minute boat ride allows you to come very closer to the North Korea’s Border.

5. Anti-US Aggression & Supporting Korea Memorial 抗美援朝纪念馆
The memorial was inaugurated in 1958 and renovated and expanded in 1984.  The whole memorial comprises three principal buildings – the Memorial Pagoda, the Exhibition Hall and the  life-sized Diorama Hall.  The  Exhibition Hall has 10 show rooms displaying over 500 valuable pictures and 1000 artifacts, reproducing the magnificent scene of the War.

The Diorama Hall  is 24 meters high with a diameter of 44 meters, using the comprehensive modern technology to depict the war scenes.  The museum shows the war from Chinese perspective.

The museum is located on the foot of the west Jinjiang Mountain. Taxi ride to the museum costs about RMB 10 from downtown,or you may visit the museum on your walk to Jinjiang Mountain.

Entrance Fee: Free ( closed on Monday)
How to get there:
You may walk or take buses no. 1,2,3,4,5

6. Jinjiangshan Park 锦江山公园
The pleasant Jinjiang Park is named after the same name mountain – Jinjiang Mountain. The park is on the south slope of Jinjiang Mountain,  the largest comprehensive park in Dandong, a well-tended expanse of forested slopes.

On the top of the mountain is the Jinjiang Pagoda. The park  is free to the public.  On the park, you can see people doing lots of activities. There is a pond and a small zoo in the park. It has an entertainment area for kids and it is the ideal venue for a family outing or for lovers. Standing on the top, you can have an unparalleld views of the whole Dandong and Sinuiju in North Korea.

 

7. Tiger Mountain Great Wall 虎山长城
Tiger Great Wall is named after the same name Tiger Mountain ( Hushan Mountain ).  It is located by the Yalu River, opposite to the North Kore’s Yuce Island and the old Shinuiju, about 15km  to the east of Dandong’s city center.

Tiger Great Wall is a restored stretch of the Wall with a length of 1250 meters with a sea level of 146.3 meters.  Tiger Great Wall was built in 1469, often regarded as the eastern tip  the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty. In the scenic area, there is a Great Wall Museum – Tiger Great Wall Museum,  one of the four Great Wall Museums in China.

Entrance Fee: RMB60
How to get there:
Take bus Line 15 for the Wall

8. Wulong Mountain 五龙山
Wulong Mountain ( Five Dragons Mountain ) is located 17 to the northwest of Dandong’s City center with its main peak at the sea-level of 708.5 meters.  You may take a taxi ( RMB about 35 ) or mini-bus (RMB7) from the train station.

Once arriving at the entrance, you may take the local mini-bus or you may hire a car directly drive to the top. Alternatively, it is a 2-km walk from the entrance to the top. Walking uphill is very interesting,  and the pathway brings many scenic spots to you. On the top is the famous Lingchan Buddhist Temple, the largest temple in the northeast China.

Entrance Fee: RMB35
How to get there:
Take buses from the train station  for the mountain

9. Phoenix Mountain凤凰山
Phoenix Mountain is one of the four famous mountains in Liaoning Province, 57km to the northwest of Dandong’s city center. In Tang Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin visited the mountain and named it “Phoenix Mountain” according to the legend of “Phoenix Paying Respect to Ancestors”.

Phoenix Mountain is well known both for its natural landscape and religious culture. It is an intriguing place where Buddhism and Taoism go hand in hand and live peacefully. You could find many Taoist temples  and Buddhist temples.

Entrance Fee: RMB80
How to get there:
Take buses from Dandong Long-distance Station,  a one-hour bus ride, RMB 12

10. Dalu Island 大鹿岛
Dalu Island is the largest island off the northern tip of the coastline in China. Dalu Island is 9 nautical miles off Gushan Township, about 92 km to the southwest of Dandong’s city center.

Now Dalu Island is well developed like  a city on the sea with good accommodation facilities. It boasts a fine natural beach. It is a good getaway ffom the hubbub of the downtown Dandong.

Entrance Fee: free
How to get there:
Take buses from downtown Dandong to Gushan Township and then take a ferry (RMB30 ) for Dalu Island.

Further Readings

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Top 10 Attractions in Dandong
Dandong Taxi

Any questions, just drop a line.