An obscure port tucked away in the corner of Liaoning Province at the confluence of the Yalu River and the Yellow Sea, DANDONG 's interest to travellers lies in its proximity to North Korea -the Korean city of Sinuiju (Xinyizhou in Chinese) lies on the other side of the Yalu River - and its convenience as a departure point for the Changbai Shan Nature Reserve.

The place is a sort of Hong Kong of the northeast, all things being relative, and as such a tourist centre. South Koreans come here to look across at their northern neighbour, and it's the first stop on the North Korean tourist trail through China. The Chinese come here just to see the border of their country. A strong Korean influence can be felt in the city, from shops to eateries. The promenade of the Yalu River is packed with games, parks, modern restaurants and even a coffee house that shows North Korean TV as entertainment. When the Chinese entered the Korean War, Dandong was bombed by the Americans, who attempted to destroy the original Yalu River Bridge. The war, or at least the Chinese version of events, is recorded in the city's incredible Museum to Commemorate Aiding Korea Against US Aggression . This little city may soon have its day as it's the planned entrance into China for an ambitious new highway and undersea tunnel network that will allow trains to travel from Beijing, through Korea, to Tokyo.