Pyongyang - Pjöngjang

Pyongyang, the capital North Korea, represents the starting point for every visitor to the country, because entry into North Korea is only possible by plane or train via the Beijing-Pyongyang route. In the past, entry was also over Vladivostok offered. Apart from that, the city offers most of the tourist attractions of the program items offered by the North Korean Tourism Authority.

background

Pyongyang was completely destroyed in the Korean War and was rebuilt as a model communist city. That is why the cityscape is characterized by huge blocks of flats, large visual axes in the form of multi-lane streets (but hardly any traffic) and monuments.

getting there

By plane

The international airport connects Pyongyang with Beijing, Shenyang, Bangkok and Vladivostok. The flight schedules for domestic flights are not published, so you have to contact KITC (Korean International Travel Company) beforehand to determine whether there is a connection and how to use it for the tourist is also approved.

By train

You can also travel from Beijing by train. Other train journeys within North Korea are usually not approved. Also the arrival from Russia Her is currently not approved for tourists.

mobility

The North Korea trips usually booked through an operator include transportation by coach. A ride with the Pyongyang Metro Although it is offered as a tourist program item, foreigners in North Korea are not allowed to use public transport on their own.

Tourist Attractions

Churches

There is a Catholic, a Protestant and a Russian Orthodox Church. Visits to churches for worship are included in some travel programs. The authenticity of the believers is disputed. There are suspicions that these are propaganda events to demonstrate religious freedom.

Buildings and monuments

Kumsusan Palace: Mausoleum of the "Eternal President" and "Great Leader" Kim Il Sung who died in 1994 and is therefore one of the most sacred places for the North Koreans. The leader cult that can be seen here surpasses all expectations, a visit is extremely impressive. After passing extensive security checks, you can visit the room of tears (where Kim Il Sung died), the order rooms and of course the hall where the body is laid out. A bow on the side of the foot and on the side is expected, as is well-groomed clothing. Access is generally denied in casual clothing such as shorts or jeans.

Kim Il Sung's Birthplace: The birthplace of Kim Il Sung is located in Mangyongdae just outside Pyongyang. Today it is an important memorial. In addition to the premises, some items belonging to the family can be viewed such as: B. Pots or agricultural tools.

Triumphal arch: Based on the Parisian model (but three meters higher), the triumphal arch was inaugurated in 1982. This commemorates the return of Kim Il Sung from the struggle for Korea's independence from the Japanese Empire.

Ryugyong Hotel: The most striking building on the Pyongyang skyline is the Ryugyong Hotel, a 330 m high pyramid. After four years of construction, further construction was discontinued in 1991 due to financing and stability problems. Although the facade was finished in 2011, there is still no operator for the hotel - also due to the insurmountable hurdles for foreign investors.

Juche tower: On the banks of the Taedong stands the 170 meter high tower with a torch lit from within at night. It symbolizes the Juche ideology created by Kim Il Sung, the special North Korean form of communism. You can take an elevator up to the tower for ten euros, where you have a good view of the city.

Mansudae major monument: This monument on Mansu Hill is a must for every North Korea trip. It is a 20 meter high bronze statue of the Great Leader Kim Il-sung. To the left and right of it are further groups of figures representing the revolutionary people. In the background of the statue there is a mosaic 70 meters long that shows the sacred mountain Päktu. First a bow is expected, sometimes flowers have to be put down, then photos can be taken. The statue may only be photographed as a whole and not from behind.

Ch'ŏllima statue: The winged Chollima horse is visible from Mansu Hill. According to an old Korean legend, it should have covered 400 kilometers a day. In revolutionary Korea, the Chollima horse symbolizes socialist construction and progress. The total height of the monument is 46 meters, of which the actual statue is 14 meters. The monument was inaugurated in 1961.

Monument to the founding of the party: The founding of the Labor Party of Korea is commemorated at the party memorial. It is noticeable that in North Korea, in addition to the hammer and sickle, the party symbol also includes the writing brush as a mark of intellectuals. Nice photos of the Ryugyong Hotel can be taken from here.

Stadium May 1st: The May Day Stadium with 150,000 seats has been on the island of Rungna since 1989. It is not only used for sport, but also for political mass events. The one that takes place annually in late summer is the most impressive Arirang mass gymnastics with around 100,000 contributors, which alone make a trip to North Korea worthwhile.

