Young Pioneer Tours
Rason – Kim Il Sung Birthday Tour
Without a doubt one of the top tours of the DPRK tourist season, the birthday of President Kim Il Sung is the biggest celebration of the year. We expect this to be a huge celebration with mass dancing, and a number of other events that will most likely be announced much nearer the time to mark the 113th anniversary of the President’s birthday.
Nestled in the far northeast of North Korea, at the crossroads of Russia and China, Rason is the DPRK’s Special Economic Zone and one of its most unique destinations. Often overlooked, this lesser visited region offers a fascinating and unique glimpse into a side of North Korea few foreigners ever see.
Your tour with us begins and concludes in Yanji, the largest city of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture located in the northeast Chinese province of Jilin. Easily accessible with selected international and domestic flights, as well as a fast train from Beijing.
On arrival we’ll meet at our centrally located hotel and your guide will show you the nightlife of this heavily Korean influenced city (both North and South) with an overnight stay in Yanji. The following day we’ll make our way together towards the Chinese Quanhe – North Korean Wonjong border crossing to be one of the first few foreign tourists to enter North Korea since it’s closure in 2020.
Rason was established in 1991 following the fall of the Soviet Union, and continues to occupy a distinct and pivotal role within the country. Rason consists of two cities, Rajin and Sonbong hence the name – Rason. Throughout your tour you’ll explore what both cities have to offer, and more.
Rason’s relaxed atmosphere and scarcity of tourists make it YPT’s favourite places to explore. It’s the only area in North Korea where visitors can experience the vibrant local market firsthand and even exchange hard currency for DPRK Won at real rates – then spend it in local shops and markets! This is not possible in Pyongyang.
We can visit a North Korean bank, state owned and joint-ventured factories, chat with students in English at the Foreign Language School, see the unique tri-point border of China, Russia & the DPRK, and as well as enjoy drinks at authentic local bars.
Perfect for first-time visitors to the DPRK and for those who have visited before, Rason promises a rare and unforgettable journey into the heart of North Korea’s hidden charm. Don’t miss the opportunity to uncover this extraordinary destination with us!
Sunday 13th April – Yanji, China
- Arrive at your convenience into Yanji – the largest city of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture located in the northeast Chinese province of Jilin
- Yanji is accessible with international and domestic flights to Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport and Chinese highspeed railway with a daily train from Beijing departing Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station at 1:37pm and arriving Yanji West Railway Station 8:54pm on train no. G3649
- Self transfer to Ibis Hotel (Yanbian University Net Red Wall)
- Meet your YPT guide at 6:00pm inside the lobby of our hotel. During this meeting, we’ll go through the tour’s itinerary, tourist regulations, receive DPRK travel permits, as well as a great chance to meet your fellow travellers and to discuss any other questions you may have about the DPRK.
- Dinner at a nearby local restaurant
- Overnight in Yanji
Monday 14th April – Yanji – Rajin City (Rason, DPRK)
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Prepare for departure at 8:30am, for those who arrived late the following evening you will be quickly debriefed and prepared.
- Begin 3 hour drive to the Chinese Quanhe – North Korean Wonjong border crossing in private transportation
- Arrive at the Chinese Immigration Border and your YPT guide will assist you through Chinese border formalities
- Cross the friendship bridge linking China and the DPRK by bus
- Be greeted as we step foot onto North Korean soil by our two local Korean guides and be further assisted through extensive North Korean border formalities
- Drive 1 hour to Rajin City located deep within Rason Special Economic Zone
Afternoon
- Lunch on arrival at RITA restaurant
- Drop our luggage off and quick check into our hotel
- We’ll begin the tour by first visiting the mosaic pictures of President Kim Il Sung and General Kim Jong Il
- The Greenhouse showcasing the iconic flowers named after the leaders: Kimilsungia and Kimjongilia.
- Taekwondo School – offering an in-depth explanation of the profound cultural significance Taekwondo holds for the Korean people, complemented by an impressive performance by the talented students.
- Rason School Children’s Palace – tour around this vast education complex which offers extra cocurricular activities for students after school. Watch an art performance held by the students.
