# Dandong travel guide (丹东) Liaoning Province · Northeast, China · 7 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/liaoning/dandong ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain) → Hushan Great Wall → Kuandian (overnight) - **Day 2:** Qingshan Valley or Tianqiao Valley (full day) → Dandong - **Day 3:** Yalu River → Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea ## The feel of the place Dandong isn't widely known, but mention the Yalu River and nearly everyone recognises it. Dandong sits on the China–North Korea border, and from its banks you can look across the river to Sinuiju in North Korea. As a border city, it holds many historical memories. Its “well”-shaped street grid, with streets named after “jing” (longitude) and “wei” (latitude), such as First Jing Street, Tenth Jing Street and Sixth Wei Street, was laid out by Japan for military purposes in its time. The Broken Bridge over the Yalu River is a vivid reminder of the Korean War. Dandong enjoys a pleasant climate and an orderly layout, and is often likened to the “little Jiangnan” of the Northeast, attracting more and more leisure travellers. ## Getting there & around ### By Air ### Taxi Fares Taxi flagfall is ¥6 for the first 2.5 km; beyond 1 km, ¥2 per kilometre. Dandong currently has flights to Beijing, Chengdu, Jinan, Weihai, Sanya, Shanghai Pudong and Shenzhen. ### By Rail Dandong has 260 km of railway lines, mainly the Shenyang–Dandong Line (沈丹线) and the Fengshang Line (风上线). Dandong Station is the terminus of the Shenyang–Dandong Railway. Direct trains run between Dandong and Beijing, Qingdao, Shanghai and other cities in the province. ### By Road The total road network stretches 3,887 km, including 619 km of Class II or higher highways. There are currently 527 passenger routes and 1,059 stops along the way. Centred on Dandong Passenger Station, 24 sub-stations are overseen, including those in Fengcheng, Kuandian, Donggang and Guanshui. Roads connect to Beijing, Shenyang, Dalian and Tonghua. The long-distance bus station in the city runs shuttles to scenic areas such as Dagushan (大孤山) and Phoenix Mountain. The Shenyang–Dandong Expressway is now open, and the trip between the two cities takes only 4 hours, with a fare of ¥77. ### By Sea Dandong Port has two port areas, Langtou Port (浪头港) and Dadong Port (大东港). Ships sail to Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin, Yantai, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao and Lianyungang. - **Air Ticket Office** — (Jinshan Avenue (Lantian Hotel Finance & Education Centre), 0415-2217999) - **Railway Information Hotline** — - **Bus Station** — (98 Tenth Wei Road, 0415-2134571) - **Dandong Port** — (No. 7 Xingwu Road) ## Eat & drink ### Snack Street The Xin'an and Qijing Street districts form Dandong's snack street, where delicious aromas fill the air after dark. In Dandong you can sample the distinctive flavours of its ethnic communities: the sour, glutinous and sweet dishes of the Manchu; the grilled, roasted and hot-pot dishes of the Hui; and the spicy, sour and salty flavours of the Korean community. Antong Old Street is another local highlight, combining nostalgic sightseeing, classic cuisine and shopping. It recreates Dandong's old streetscape, with century-old heritage brands, branded restaurants, northeastern specialities, seafood, local snacks, regional opera performances and folk arts. - **Arirang Seafood Hotel (Yinzuo Branch)** — A popular local chain serving Korean-style dishes. The flavours are fairly authentic and the prices are good value. Seats are hard to come by at lunch and dinner, so booking ahead is advisable. Recommended dishes include spicy braised pollack (辣焖明太鱼) and the squid and scallop duo (鱿贝双鲜). For drinks, try Yalu River beer; the sweet-sour rice wine is also delicious, and you won't get drunk no matter how much you drink. (Building 2, Binjiang Middle Road Redevelopment Community, 0415-3111333) - **Lekao Barbecue** — This restaurant uses special grills so the meat never sticks, keeping the flavour fresh and delicious. It is very popular. (233 Jinshan Avenue, 0415-3146688) ## Shopping Dandong's busiest shopping street is the Xin'an Road Pedestrian Street in Yuanbao District. Shops along Tenth Wei Road in front of the railway station and along Qijing Street also see crowds. Tussah silk, glassware, ginseng, chestnuts and Yalu River noodlefish are all local specialities. ## Where to stay Dandong has many star-rated hotels, as well as restaurants and guesthouses, so finding accommodation is no problem. - **Jiangbin International Hotel** — (Next to the Cultural Palace, Building 5, Fangba, Yanjiang Development Zone, 0415-4136666) - **Dandong Zhonglian Grand Hotel** — (No. 62 Binjiang Middle Road, 0415-2333333) ## Things to see - **Yalu River** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yalu-river - **Hushan Great Wall** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 8：30—16：30; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hushan-great-wall - **Qingshangou Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission Qingshan Lake ¥40, boat ticket ¥55; Hutang Gully ¥40; Feipu Gully ¥40; Manchu Culture Park ¥30; combined pass ¥185 (includes boat ticket); Opening hours 7：00—17：00; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qingshangou-scenic-area - **Fenghuangshan (Phoenix Mountain)** (★★★★★): Admission ¥80; cable car ¥50; Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fenghuangshan-phoenix-mountain - **Memorial Hall of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 9：00—16：30; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kang-mei-yuan-chao-ji-nian-guan - **Lüjiang Village** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/lujiang-village - **Tianqiaogou** (★★★★): Admission ¥120; Opening hours 8：00—16：00; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tianqiaogou --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 2266–2273. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.