Nampo Travel Guide
A Port City on the West Coast of North Korea
Below is a brief description of some of the main points of interest in and around Nampo.
The statues of the leaders in Nampo were inaugurated on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the DPRK's National Day, 9 September 2015. KTG were the first group of foreigners to go there.
Location
Nampo (also spelled Nampho) city is located in South Pyongan province on the coast of the DPRK, southwest of Pyongyang.
An approximate 45 minute drive away from the capital of North Korea on the virtually empty Youth Heroes Highway leads to this bustling port city where the site of factories and Chinese joint ventures has become increasingly common in the past few years.
Chongsan Cooperative Farm
Before approaching Nampo this cooperative farm comes to site. An iconic symbol of communist states, cooperative farms basically consist of large farms with several facilities, more like villages, where farmers and their families live; an agricultural system currently literally unique to North Korea. This farm was visited by the Leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on several occasions and was declared a model cooperative farm by the state.
Visiting this farm will allow to walk around the fields to see what is produced there. It is also possible to see the tools and machinery section of the farm.
KTG staff member with the farm's managers
You can visit the cultural hall which is where movies and plays are shown to the farmers and their children, visit the homes of farmers and even the farmers children's day nursery and kindergarten.
Kindergarten at the Chongsan Cooperative Farm
This part of the trip will show you a different angle of the DPRK and is indeed quite a contrast to what is offered in the capital, Pyongyang.
Local guide at the Chongsanri Farm
Farmer shows us her livestock
360° of the Chongsan Farm
Click on the bubble in order to see our 360° image with sound of the Chongsan Farm!
Nampo West Sea Barrage
The West Sea Barrage is approximately 15 km away from downtown Nampo. It is 8 km long and covers the mouth of the Taedong River.
Built in the course of 5 years, it was finished in 1986 (Juche 75). This giant construction is a source of pride in the DPRK.
There is a viewpoint built in the shape of an anchor overlooking the whole project on the Pi Islet which allows viewers have panoramic views of the dam. The dam has a road and rail track and connects both shores of the Taedong River.
360° Image of the West Sea Barrage
Check our 360° image of the West Sea Barrage by clicking on the bubble below:
The West Sea Barrage hasn't just helped the local economy in terms of electricity, but it essentially also turned the Taedong River into a giant artificial lake, separating it from the West Sea and therefore providing fresh water for the local agriculture. As it separates the Taedong River (which leads to Pyongyang) and the West Sea, it protects the inland from floods.
If you go you will be driven on the road that covers the barrage while seeing the West Sea on one side and the Taedong River on the other.
Nampo Orphanages
There are various orphanages in Nampo. KTG helps foreign organisations give aid to North Korean orphanages, including those in Nampo. These are not tourist spots and if delegations go there they are expected to give non-monetary help. We have personally seen how the conditions of orphanages throughout the DPRK have drastically improved over the past few years. Please check our DPRK Humanitarian Aid page for more details.
Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel
This is where we stay if staying overnight in Nampo. The complex is located in Onchon county, about a 30 minute drive away from Nampo city. We have a page dedicated to this hotel, please feel free to check it out for more information. The complex consists of several duplex viilas and each spacious room has its own mineral hot spa bath tub. The interior designs of the rooms are very retro as tends to be the case with North Korean hotels.
Villa at the Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel in Onchon county near Nampo
Salty water comes directly from the waterbed beneath the ground (that's right, not from the sea!) and allegedly has countless health benefits.
Picture of one of the rooms of the Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel near Nampo
Note! According to our Korean partners, in order to fully benefit from the spa, you should not stay in the hot bath tub for over 15 minutes and then only rinse off the salt from the water in a second turn.
A clam barbecue is then usually arranged after the spa session. Nothing like some barbecued clams and oysters while chatting to our North Korean guides and driver and gazing at the stars that cover the clear skies of the west coast of North Korea.
Our friend, Mr. Pak and driver Mr. Kim splash the oysters with petrol (gasoline)
Yes, that is right, these is no ordinary clam BBQ, it is a petrol (as in gasoline) clam BBQ! We strongly recommend you to drink some local North Korean Soju to keep your stomach clean. If you do not have a strong stomach when travelling, then you may consider just sitting and chatting and skip the eating part.
The Ryonggang Hot Spa Hotel also has other leisure facilities such a pool room, table tennis room and Karaoke rooms. Do not, however, expect these to be too busy.
