Dalian to Dandong Day Trip 2026: Itinerary & Train Tickets

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: Dalian's Nearby Travel Destination in China

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!

Dandong Day Trip Itinerary

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 ▼

How to Take the Train from Dalian to Dandong, China, and Book Ticketsblog.naver.com

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.

Dandong, China Travel Destination Recommendations: Yalu River Cruise Ticket Booking, North Korea Viewing Reviewblog.naver.com

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 in Dalian, Dandong is a Must-Visit!

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!