Yanbian Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 延边朝鲜族自治州 (yán biān cháo xiǎn zú zì zhì zhōu)
Population: 2,146,000
Area: 42,700 square kilometers (16,487 square miles)
Location: in the east of Jilin Province, northeast China
Administrative Division: 2 counties (Wangqing, Antu); 6 county-level cities (Yanji, Tumen, Dunhua, Huichun, Longjing, Helong)  
Area Code: 0433
Zip Code: 133000
GDP (2018): CNY 70.95 billion (USD 10.72 billion)
Nationalities: Han, Korean

Situated in the east of Jilin Province, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture is bordered by Russia in the east, and is separated by the Tumen River from North Korea. It is also adjacent to the Japanese Sea and separated from Japan and South Korea by the sea.

Thanks to its unique geographical location, Yanbian has frequent trades with Russia and Japan and has opened a number of cross-border transportation routes. Yanbian is also the largest Korean populated area in China, where 42.3% of Korean Chinese live. Many local folk villages show North Korea's songs, dances, buildings and folk culture.

Influenced by the Japan Sea and a high forest coverage, Yanbian bestows a cool and wet summer, which is an ideal destination for relieving summer heat. In winter, Yanbian is a paradise for ski lovers which has six excellent ski resorts built in the forest. Magically, Fangchuan Scenic Area offers a panoramic view of China, North Korea and Japan. A border trip to Russia and North Korea also will give you a wonderful experience. In addition, you can buy cheap and fine goods from Japan, South Korea, Russia and North Korea such as clothing, cosmetics and tableware here.

It is the largest border city of Jilin, and the boundary line between China and North Korea is just in the middle of Tumen River Bridge. Hunchun is another important border city of the Province at the convergence of China, Russia and North Korea, and also a rising tourist city with beautiful natural sceneries. Fangchuan Village, which is 70 kilometers (43 miles) south of Hunchun City, is a place where visitors can have a broad view of the three countries.

It is located in Yanbian, which is famous for a giant Buddha Statue standing on its top, Ancient Tombs of Bohai Regime, and Ancestral Hall of the Qing Dynasty.

This park lies 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south of Yanji City. There is a folk-custom park of Korean ethnic minority, through which visitors can have a further knowledge about Korean.

1. Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport stands 5 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of downtown Yanji, operating flights to about 15 doemstic cities, like Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao, Yantai, Changchun, Dalian, and Shenzhen. Additionally, it also operates direct international flight to Busan, Cheongju, Muan, Osaka, and Vladivostok. The airport is expected to be the second largest airport of Jilin. 

2. Changbaishan Airport is under construction. At present, Yanji Chaoyangchuan Airport is the nearest airport from the Changbai Mountain. Departing the Yanji Airport, it is still four hours' drive to the mountain. 

3. Yanji is the furthest city from Changchu within the province. It will take eight hours by trains, and about nine hours by bus. Here are the main bus stations in the seat of the prefecture government, Yanji City:
Yanji central bus station: 109, Changbai Lu, Yanji City
The north station: 743, Aidan Lu, Yanji City 

Bearing a temperate humid monsoon climate, Yanbian weather is characterized by four clear seasons. It is dry and windy in spring, while the autumn is cool and the winter is chilly. June to August is the rainy season of Yanbian. Its annual average temperature falls around 2-6C (35.6-42.8F). September 3rd is the birth day of Yanbian. During the festival, people there will gather among the sea of joy and happiness. 

 History: Before the Tang Dynasty (618-907), this region once belonged to the territory of Bohai Kingdom and Koguryo Kingdom successively. It was not until the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) that the court decided to seal the vast land north of Tumen River off from the external world because Changbai Mountain and its neighboring place are the birthplace of Manchu and the dynasty.

 Physical Features: Yanbian lies at the northern foot of the Changbai Mountains, with mountainous region occupying about seventy-eight percent of prefecture's territory. The terrain of the prefecture slopes downward from the west to the east, and mountains, hills and basins are hierarchically distributed.

 Local Highlights: This area is the largest resident community of the Korean ethnic minority. To experience the folklore of the local Koreans is definitely an unforgettable memory to Yanbian trips. In addition, traditional delicacies can not be missed, such as pickles, Korean style cold noodle. Apart from Chinese traditional festivals, the locals Koreans also have their unique festivals. Liutou Festival is one of them. At that day, people bring foods to the waterside, then have a bath and eat the foods to pray that the water can take away evils.

 Special Local Products: Chinese medical plants (Ginseng) and fungus of Changbai Mountains, apple-pear, marten, deer antler