China-DPRK Border Towns During The Covid Pandemic (Tumen Update – 2022 February)

Our resident contributor, Minhye, recently visited Tumen City (图们市) to see if there has been any changes along the border of the DPRK. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything new to report and there aren’t any increased border patrols on both the Chinese and North Korean side. As of February 2022, there are increased outbreaks of Covid-19 […]

China-DPRK Border Towns During The Covid Pandemic (PART 2 – Tumen)

Part 2 of exploring Chinese towns at the border with the DPRK during the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic. We follow Minhye as she takes a trip to Tumen City (图们市). Tumen city is a small town that is part of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, located in Jilin Province in northeast China. It has an ethnic Korean population of approximately 80,000.

China-DPRK Border Towns During The Covid Pandemic (PART 1 – Changbai)

Since January 2020, the DPRK has shut its borders due to the COVID-19 virus. China has also implemented strict border controls to maintain their zero-COVID strategy. It has been almost two years since tourism halted between these two friendly neighbours. With no more tours to the DPRK being offered, what is life and tourism like in the Chinese border towns during such times? Our resident contributor made recent trips to visit border towns along the Yalu River and Tumen River. Join Minhye on her journey as she explores the Changbai Korean Autonomous County

Chongun Rock

This spectacular rock formation is known as Chongun Rock. The formation sits mostly on the Chinese side of the border so the best view of it is actually on the North Korean side.

Chongsu

Chongsu (청수) North Pyongan Province, North Korea. Over at Dandong, you can hire the local Chinese boatmen to take you on a private cruise along the Yalu River.