Korean immigrants in Dandong

North Korea's five-day and six-day tour did not stop in Sinuiju, because this "largest border city" in the mouth of North Korean tour guides is very close to Dandong. The two cities are connected by a big iron bridge of friendship, and the distance is less than 1 km. In Dandong, one step across the scenic spot, the two cities are separated by an almost dry ditch, and one step can really cross it.

Sinuiju is the fourth largest city in North Korea. Unlike Luo Xian, who is centered on heavy industry, Sinuiju is mainly engaged in light industry, industry and commercial circulation. More than 70% of China's trade with North Korea goes through Dandong to Sinuiju, and then to all directions of North Korea.

For this border city in the north of China, the most popular tourist attraction for most Korean tourists is to take a cruise ship, near Sinuiju, see the general building, the headquarters of the brigade, the sentry box and several farmhouses built by the Yalu River, occasionally see Koreans passing by on motorcycles, and even yell at others. If we must analyze the mentality of these China tourists, "superiority and pride" should be a more appropriate word.

At present, the hottest thing from Dandong to Sinuiju is a day trip, not to 800 yuan. You can gather from Dandong station in the morning and return around five in the evening. If you really walk into Sinuiju and feel the local customs here, you will find that under the planned economy mode, everyone here has a strong sense of business, and some people get rich first.

The tour guide of Sinuiju said: In North Korea, overseas Chinese mainly live in Pyongyang, Sinuiju and Longchuan County, and the initial border trade between Sinuiju and Dandong was driven by these overseas Chinese.

When these overseas Chinese returned to China to visit relatives, they mainly brought some daily necessities for their own use. Later, they began to help others get some and exchange some pocket money.

Later, some smart people started to set up companies. They contacted relatives and friends in Dandong by telephone, listed the goods they needed for centralized procurement, and then developed from backpacking to car transportation.

Today, the Hongxiadong area in Sinuiju has formed a wholesale distribution center and become a rich area in Sinuiju. "They are all rich," said the tour guide enviously. "Give a Dandong hukou, and people will not change it."

Due to the itinerary, we were unable to visit the wholesale market in Xia Hong, and there are still questions about the description of the tour guide in Sinuiju. How much money can a small trader have?

Back in Dandong, we asked the local tour guide, are the vendors in Sinuiju rich? Pointing to the shops along the Yalu River in Dandong, she said that it is also called Overseas Chinese Store Street, which provides supporting services for vendors in Sinuiju. Many shops are run by Dandong people, but the shops along the street are bought by Sinuiju people.

Looking back at Sinuiju, the tall pink circular buildings along the river are particularly eye-catching. The tour guide said it was the tallest building in Sinuiju, with 23 floors. It's still under renovation. Once completed, it will be mainly used as shops and hotels.