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Discover Dandong, China with our 2026 day trip guide from Dalian! Get the best itinerary, learn how to book high-speed train and cruise tickets, and experience a unique glimpse of North Korea.
Dandong Day Trip Itinerary from Dalian, China
Train and Cruise Ticket Reservations
Text/Photos ©HaiBubu
If you're planning a trip to Dalian,
you're probably also thinking about a day trip to Dandong,
a nearby city where you can see North Korea with your own eyes.
For those planning a day trip to Dandong by train,
I'll share my recommendations from my own trip,
including a Dandong day trip itinerary
and detailed information on how to book various tickets!
Dandong is a city about two and a half hours away from Dalian
by high-speed train.
It's well worth dedicating a day from your Dalian trip to visit,
and it's a special place where you can see North Korea right before your eyes.
For many, it's a rare opportunity to
experience North Korea up close.
So while you're in Dalian, I highly recommend making the trip to
Dandong to see North Korea with your own eyes!
Next, I'll introduce my recommended Dandong day trip itinerary.
Dalian - Dandong Train Journey
First, to get from Dalian to Dandong,
you'll need to take a high-speed train.
You can easily book Chinese train tickets directly below,
so I highly recommend booking in advance.
Link to Book Dalian-Dandong Train Tickets in China
For detailed instructions on how to take the train,
please refer to my previous post below!
▼ Learn How to Take the Train from Dalian to Dandong ▼
The train was similar to Korea's KTX,
and the seats were plush, making for a comfortable journey!
After a train ride of about 2 hours and 20-30 minutes,
we arrived at Dandong Station.
Upon arriving at Dandong Station, I saw a statue of Mao Zedong,
and somehow it really made me feel like I was getting closer
to North Korea...!
Explore Dandong's Goryeo Street
After arriving at Dandong Station, we headed straight to a North Korean restaurant where Koreans are permitted entry.
On the way, you'll pass through Goryeo Street,
so I recommend taking some time to explore it.
Stepping into Dandong's Goryeo Street,
Korean signs were visible everywhere, making it clear
that we were indeed in a place very close to North Korea.
There were so many places related to Korea, like Korean restaurants and Hanbok shops.
Lunch at Cheongryugwan North Korean Restaurant
In Dandong, there are North Korean restaurants accessible to South Koreans,
and among them, we visited Cheongryugwan.
(Cheongryugwan is about a 10-minute walk
from Dandong Station.)
Since it was my first time trying North Korean food, I was really excited.
We ordered Pyongyang Naengmyeon, Gamjajeon (potato pancake), Injo Gogibap (artificial meat rice), and
Bonghak Beer and Bongseong Beer.
I was really curious about how it would taste,
and while it was a bit bland, it surprisingly suited my palate.
However, apart from the potato pancake, the other dishes can be polarizing,
so it might be best to visit without too many expectations!
Yalu River Broken Bridge
After finishing lunch, we made our way to the Yalu River Broken Bridge
on foot.
The Yalu River Broken Bridge is one of the places where you can see North Korea up close,
and a separate admission ticket is required.
(The admission fee is 30 Chinese Yuan per person.)
💡Broken Bridge admission tickets can be booked in advance below,
and if you do, you can enter directly with a QR code, which is super convenient.
>> Book Yalu River Broken Bridge Tickets
The Broken Bridge has remained in its broken state since the war,
and if you walk to the very end,
it offers the closest view of North Korea from land.
Seeing buildings with Hangeul written on them in the distance with my own eyes
was truly fascinating!
Yalu River Cruise
Next, to get an even closer look at North Korea than from the Broken Bridge,
we went to board the Yalu River Cruise.
You can board from two locations, Pier 1 and Pier 2, but
we heard that Pier 2 offers an even closer view of North Korea,
so we pre-booked our tickets for Pier 2.
💡You can also pre-book Yalu River Cruise tickets below.
You can book them in advance.
Pre-booking is cheaper than buying on-site,
so I recommend booking in advance!
>> Pre-book Yalu River Cruise Tickets
When you board the Yalu River Cruise,
you'll experience passing through the thrilling border area
between North Korea and China.
You can definitely see North Korea closer from the cruise than from the Broken Bridge,
so I felt that taking the Yalu River Cruise was
not an option, but a must!
(It was also fascinating to occasionally spot North Korean soldiers!)
For a detailed review of the Yalu River Cruise,
Please refer to the previous post below.
North Korea View Cafe
For our next stop, we visited a cafe
with a view of North Korea.
The cafe I visited not only offered a view of North Korea,
but also had a great view of the Broken Bridge we visited,
making it a highly satisfying spot because you could see everything so well.
What's more, there was a telescope inside the cafe,
allowing us to clearly see North Korea beyond the Yalu River.
Plus, with an MZ photo spot, signature milk, and yogurt,
there was so much to enjoy, I highly recommend it!
Kaoyu Dinner
Finally, before boarding the train back to Dalian,
we visited a Kaoyu restaurant for an early dinner.
If your train departs early,
you could also head back to Dalian for dinner.
Mingji Kaoyu is a Kaoyu chain restaurant,
so the dish was absolutely delicious.
The sauce, in particular, was quite zesty,
making it a real 'rice thief' – I highly recommend you try it!
Train Travel from Dandong to Dalian
Before boarding the train back to Dalian,
we stopped at a convenience store located to the right of the Dandong train station entrance
and grabbed two cans of beer before getting on the train.
Made in Dandong and named 'Yalu River Beer,'
it's the perfect souvenir!
Just like the journey there, it took about two and a half hours from Dandong Station
to arrive at Dalian Station,
marking the end of our day trip.
If you're traveling to Dalian, China, I really hope you'll consider a trip to Dandong,
where you can see North Korea.
The unique experience of seeing North Korea with your own eyes,
along with boarding the Yalu River Broken Bridge cruise,
offers a variety of exciting things to do.
If you even visit a North Korean restaurant to try North Korean dishes
and North Korean beer,
it will be an unforgettable experience!
So, I hope you have a fantastic Dandong day trip!
Taking a high-speed train from Dalian to Dandong takes approximately two and a half hours. The train offers comfortable seating, similar to Korea's KTX.
Cheongryugwan is located about a 10-minute walk from Dandong Station. Here, you can order and enjoy dishes such as Pyeongyang Naengmyeon (cold noodles), Gamja-jeon (potato pancake), Injo Gogibap (artificial meat rice), Bonghak Beer, and Bongseong Beer.
The entrance fee for the Broken Bridge on the Yalu River is 30 yuan per person. Tickets can be conveniently entered via QR code if booked online in advance.
We recommend boarding from Pier 2, as it offers a closer view of North Korea. Cruise tickets are cheaper when purchased online in advance than on-site.
You can purchase 'Yalu River Beer' at the convenience store to the right of the Dandong Train Station entrance. It's produced in Dandong and its name reflects the local characteristics, making it a suitable souvenir.
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