Yanji
The city of Yanbian Korean culture: Korean hanbok photo shoots, Yanji cold noodles and the sign wall. A newly viral Northeast city on Xiaohongshu.
Yanji is the capital of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province. Set on the Burhatong River, it has the greatest concentration of Korean-Chinese culture in China: signs are bilingual in Chinese and Korean, Korean restaurants are everywhere, and “Korean costume photo shoots” went viral on Xiaohongshu starting in 2023. It is also the hub for Tumen, Hunchun and Changbai Mountain. June–September is cool and comfortable, the best season; from late September to mid-October the rice fields along the Hailan River turn golden. Winter is bitterly cold (January averages about −15°C) but full of festive atmosphere, and spring is windy and dry. Sightseeing areas: ① Downtown: the viral sign wall, Yanji Bridge and the Burhatong River night view, the Water Market morning market, and the West Market food stalls. ② South of the city: the China Korean Folk Park (costume-change photo shoots), Maoer Hill and the Yanbian Museum. ③ Longjing and Helong to the southwest: Piyan Mountain's Ilsongjeong pavilion, Yun Dong-ju's birthplace, the Guangdong Village rice fields and the Azalea Folk Village. ④ Eastern border day trip: the Tumen port gate and Hunchun's Fangchuan, “where you can see three countries at a glance” (about 2 hours by car to Fangchuan). Changbai Mountain is a separate destination. Getting around: Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport is about 10 km from downtown. From Yanji West Station, high-speed rail takes about 2.5 hours to Changchun and about 1.5 hours to Changbaishan Station. Taxis in town are cheap; for Longjing, Helong and the border line, we recommend chartering a car or self-driving. We suggest 3 days. Must-eats are cold noodles, blood sausage, rice cakes (injeolmi), barbecue and Yanbian-style guobaorou (sweet-and-sour pork). Photo-shoot styling and makeup costs about ¥100–300 and needs a reservation in peak season. In border areas, do not photograph the other side's military facilities. In winter, keep warm and watch for slippery ground.
Top sights
- Yanji Wanghong Wall – A commercial building across from the main gate of Yanbian University, its entire facade covered with dense bilingual Chinese-Korean signs…
- Yanji West Market – Yanji's largest general market. The ground floor sells seafood, dried goods and Korean-style pickles, while the second-floor food stalls se…
- China Korean Folk Village – A Korean traditional village theme park at the foot of Maor Mountain, with century-old houses, hanok, swings and dagao-making. It is the fi…
- Mao'er Mountain National Forest Park – The city's back mountain in Yanji. At 517 meters, its rounded summit looks like a hat. From the top you can see all of Yanji and the Burhat…
- Yanbian Museum – The only provincial museum in China dedicated to the folk culture of the Korean ethnic group. It presents the migration history, costumes…
- Tumen River Sino-Korean Border – A viewing area on the Sino-Korean border along the Tumen River in Tumen City. From the border gate you can look over the river and the Nort…
- Fangchuan, Hunchun – Fangchuan, the easternmost land village of China. From Longhu Pavilion you can see China, North Korea, Russia and the mouth of the Tumen Ri…
- Yanji Shuishang Market – A Korean-style morning market on the Burhatong River, with a street of blood sausage, tteok, banchan, dried pollock and more. It is a popul…
- Yanji Bridge & Burhatong River – A landmark bridge spanning the Burhatong River. At night its lights reflect in the water, and the riverside path and barbecue restaurants m…
- Piyan Mountain & Ilsongjeong – A spiritual landmark of the Korean ethnic group on the outskirts of Longjing City. The Ilsongjeong pavilion on the summit overlooks the Hai…
- Birthplace of Yun Dong-ju, Mingdong Village – The birthplace of the Korean-language poet Yun Dong-ju, a traditional Korean-style house compound and a group of poetry stones in Mingdong…
- Jindallae Korean Folk Village – A Korean ethnic village in Xicheng Town, Helong City, with white-walled, black-tiled houses, paddy fields and farmhouse meals, offering a t…
- Guangdong Korean Village, Helong – A Korean village on the flat oasis beside the Hailan River, with vast paddy fields, a paddy field mini train and traditional houses, a micr…
Where to eat
- Service Building Yanji Cold Noodles (Yanda Main Branch) – Yanji's earliest cold noodle old-timer, with more than sixty years of history. Cold noodles dipped in the broth alongsi…
- Shunji Cold Noodles (Yanda Branch) – One of Yanji's most popular cold noodle brands, with free refills of the broth. Guobaorou and Korean-style jajangmyeon…
- Yanji Water Market Morning Market – The largest morning market on the Yanjihe River bank, serving hand-pounded rice cake, rice sausage, potato dumplings an…
Itineraries
- Changbai Mountain North & West Slopes & Yanji High-Speed Rail – Connect Changchun, the North and West slopes of Changbai Mountain, and Yanji by high-speed rail, taking in Heaven Lake…
- Yanji, Tumen & Fangchuan Border Culture – Starting and ending in Yanji, visit the Tumen Port and Fangchuan to overlook three countries, while experiencing Korean…
- Jilin Longwan, Yalu River, G331, Changbai Mountain & Yanbian 10-Day Self-Drive Itinerary – Depart from Changchun, pass through Longwan and Ji'an, follow the G331 highway to Changbai Mountain, and end in Yanbian…
- Jilin Winter Rime, Skiing & Changbai Mountain – A winter trip combining Rime Island, skiing at Lake Songhua and Beidahu, Changbai Mountain snowscapes, and Mojie drift…