[Private Independent Tour] Yalu River Broken Bridge + National Gate + Sino-Korean One-Step Crossing + Sino-Korean Boundary River Cruise at Hekou

▲ Dandong! China's largest border city, located in the southeastern part of Liaoning Province. It faces Sinuiju of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea across the river to the east, borders the Yellow Sea to the south, neighbors Anshan to the west, adjoins Dalian to the southwest, and connects with Benxi to the north. As the northern starting point of China's coastline and situated at the heart of Northeast Asia, Dandong serves as a crucial intersection between the Northeast Asian economic zone and the Bohai Rim-Yellow Sea economic belt. It is a riverside, coastal, and border city primarily focused on industry, commerce, logistics, and tourism.

▲ The Yalu River Broken Bridge was the first bridge constructed across the Yalu River among many others, with construction commencing in May 1909 and completing in October 1911. It was built by the Railway Bureau of the Japanese Governor-General of Korea at that time. Originally serving as a railway bridge with 12 spans stretching 944.2 meters, the fourth span from the Chinese side featured a swing section that could rotate 90° around Pier No. 4 to facilitate ship navigation. During the Manchukuo puppet regime period, the Japanese constructed a second railway bridge (now known as the China-North Korea Friendship Bridge) upstream in 1943, which became operational in April of that year, subsequently converting the first bridge into a road bridge. From November 1950 to February 1951, the United States deployed B-29 and B-17 heavy bombers along with F-80 fighter-bombers to repeatedly attack the bridge in an effort to sever China-North Korea transportation routes. The first bridge was ultimately destroyed, leaving only four remaining spans on the Chinese side.

▲ The Yalu River Yanwo Pontoon Bridge was constructed in 1950 during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. It consists of 19 piers, each made of 111 logs, serving as a temporary railway bridge. This bridge was a vital passage for the Chinese People's Volunteers to cross the river and transport military supplies. Despite over 70 years of river erosion, the wooden piers remain firmly anchored in the river, standing as a historical testament. It is one of the must-visit historical sites in Dandong.

▲ The Hushan Great Wall was initially constructed in 1469 during the fifth year of the Chenghua reign in the Ming Dynasty, primarily serving as a defense against invasions by the Jianzhou Jurchens. The current Hushan Great Wall visible today was restored based on the "Hushan Great Wall Restoration Plan" approved in 1992, built upon the ruins of the original Ming Dynasty structure. To date, 1,250 meters of the wall have been restored, including twelve scenic features such as the over-street gate tower, beacon towers, watchtowers, battle platforms, and horse-faced bastions, reviving the majestic grandeur of what was once the foremost section of the Ming Great Wall.

▲ The demarcation of the China-North Korea border is not based on the median line of the main channel of the Yalu River but rather on the riverbanks, allowing for a "one-step crossing." In the Yalu River, as long as one does not go ashore, it is not considered "crossing the border." Boats can sail around North Korean islands and navigate close to the North Korean shore. Vessels can also anchor on the North Korean side. Most islands in the Yalu River belong to North Korea, with many located on the Chinese side of the main channel. Due to long-term silt accumulation in branch channels, some areas have only a small ditch left, with a distance of just "one step." A famous example is the "One-Step Crossing" at the Hushan Great Wall (the easternmost end of the Great Wall) attraction.

▲ National Highway 228 is a vital north-south transportation artery in China, starting from Dandong City in Liaoning Province and ending at Dongxing City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This national highway passes through multiple provinces and regions, including Jiangsu, Fujian, and Guangdong, connecting several key coastal cities. The construction of National Highway 228 plays a significant role in promoting economic development and regional exchanges along China's coastal areas.

▲ Introduction to Shanghekou National Gate: The border national gate was constructed in 2016 at the China-North Korea boundary along the riverside railway bridge. The gate stands 14 meters tall with a span of 14 meters. From the top level, through the glass observation deck, visitors can first see the railway bridge built in 1950. This 1,500-meter-long and 8-meter-wide bridge serves as a crucial railway link to North Korea, having played a major transportation role during the Korean War. Today, it offers scenic views of the riverside landscape and North Korean border areas.

▲ The Memorial Hall of The War To Resist Us Aggression And Aid Korea, a national first-class museum, is a specialized memorial comprehensively reflecting the history of the Chinese people's War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and its related movement. Located on Yinghua Mountain by the Yalu River in Dandong City, Liaoning Province, the hall faces Sinuiju City of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea across the river. Originally established in October 1958, the new hall was completed and officially opened on July 27, 1993. The memorial complex covers a total area of 182,000 square meters, consisting of the memorial hall, a commemorative tower, a panorama hall, and a national defense education park, housing over 20,000 cultural relics from the war period. The memorial hall itself occupies 23,800 square meters of construction area, with its permanent exhibition themed "Resisting US Aggression and Aiding Korea, Defending Our Homeland," featuring sections including the entrance hall and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea exhibition hall.

▲ The architectural style of Anton Old Street primarily draws inspiration from the old street buildings of Dandong in the 1920s and 1930s. It replicates some landmark structures and old street names within the project, incorporating key architectural elements from the Republic of China era for exterior walls and streetscape decorations. Divided into two sections—Old Anton Food Street and Anton Tourism Reception Service Center—it serves as a multifunctional cultural and commercial street integrating nostalgic sightseeing, classic cuisine, and tourist shopping.