Why Chinese tourists are flocking to North Korea
As a relaxation of travel restrictions draws inquisitive Chinese tourists to North Korea in ever greater numbers, can such visits bring the neighbours closer together?
So near yet so far. That is how one journalist described his photograph of the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge, taken from the Chinese border in Dandong (丹東), Liaoning ( 遼寧 ) province, opposite Sinuiju in North Korea.
As a Singaporean correspondent based in Beijing, he was lamenting the fact he could not enter North Korea via Sinuiju – instead he needed official approval to enter via the capital, Pyongyang.
But he might equally have been describing the sentiments of many Chinese towards their neighbour. So close geographically, but so different and far apart. While Chinese are fascinated by life across the Yalu River, many know precious little about their controversial neighbour – despite the much-touted ties between the two countries, supposedly sealed in blood during the 1950–1953 Korean War.
This much was evident on two recent trips this writer took to North Korea – the first a day trip to Sinuiju, and the second to Sinuiju and Dongrim, which has been open to tourists since 2014. Both cities are in Pyongan province.
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A Chinese travel brochure had much to encourage the venture: “Let us visit the world’s most insurmountable frontier! Let’s head to the world’s happiest and safest country, North Korea, to discover a China we were once familiar with,” it urged, with an enthusiasm that is being embraced by a growing number of inquisitive Chinese.