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Fascinating Border Weekend Trips with Close-up Views of Daily Life in North Korea May 09, 2025 |
A Weekend at the Edge of the Unknown – Discover Dandong & Hekou with KTG®Craving a Weekend Adventure that’s Anything but Ordinary?Hello, we hope this email finds you well! With the DPRK borders still closed to tourism, and prospects not looking great at the moment - all visas were recently cancelled for the Pyongyang International Trade Fair - why not consider one of our intriguing short border tours where you can see daily life in North Korea from up close? At KTG®, we take you right to the edge—literally.
Approaching Rural North Korea Why Dandong?Just a few hours from major Chinese cities (about 2 hours from Shenyang by train and 5 hours by speed train from Beijing), Dandong offers one of the most fascinating border experiences in the world. Here, modern China meets the mystery of North Korea. And it’s not just about snapping photos from afar—you’ll get close enough to wave at North Korean locals going about their daily lives. Leer en español. Lire en français. 
Our ToursGo on a Dandong City Tour with close views of the North Korean port city of Sinuiju, head 70 km North meandering your way up by the Yalu River that separates China and North Korea on our Hekou Village Cruiser Tour to see what rural life is like in the DPRK or do a combination of both where you can stay at a hotel overlooking the Yalu River right across from North Korea either in Dandong city or in Hekou Village. 
You can Read our Hekou Village Tour report here. 🚣♂️ Cruise Past North KoreaHop on a boat ride from Hekou village, a quiet riverside town just an hour north of Dandong. Our Hekou ride takes you right alongside North Korean farmland, factories, and villages. You might even catch sight of locals waiving from the other side of the river or cycling through town. 🏯 Walk the Great Wall... Just Metres from the DPRKThat’s right—the Hushan Great Wall, a less-travelled section of China's iconic monument, is only a few metres from North Korea. From here, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of both countries while walking on a stunning piece of history few tourists ever reach. 
North Korea is on the other side of the narrow stream you see above 
🚶♂️ Step into History: Two Broken Bridges, One StoryExplore two historic Broken Bridges—one in Dandong city and another in Hekou village, both damaged during the Korean War. These structures, partially destroyed yet still standing, offer stark reminders of past conflicts and the fragile peace of today. You’ll walk along both bridges until they abruptly end mid-river, pointing straight into the DPRK. 
The Hekou Broken Bridge was used by Chinese soldiers in the Korean War 
Friendship Bridge (left) and Broken Bridge (right). When entering and exiting the DPRK by train, we go via the Friendship Bridge. 
Walking on the Broken Bridge in Dandong City 🏛️ Visit the Korean War Museum in DandongGain deep insight into the region’s past at the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea Memorial Museum. This vast and powerful exhibit details China’s role in the Korean War, featuring tanks, aircraft, personal stories, and impressive multimedia displays. A must-see for anyone interested in modern history. 
Statue of Mao An Ying, Mao Ze Dong's son who perished in the Korean War, in Hekou ☕ Relax with a ViewWhether you’re exploring bustling Dandong or the quiet riverside at Hekou, there are plenty of local eateries and, in Dandong, cafés, where you can sip tea or coffee while gazing into a country most can, right now, only dream of visiting. 
Views of the Broken Bridge and of North Korea from a hotel room in Hekou. We have lunch here by the riverside. 
Night views of the Friendship Bridge from a Coffee Shop in Dandong Why Choose KTG®?We've been visiting Dandong since 2008, offering tour extensions there for our DPRK tours. We also had our main offices in Shenyang many years, meaning that we'd often hop on a train to Dandong to meet travellers who were about to either enter or exit North Korea after a private DPRK tour. Our local expert guides in Dandong are top-guides we have known for years: 🧭 Expert English-speaking guides 🛂 Seamless planning and local insight 📸 Perfect for a 2–3 day weekend tour 🧍♂️ Small group or private options 🕵️♂️ In-depth historical context and cultural background 
Get in Touch Today!Thanks for reading and, as usual, if you can, please follow us on Facebook if you can for immediate updates regarding the DPRK borders re-opening to travellers.
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