Museums

• Revolution Museum: The Revolution Museum in its current form was opened in 1972. On 54,000 m² it shows the struggle for independence from the Japanese Empire, the founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Korean War and the progress made in building socialism.

• Museum of the Victory in the Patriotic War of Liberation: The North Korean version of the Patriotic War of Liberation, known in the West as the Korean War, has been shown here in detail in 80 exhibition rooms since 1974. The withdrawal to the northern border is referred to by the North Koreans as a strategic temporary retreat and the subsequent renewed advance is entirely due to the leadership of General Kim Il Sung. The role of the Chinese volunteer army is kept secret or only mentioned in passing. The armistice is described as the defeat of the Americans and their "puppets". It is not advisable to express doubts about this version as it can cause trouble. People interested in historical military equipment should inform their tourist guides in advance that enough time is allowed for the visit, otherwise one will only rush through the large collection.

• Railroad Museum (near the main train station). The museum tells many details about the history of the North Korean railways as well as the historical features of the railroad in the Korean War. Technical explanations take up a smaller part.last change: Feb. 2016 (information may be out of date)

• USS Pueblo: The USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is a United States Navy reconnaissance ship that was hijacked by the North Korean Navy in 1968. Today it lies on the Taedong bank and can be viewed by visitors.

Companies and educational institutions

A North Korea travel program usually also includes touring various companies and establishments. This includes:Great People's Study Hall: Opposite the Juche Tower on the other bank of the Taedong is the People's Study Palace. The study house serves to educate the population with a library of 30 million books, lecture halls for evening courses, etc. Most of the books are presented in the language of the visitors. From the balcony you have a good view of Kim Il Sung Square and the river to the Juche Tower.

Streets and squares

Kim Il Sung Square: In front of the People's Study House is the 75,000 m² Kim Il Sung Square. Here portraits of Kim Il Sung, Karl Marx and Lenin hang on the surrounding buildings. The place is used to hold mass events, e.g. B. There is a mass dance with 10,000 people and large fireworks on the Führer’s birthday.

Kwangbok Street: The 100 m wide Kwangbok Street is flanked by huge apartment blocks that were built in 1989 for the World Youth Games. 30,000 people live in the largest apartment blocks. This is where the circus is located, which is featured in many travel programs and puts on a top-notch performance.

Parks

Moranbong Park: The most beautiful park is on Moranbong (Peony Hill). When visiting at the time of Kim Il Sung's birthday, a walk should be planned as the many trees are in bloom. From various points you have good views of the buildings in the area (triumphal arch, Kim Il Sung stadium, Chollima statue). The park is also home to the Moranbong Theater.

activities

Bowling: There is a modern bowling alley which foreigners may be able to visit.

Golf: At the Yanggakdo Hotel there is a golf course. If you are interested, you should clarify this in advance, as there is no sufficient free time for a game of golf on a normal tour.

shop

A visit to the department stores or the normal shops for the population is currently not permitted for tourists. But you have more than enough opportunities to buy souvenirs, as there is the possibility to buy some at every sight. There are also book, souvenir and consumer goods shops in the hotels that are accessible to foreigners. There are also special shops for tourists to stop at, e.g. B. the Kumgangsan merchandise point of sale or the export merchandise exhibition. Popular souvenirs are ginseng products, cigarettes, schnapps (snake liqueur Pulrosul), handicrafts (e.g. large hand embroidery), propaganda material in the form of CDs / VCDs / books, flags, ... The prices are very low for our standards. The price is indicated in euros and can also be paid for in dollars, renminbi yuan and yen. Objects with the picture of the guide, such as: B. The Kim Il Sung badges worn by all North Koreans.

kitchen

General: For all tourist trips, food is included in the tour price and is organized by the local tour guides. A spontaneous choice of restaurant is therefore not possible, any special requests should be made before the trip. Tourists are never taken to restaurants where the local population also eats. Mostly Korean specialties are served, sometimes also European food such as schnitzel or meatballs. The food is always good and plentiful. Whether the Korean metal chopsticks or cutlery is served is different, sometimes there are both. Tips to the waitresses are unusual and are declined. Karaoke videos are almost always playing on a television or there is live singing from the wait staff.

