The China North Korea border is a 1,354km long international border separating North Korea and China. 

The border runs along the Yalu river, beginning in the Yalu River estuary and running along to the west tri-point where it borders Russia, China and North Korea in the far east.

The Yalu River, Mt. Paektu (Changbaishan, Paektusan) and the Tumen River divide North Kore and China, forming the North Korea China border. 

Dandong

The biggest border town on the North Korea China border is Dandong. This is a border city located in China’s North East in Liaoning Province. Dandong is located on the Yalu River delta. Just opposite is the North Korean city Sinuiju in North Pyongan Province. These two cities are connected by the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge. 

This is the main crossing port for those entering North Korea from China. 

In Dandong, tourists can take a ride on the ferry on the Yalu River. Dandong is also a major hub for North Korea China tourism. Many Chinese nationals depart from Dandong and there are many Chinese tour companies operating tours from Dandong, including day trips to Sinuiju and longer trips to Pyongyang. 

The Yalu River, also called the Amnok River, has 205 islands running along it. The source of this river is the top of Mt. Paektu, also known as Heaven Lake. Heaven Lake is also the source of the Tumen River, another river that runs along the North Korea China border. Mt. Paektu itself is divided between both North Korea and China. It is known as Paektu San in  North Korea and Changbai Shan in China. 

In 1962 a border treaty decided which of these islands of the Yalu River would belong to North Korea and which to China. Using the ethnicities of each group living on the island, the islands were divided between North Korea and China. North Korea possesses 127 islands and China possesses 78 of the 205 islands. There are even islands, such as Hwanggumpyong, that lie on the China side of the river, however belong to North Korea. 

Both China and North Korea have navigation rights on the Yalu River. 

Aside from in Dandong, there are a number of other North Korea China border cities that have a large population of ethnic Koreans. There is a big Korean influence in these cities, with lots of the shops, restaurants and cafes offering services in both Korean and Chinese, and you will see both Chinese and Korean characters written all over. 

THE SINO-KOREAN FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE

The Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge takes the Beijing to Pyongyang train across from China to North Korea. This bridge lies right next to the Broken Bridge - the bridge that was bombed during the Korean War. 

YALU RIVER BRIDGE

The New Yalu River Bridge is currently not in use. It was created to increase trade between Dandong and Sinuiju. 

TUMEN BORDER ROAD BRIDGE

This Tumen North Korea Chinese border bridge links Tumen with Namyang. This is home of Mother Kim Jong-Suk, and the access point to Mount Chilbo and Chongjin in North Korea’s north east. Crossing this North Korea China border crossing is the only place where foreigners can cross into North Korea from China on foot. 

HUNCHUN BORDER CROSSING

This crossing is the access point from Yanji in China to the Special Economic Zone Rason in the north east of North Korea. 

Source: Wikipedia.

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