Dandong
Discover Dandong
Dandong (丹东; Dāndōng; formerly known as Andong (安东)), is a city in Liaoning Province, China, right next to the North Korean border. The quiet riverside city is most famous for the pockmarked Yalu River Bridge spanning distressingly over the river. The bridge survived the bombing during the Korean War, a time when the city still had its old name Andong. Now it is open to the public to commemorate "the defeat of the American Aggression" and is the first choice for a glimpse of North Korea. Situated at the confluence of the Yalu River and the Yellow Sea in the southeast of Liaoning Peninsula, facing the North Korean town of Sinuiju across the Yalu River, small Dandong enjoys its reputation as the largest border city in China.
What to Experience in Dandong
Taste of Dandong...
The town, because of the location, has a lot of Korean restaurants with most congregating on the street facing the river. There are also a few North Korean restaurants in town, owned by the North Korean government and with North Korean waitresses, which are recognisable by the Chinese and North Korean flags over the entrances. There are also restaurants run by ethnic Koreans, not part of the North Korean government, that serve Korean food. A good dish to try would be bibimbap (石锅拌饭) or ginseng chicken (人参鸡), which consists of a whole chicken immersed in piping hot ginseng broth. Korean-style cold noodles (朝鲜冷面), is also widely available to cater to the North Korean expatriates living here. Andong Old Street mentioned above have many local specialties as well as food from many provinces and Korea. An enclosed night market with newer food stalls, a souvenir area and museum vibes upstairs, with performances in the evenings starting at 6. Dancing lions, drumming North Korean ladies, singers, an indoor rickshaw, people in traditional costumes and more have been observed. There is a beer garden down near Yueliang island (right across the small bridge)that gets a lot of foot traffic but closes early. Be sure to try the local Daxiangjiao soft drink, a clear, banana flavored soft drink typically sold in green glass bottles. While Dandong is generally safe, avoid filming any North Koreans you might encounter without their explicit permission.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe long-distance bus station is at 98 Shiwei Lu, near the train station. Dalian Express Buses leave from the Baoshan Shicheng on Gong'an Jie. The trip takes about 4 hours. The Dandong International Ferry company (Dandong Office: 0415-3152666, Incheon Office: +82-32-891-3322, runs the ferry Oriental Pearl between Dandong and Incheon port in South Korea. The ferry leaves Incheon's Ferry Terminal No. 1 at 17:00 (check-in closing at 15:00) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, arrives at Dandong at 09:00 the next day, and leaves Dandong at 16:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday (check-in closing at 15:00) and arrives at Incheon at 09:00 the next day. Prices: economy (20+ people) ¥1010, 6-beds cabin w/ bathroom ¥1060. Dandong departure tax: ¥30 to buy at the terminal. Food available for purchase on board in South Korean won only; yuan exchange possible at very bad rate (no currency exchange at Dandong terminal). The passage takes 15 hours....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
If you happen to stay in the original CBD area near the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, getting around by walking is good enough if only staying for a night or two, as the city's main draw for Western visitors, the river promenade to see North Korea, is easily reachable. It's often required to walk on the bike lane as pedestrian walkways are frequently blocked by parked cars. If you can't use public buses due to the language barrier, taxis are perhaps best for getting around. They are plentiful all over the city so waiting times should never be long. Almost all of the drivers will bring you anywhere inside the city for the price of ¥10. From downtown to the new district, it should cost between ¥30 and ¥50. When using taxis, make sure the driver activates the meter, and pay attention to it as the meter may 'accidentally' turn off, resulting in the driver demanding more money from you.
Where to Stay
While Dandong is generally safe, avoid filming any North Koreans you might encounter without their explicit permission. The North Koreans here tend to be very touchy about being filmed, and will be accompanied by plainclothes minders who will seize your phone and force you to delete all the videos if you get caught.
Money & Budget
Most shops offer products at low cost and North Korean cigarettes can be purchased at many places, especially along the Yalu river. Along with products from North Korea, many South Korean goods are sold too. If you're specifically looking for something to take home from the North, check the packaging – North Korean products use simple and/or poor packaging designs, and perhaps most strikingly, do not feature internet addresses in the smallprint, which products from the South almost always do. Dandong is a great place to get your hands on North Korean currency, the won (which supposedly is not allowed to be taken out of the country). Street vendors sell sets of bills in different denominations, which may or may not include some additional coins; prices start at ¥25 per set.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
While Dandong is generally safe, avoid filming any North Koreans you might encounter without their explicit permission. The North Koreans here tend to be very touchy about being filmed, and will be accompanied by plainclothes minders who will seize your phone and force you to delete all the videos if you get caught.
Glimpses of Dandong
Snow covers the hills, like a cake 雪覆盖了山丘，像一个蛋糕一样
A red building sits across the water.
A steel bridge spans over a blue body of water.
A boat sails near a city skyline.
a large bridge spanning over a body of water
Fengcheng Mountians in Liaoning Province, P.R.C
Snow covers the hills, like a cake 雪覆盖了山丘，像一个蛋糕一样
A red building sits across the water.
A steel bridge spans over a blue body of water.
A boat sails near a city skyline.
a large bridge spanning over a body of water
Fengcheng Mountians in Liaoning Province, P.R.C
Snow covers the hills, like a cake 雪覆盖了山丘，像一个蛋糕一样