Well-known restaurants are the Ongnyu for noodle dishes, the Ryugyong for Bulgogi (Korean beef grilled meat), the Okryu with its Korean architecture on the Tädong bank or the TV tower restaurant with its beautiful view. The two luxury hotels Koryo and Yanggakdo have revolving restaurants with good views.

nightlife

There is no classic nightlife in Pyongyang. Since the hotels cannot be left without a North Korean tour guide, only the hotel bars remain for going out in the evening. These offer a good selection of drinks (national and international) and correspond to western standards. The prices of Korean drinks are cheap, e.g. B. A local beer costs 40 to 50 cents. Tip: Take enough change with you (coins, 5 EUR bills), otherwise you will sometimes get change in different currencies when paying with larger bills.

accommodation

Tourists are usually accommodated in the Koryo Hotel or the Yanggakdo Hotel. These are referred to as luxury hotels and, measured according to western standards, can be assigned to at least the 4-star category. There are numerous hotels in the lower categories, but a stay in these hotels is not always approved by the KITC (Korean International Travel Company). Group travelers from commercial providers always stay in the two luxury hotels.

• Koryo Hotel. A 45-storey double tower construction with 140 m in Zanggwangstrasse with around 500 rooms. There are a few restaurants for tourists in the vicinity. There are also several restaurants, conference rooms, a cinema, bars, shops, tennis court, hairdresser, beauty and massage parlor in the hotel. On June 11, 2015 there was a fire on the upper floors, it is not clear to what extent this hotel will be used by tourists until the end of repairs.last change: not specified

• Yanggakdo Hotel. A modern 47-storey triangular-shaped building with 450 rooms and a height of 158 meters. The hotel is located on Yanggak Island on Taedong. The hotel has several restaurants, including a revolving restaurant on one of the upper floors, conference rooms, an indoor swimming pool, several bars, shops, a sauna, a hairdressing salon, a beauty and massage parlor.last change: not specified

security

Due to the constant surveillance, there is no crime against foreigners.

health

Tap water should not be drunk in the capital either. Mineral water is available cheaply in the hotel shops.

In the event of illness, the tourist guides or hotel staff will take care of a doctor. There are reports that foreigners have been taken to good hospital wards for the party elite in emergencies, but it is still advisable to take out health insurance that includes repatriation home.

Practical advice

Since the tourist guides usually speak the traveler's native language, there are no major communication problems during the day. For purchases in the hotel shops, the small German-Korean vocabulary booklet, which is often sold at the book stands (Verlag für foreign-language book, Pyongyang, 1984), has proven itself for more specific requests. Most of the time, at least some of the shop assistants speak a little English.

In Pyongyang it is particularly advisable to adhere to the rules of conduct mentioned in the North Korea article, as the monitoring is particularly intensive here! Very often inconspicuously inconspicuous gentlemen with notepads in hand stand at the major sights. It also happens that alleged students address you in English and are asked about your profession or what you find most beautiful in Pyongyang. Of course, you should think about your words beforehand.

In the two foreigner hotels, international calls are possible from the room telephone, but they are expensive. The hotels also have a "business center" with post, telephone and fax. E-mails can be sent via the hotel's mail account. Fees are due per email. However, it is not possible to use your own mail account. Any communication should be kept in mind that it may be monitored. Mail arrives after two to three weeks. Tip: Take glue stick for the postcards with you, as the stamps hardly stick.

literature

• Charlie Crane: Welcome to Pyongyang. London: Chris Boot 2007. ISBN 1905712049 .
• Guy Delisle: Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea. Drawn & Quarterly, 2005, ISBN 1896597890
• Christian Kracht, Eva Munz and Lukas Nikol: The total memory. Kim Jong Ils North Korea. Rogner & Bernhard September 2006. ISBN 3807710205 .
• Arno Maierbrugger: North Korea Handbook. On the move in a mysterious land. Trescher, Berlin, 2004, ISBN 3897940396
• Peter Schreiner (Ed.): As an observer in Pyongyang. aej documentation on the XIII. World Youth Festival in North Korea 1989. aej, Stuttgart, 1989, ISBN 3888620368
• Chris Springer: Pyongyang: The Hidden History of the North Korean Capital. Saranda Books, 2003, ISBN 9630081040
• Pyongyang. Pyongyang: Verlag Ilustrierte 'Korea', 1990 (German)

Web links

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