- Dinner at Rason’s famous Noodle House – here you can sample various Korean dishes as well as the very famous Pyongyang Cold Noodles
- Optional professional massage at the famed Rason Massage Clinic – 100 RMB for an hour massage
- Drinks and overnight at hotel
Tuesday 15th April – Rajin City
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit Pipha Island for scenic ocean shots of the East Sea of Korea
- Visit the Rason Port and hear about how it’s developing within the Second Economic Zone.
- Visit the Imperial Hotel & Casino – this astonishing 5-star hotel and the casino was built by Hong Kong Emperor Group (although they no longer own it). Here we can take a look around and relax over a coffee or a beer and hopefully catch a North Korean live band.
- Visit Golden Triangle Bank – it is permitted to exchange foreign currencies into Korean Won at an unpublished rate and to open a local DPRK bank account.
- Visit the only private market where tourists are able to visit within the entire country. Here it’s possible for you to see what’s available for ordinary citizens to buy and sell. Tourists can use local DPRKorean Won as well as other foreign currencies. This is one of the best and cheapest places on the planet to buy some great seafood, soviet clothing, cigarettes, alcohol and other North Korean goodies.
Afternoon
- Lunch at a local establishment offering some of the best Korean dishes available within the city
- Rason Foreign Languages School – here you’ll have a chance for an impromptu English speaking class with the students.
- Visit the Rason School Uniform Factory – here the national Young Pioneer school uniforms for students throughout the country are produced
- Rason Bookshop and Souvenir Shop – books and a wide range of souvenirs are available here.
- Spectate and/or join in on the Rason university students performing a mass dance on the main square – fantastic for rare photo opportunities!
- Rason Art Gallery – most of the works here are also for sale with some of the DPRK’s top artists having paintings featured
- We’ll take a walk along the streets to central square which is usually bustling throughout the day
- Take a walk in Haean Park – great for snapping photos of the locals and families. If you’re game you can even hire a pair of skates or a skateboard to challenge the kids.
- Attend a hands-on kimchi-making class and discover the cultural significance of this iconic Korean staple.
- Kumyong Restaurant – one of the more regarded restaurants in town where we can also add some fresh seafood from the market we bought earlier to the kitchen.
- Drinks at a local bar near the central square.
- Overnight at hotel
Wednesday 16th April – Rajin City – Tri-point border – Sonbong City – Rajin City
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Drive north towards the three-point pass where the borders of North Korea, China and Russia meet. Incredibly unique photo opportunity here!
- Visit the monument of Admiral Ri Sun Xin – Ri was a Korean admiral and military general known for his victories against the Japanese navy during the Imjin War during the Joseon dynasty
- Visit the DPRK-Russia Friendship Pavilion where previously Putin and General Kim Jong Il held meetings.
- Visit the newly built PuPho Duck Ranch – a swan breeding house
- As well as the Sea Cucumber breeding farm – a delicacy used in Korean dishes
Afternoon
- Specially prepared rural lunch of classic Korean snacks and dishes consisting of rice
- Return south but stopping at the twin sister city of Sonbong
- Short hike up Mt Sahyang – the highest peak in the region to visit another revolutionary site tied to the Japanese occupation during World War II
- Rajin Clothing Factory – one of the more interesting factories in town with a lot of outsourced production finding its way here.
- Dinner along the central square followed by drinks to experience the nightlife of the city
- Overnight at hotel
Thursday 17th April – Rajin City – Yanji, China
Morning
- Breakfast at hotel
- Visit the Paekhaksan foodstuff factory where popular North Korean snacks are produced
- Ryongson Beer Brewery – locally produced beer and quite famous within the country
- A special visit to Chonghak Sanatorium and meet with the doctors, nurses and possibly some patients of the facility
- Visit the Chonghak Deer Ranch
Afternoon
- Farewell lunch in town before we begin our drive back to the border crossing to depart North Korea through DPRK customs and cross back to China through immigration
- Private transport back to Yanji where our tour concludes approx arrival 6:00pm – this arrival time depends on how long the process is when going through both North Korean and Chinese immigration.
- YPT can provide flight, train and post-tour accommodation for those seeking assistance
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Rason Sez
Rason SEZ, located in the very far North East of the DPRK, Is North Korea’s only special economic zone. Established in 1991 the cities status allows for easier foreign investment and is definitely much different than most peoples perceptions of North K …
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