Ji'an Travel Guide

Ji'an is a city on the border with North Korea in southern Jilin Province. There's nothing of much worthwhile in town for tourists, with the mountainous surroundings and the nearby Democratic People's Republic of Korea the real reason for visiting.

Worth It?: Only for access to North Korea.
What to Do: visit North Korea, see historical sites.
Best Time to Go: April and May and during the fall.
How Long?: A day or two in Ji'an is ample.
Trivia: Ji'an is one of China's major ports to the Korea Peninsular.

Ji'an is one of the three border crossing points into North Korea. It is a developing county of 10 towns and villages. Apart from North Korea, the nearby Ancient Koguryo Kingdom is one of the main attractions.

The Ancient Koguryo Kingdom features capital cities and tombs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site between Ji'an and the Huanren Manchu Autonomous County. There are several other historic sites in town along with decent tourist facilities.

Travel to Ji'an - Getting There

Jinggangshan Airport is 30kms from downtown Ji'an and receives flights from Beijing (1 hour) and Shanghai (2 hours), along with Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Traveling by rail is the best bet overland, while national highways 105 and 319 also provide access from Beijing in about 20 hours.

Ji'an Things to Do

Ji'an Attractions

Ancient Koguryo Kingdom cities

this UNESCO World Heritage site is loaded with historical buildings and tombs from the period.

Side trips from Ji'an

North Korea: visitors can take a tour over the border and on to Pyongyang, 300kms to the south. Check ahead of time for the current political situation.

Events

Arirang Mass Games, North Korea: a fantastic event held on May Day to celebrate Kim's birthday (April 15), with thousands of school children doing complex 'card stunt' displays.