Presided over by a statue of Mao Zedong in the heart of city, Dandong is located along the Yalu Jiang (Yalu River) in the eastern part of Liaoning province. It would have been little more than an obscure outpost, ignored by travelers, if it were not for its proximity to North Korea. Today, the largest border city in China, Dandong has an unmistakable Korean stamp, from the barbecue dishes, to the signs in the Korean script, and the Korean shops and souvenirs.

Within reach of Dandong are several other interesting sights, and the city acts as a useful launch pad to Changbai Mountain and the stunning mountain lake of Tian Chi. Dandong’s trademark sight is the Yalu River Bridge that reaches out into the river alongside the bridge connecting China with North Korea – this railway line runs all the way from Beijing to Pyongyang. The steel bridge ends halfway along its full span, the remainder having been dismantled by the Koreans. Boats and speedboats offer cruises along the Yalu River, for visitors who want to get within two or three feet of the hermit kingdom. It is permitted to take photographs of North Korea, though there are few photogenic features – just factories, civilians, and Stalinist housing.

Located 50 km northwest of city, the 840-m Phoenix Mountain is associated with Daoist mythology. It supports a crop of temples and caves, besides offering some excellent hiking trails. A good time to visit is during the temple fair, held every April. The Hushan Great Wall, a little-visited and restored vestige of the Great Wall, is located 20 km northeast of Dandong, near Jiuliancheng town, overlooking the Yalu River and the North Korean border. This section of the wall, dating from the reign of the Ming Wanli emperor, is its easternmost point. In 2003, the Great Wall Museum opened at the site, displaying relics associated with the defensive barrier. Since the North Korean border is not always clearly marked, hiking around this area is inadvisable, in case visitors inadvertently cross over into North Korea.