Travel Notes on North Korea——Journey of Jin

With the tide of reform and opening up, we have entered the 21st century. China is developing rapidly and society is constantly moving forward. Today's Chinese people are not only facing the world, but going towards the world. All major domestic travel agencies organize cross-border tour groups to various parts of the world. I have never been a peaceful person. I always want to visit places I have never been to. In the past, I took various opportunities to visit many domestic scenic spots and historic sites. Now I also want to go abroad and see the outside world. In line with the principle of being local and nearby, I signed up at a travel agency in Changchun to participate in the "Golden Journey" North Korea 3-night and 4-day tour group during the National Day holiday. On October 2, the train departed from Changchun to stay in Dandong.

October 3, 2002

After breakfast, we took the international train from Dandong to the Sinuiju Railway Station in North Korea across the Yalu River. Transfer to North Korea's international train at Sinuiju Station. After the security check, the train set off soon. The conductor distributed mineral water and lunch to us. The food feels very good. The crops along the way are being harvested. The towns and villages we passed were neat and clean. The train staff are very sincere and enthusiastic. The landscapes along the way are beautiful. The mountain that impressed me the most was the one with the cave at the top.

After several hours of travel, the train stopped at a relatively large station. I don’t know what station it was. After we got off the bus, we transferred to the tour bus. At this moment, our golden journey officially begins. We were received by a female tour guide and a male staff member, who introduced themselves one after another. At the same time, we were informed of our itinerary for the next few days. The bus was driving all the way on the highway to Miaoxiang Mountain. When we checked into the hotel, the sun was almost setting. We immediately took the time to go up the mountain.

October 4, 2002

The pyramid-shaped building in the photo is a hotel located in Miaoxiang Mountain that is specially used to entertain foreign guests. After getting up in the morning, we walked around the neighborhood. On the road, I met two little Korean girls carrying schoolbags to school. They were very polite. When he sees us coming, he salutes us and says hello. We quickly said hello to them. Unfortunately, I didn’t expect to meet them, and the small gifts I brought for the North Korean children were still in the hotel, so I had no chance to give them to them.

Yesterday evening I swam through Mt. Miaoxiang. The first activity today is to visit the museum near Mt. Myohyang. After the visit, we took a bus to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. Stayed at Yanggakdo Hotel. After arranging accommodation, we went to visit Mangyongdae, the former residence of Kim Il-sung, located more than ten kilometers southwest of Pyongyang.

The former residence is the place where Comrade Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people, was born and spent his childhood. The former residence is an ordinary thatched house. Comrade Kim Il Sung's great-grandfather lived in this thatched house for four generations more than 100 years ago.

After returning from Mangyongdae, my plan was to watch acrobatic performances and children's performances. The acrobatic performances are truly daring for talented people, and the performances are difficult, thrilling, and exciting. The children's performances are lively, cute and versatile. After the performance, all the stationery, small toys and other gifts that everyone brought to the children were left at the performance location. I hope the children of North Korea will grow up healthily and become the pillars of the country when they grow up.

After dinner, the two tour guides chatted with us until late. Thank you very much for their dedication to us.

October 5th

After breakfast, we first went to experience Pyongyang’s subway. Pyongyang's subway is one of the deepest. The deepest point is about a hundred meters. After getting out of the subway, we went to pay our respects to the Monument to the Martyrs of the Chinese Volunteer Army. And presented flowers to the martyrs.

Then, we took a bus to visit Panmunjeom via Kaesong. On the way, we also visited two historical monuments in North Korea.

North Korean tour guides used to eat alone. I'll have dinner with everyone today. And toast to all of us. Because we are going back tomorrow. Tonight is a farewell party.

October 6th

Today we mainly visited the city. Attractions include Juche Tower, Kim Il Sung Square, Chollima Bronze Statue, etc. They also laid flowers for the bronze statue of Kim Il Sung. Then, go shopping in North Korea’s stores that cater exclusively to foreign guests. There are wine, cigarettes, ginseng and ginseng products, as well as various other souvenirs.

Our return train was at around 2pm, from Pyongyang to Sinuiju. On the platform of Pyongyang Station, the female tour guide said to everyone with tears in her eyes: "Goodbye, friends. I can only send you here. Welcome to come to North Korea again." Everyone said goodbye reluctantly on the platform. .

It was already past 9pm when the train arrived in Sinuiju. The male staff accompanied us all the way to Sinuiju. It wasn't until we changed to the domestic train that we said goodbye to each other. The "Jin trip" to North Korea ended quickly. But it is deeply imprinted in my memory.