Thaesong Golf Course
The Thaesong Golf Course is located not too far away from the hot spa hotel. It has 18 holes and around 50 hectares spread throughout 7 km. We arrange golf tours as part of our private tours and group tour extensions so do please let us know if this is something that interests you.
Taen Glass Manufacturing Factory
Entrance of Ta'en Friendship Glass Manufacturing Factory
Being able to first handedly see how a heavy manufacturing North Korean factory operates is not something many people have the chance to experience.
Our good friend Ms. Chae, who speaks Spanish and English, smiling with one of our travellers at the Ta'en Factory
The Ta'en factory has Chinese investment but is managed by North Korean personnel. We can see how glass is melted, solidified and cut as we walk through the factories and observe an array of DPRK propaganda posters and paintings used to encourage the workforce. You will be able to see too and painted graphs showing the factory's targets and achievements.
Kangso Mineral Water Bottling Factory
A visit here allows you to see, as the name suggests, how mineral water is bottled. Please note too that this facility may not always be opened to travellers based on local circumstances.
We are usually given free samples of the water bottled here and can buy more if we like.
Waudo Pleasure Ground
4 kilometres away from the city, this scenic spot provides a rare combination of cliffs and pine tree inhabited hills all blending into the beach.
North Koreans enjoying a day at the beach in Nampo
Related pages:
Kaesong North Korea | KTG® Tours' Ultimate Travel Guide
Kaesong North Korea Travel Guide | KTG® Tours | Ancient Treasures, Dog Meat Soup and the Cold War... located 8 km north from the DMZ (Pamunjom) in North Korea. Our North Korea tours include stopping at this historical city, capital of Koryo; the first unified state on the Korean peninsula
Sinuiju Travel Guide | KTG® Tours | North Korea
Sinuiju | KTG® Tours | explore this North Korean border city trade hub with us! Capital of North Pyongyan province, this major DPRK border city with Dandong in China next to the Yalu River (Anmok River). KTG offer tours here and to the town of Dongrim
Panmunjom | KTG® Tours | DMZ Tours in North Korea
Panmunjom | KTG® Tours | Is it really the scariest place on Earth? Visit the DMZ from the North Korean side. Interested in seeing what the DPRK version of the Korean War is? See where the Korean War armistice was signed at the world's most militarised border and step into South Korea
Pyongsong | KTG® Tours | North Korea, DPRK
Pyongsong North Korea (DPRK) | KTG® Tours | Mining city located north of Pyongyang. We visit local schools, factories, the central square and a revolutionary site where Kim Il Sung Univeristy was moved to during the Korean War.
Nampho West Sea Barrage | KTG® Tours | tourist attractions in North Korea (DPRK)
Nampho West Sea Barrage| KTG® Tours | aka Nampo dam is located 15 km away from Nampho (Nampo) city, the Nampho Dam was built by the Korean People's Army by 1986 and is 8 km long and seperates the Taedong River from the West Sea in North Korea. The barrage has helped develop Nampho city and provide fresh water for the region
Sariwon - KTG Tours - historical sites in North Korea
Sariwon is a lively city located in North Korea. See the territorial map of Korean cultural ruins, historical relics in the DPRK, the Provincial History Museum, North Korean food streets and houses in the time of the Ancient and Middle era of Korea
Pohyon Temple | KTG® Tours | buddhist temple in Mount Myohyang, DPRK (North Korea)
Pohyon Temple | KTG® Tours | is located in Mount Myohyang in North Pyongan Province and is one of the oldest buddhist temples in North Korea (DPRK). Chance to see local monks in the DPRK and original ancient buddhist scriptures and pagodas in North Korea
Sinchon | KTG® Tours | US War Atrocities Museum in North Korea's (DPRK) South Hwanghae Province
Sinchon | KTG® Tours | is a county in South Hwanghae Province in North Korea. The US Massacre Museum graphically displays crimes reportedly committed there by American soldiers on Korean civilians in the Korean War
Concrete Wall Kaesong, North Korea | KTG® Tours' Ultimate Travel Guide
The Concrete Wall (Kaesong, North Korea) | KTG® Tours | A Symbol of Division and Conflict. A North Korean military officer waits for us at a remote military post 27 km east of Kaesong. He will explain to you how this wall literally cuts through the Korean peninusla, running parallel to the DMZ
Please click on North Korea Places of Interest page for more information on areas that can be visited in the DPRK other than Nampo.
