| Baekdu Mountains | |
 | |
| State | North Korea |
|---|---|
Baekdu Mountains (백두산 맥) is a region of the North Korea.
To know
This region takes its name from the Baekdu mountain range (also known as the Changbai Mountains), which extends beyond the border with the China. This mountainous area has many peaks that exceed 2,000m. The highest peak is the Mount Baekdu, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the North Korea, and also what many Koreans consider their mythical origin. The region shares a long border with China, partly formed by the Yalu River and the Tumen River.
Territories and tourist destinations
- Chagang - It is a province rich in mineral resources.
- Ryangang - Located in the west, it is one of the poorest provinces.
Urban centers
Other destinations
- Myohyangsan - It is a sacred place whose name means mountain with mystical fragrances, a name that derives from the mystical forms and perfumes found in the area.
How to get
By plane
Air Koryo has regular charter flights for Samjiyon (삼지연 군), for excursions to Mount Baekdu and, thanks to the money of tourists, they are quite a frequent occurrence. In Kangye there is a mixed airport (military and civilian), since it is also connected to Pyongyang by a road and a railway it is used as a transportation hub for the western part of the region.
How to get around
By bus
The only regional transport you will most likely be able to use will be a government bus that leaves from the airport in Samjiyon.
What see
- International Friendship Exhibition - Located in Myohyangsan is one of the most famous places in the country, showing gifts given to the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic by foreign dignitaries, giving the impression to locals that their leaders are widely admired and respected.
What to do
- Mount Baekdu (백두산 in Korean;长白山 o Chángbái Shān in Chinese). A dormant volcano whose last eruption dates back to 1903 and with a vast lake in the center of its crater, it is the highest mountain in the North Korea (2,744 m), but also of enormous importance to the Koreans. The huge lake called crater Chonji ("Lake of the Skies") is located at the summit of the volcano, surrounded by bare rocky crags. It is one of the deepest alpine lakes in the world, and also one of the coldest. The Chinese side of the mountain, which occupies half of the caldera lake, is much more accessible and cheaper to visit than the Korean side. Baekdusan is sacred to all Koreans, because according to Korean mythology it is where the 'Son of the Lord of Heaven' descended to earth and where the first Korean kingdom began. Kim Jong-il, the recent leader of North Korea, has appropriated the myth of the mountain, arguing that the mountain is also his birthplace.
