Dalian to Dandong Train Guide 2026: Booking Tickets & Travel Tips
Planning a Dalian to Dandong day trip in 2026? Discover how to easily book train tickets and get essential travel tips for your journey to the North Korean border.
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Planning a Dalian to Dandong day trip in 2026? Discover how to easily book train tickets and get essential travel tips for your journey to the North Korean border.
How to Take the Train from Dalian to Dandong, China:
Ticket Booking & Experience
Text/Photos ©HaiBubu
If you're planning an adventure to Dalian, China,
many of you might be looking to include a day trip to Dandong
to catch a glimpse of North Korea.
But now that you're actually thinking about a day trip,
are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about how to get there?
That's why today, I'm going to share how to book a train ticket
from Dalian to Dandong, along with our experience riding the train!
First off, we highly recommend taking the high-speed train
to Dandong. 📌 You can expect a round-trip train ticket to cost around ~$35.
You might think this is a bit pricey for China, but considering it's a rare chance to see North Korea,
it's quite affordable for such a unique experience!
You can book your train tickets to Dandong
through the link below.
A quick tip: time is precious when you're traveling,
so we recommend booking a train with the shortest travel time!
>> Dalian - Dandong Train Booking Link <<
By the way, if you're curious about the detailed booking process,
you can follow our previous post!
For our Dandong day trip,
we booked train tickets for the following times:
Dalian North - Dandong: Departs at 8:27 AM
Dandong - Dalian: Departs at 5:53 PM
Just a note: due to our itinerary, we departed from Dalian North Station,
but Dalian North Station is further from the city center than Dalian Station.
So, for your convenience, it's generally better to use Dalian Station!
Next up, we'll share our experience taking the train
from Dalian North Station to Dandong.
We arrived at Dalian North Station by taking a DiDi taxi
from Dalian city center.
Since train stations can get busy, we recommend
arriving 30-40 minutes before departure.
As soon as you enter Dalian North Station, you'll need to show your ID to proceed.
For foreigners, your passport serves as your ticket. Unlike locals,
you'll need to go to the very rightmost lane at the gate,
where a staff member is stationed, show your passport, and then you can enter.
Luckily, there weren't too many people using Dalian North Station when we went,
so we were able to enter in less than 5 minutes.
We arrived early, just in case there were long lines,
which gave us plenty of time to explore Dalian North Station.
To our surprise, there were quite a few enjoyable spots,
including a Korean supermarket, charging stations, and cafes!
If you arrive early, I highly recommend grabbing a cup of milk tea at Chaji.
You'll also find massage chairs in one section of the lounge.
I definitely recommend unwinding in one of these before you board your train!
When I took the train to Dandong, my boarding gates were
14B and 15B.
Good to know: the gates usually open for boarding
about 15-20 minutes before the train's scheduled departure.
Our train was scheduled for 8:27 AM, but they opened the gates for us to pass through
around 8:09 AM.
A quick tip: If you're using your passport to enter,
make sure to head to the gate with a station attendant.
They're usually positioned on the outer edges.
Simply double-check the train number on your reserved ticket,
and you're good to go!
The second-class cabin featured a 3x2 seating arrangement, and I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious and comfortable the legroom and seats were.
It actually felt wider than Korea's KTX trains!
The seats were roomy enough even for an adult male of 180cm (approximately 5'11"), so if you book second class like we did,
you'll find it perfectly comfortable for the roughly 2.5-hour journey.
Another great feature: there were power outlets at the ends of the train cars,
perfect for charging your devices!
Just note that, unlike some trains in Korea, there aren't individual charging ports at every seat.
After a smooth journey of about 2.5 hours, we pulled into Dandong Station.
The ride was incredibly steady, comparable to Korea's KTX, making for a super comfortable trip!
And there you have it – my experience taking the train to Dandong,
a fantastic option for a day trip from Dalian!
Key takeaway: Aim to arrive at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure,
and absolutely remember to bring your passport – it's your ticket!
Since international travelers use passports for entry,
I highly recommend going through the gates that have a station attendant present.
Ready to book your Dandong train adventure?
You can reserve your tickets directly below!
A round-trip train ticket from Dalian to Dandong costs approximately ~$35. For a unique experience of seeing North Korea, we recommend taking the high-speed train.
Dalian Station is convenient to use as it's close to the city center. Train stations can be crowded, so we recommend arriving 30-40 minutes before departure.
For foreigners, your passport serves as your ticket. Unlike locals, you must show your passport to the staff member stationed at the far right end of the entry gate to gain access. When passing through the gate, you should also stand in the line at the edge where a railway official is present and present your passport.
Second-class seats are arranged in a 3x2 configuration, and the legroom and space are surprisingly generous and comfortable. While there aren't charging outlets at every seat, there are outlets available at the ends of the train aisles.
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