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Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

author:Senior nomad
Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

China and the DPRK are friendly neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, the two peoples have had friendly exchanges and traditional friendship since ancient times, and the cultures and customs of the two countries are very similar. Because North Korea is close to China, it is also very convenient for Chinese tourists to travel to North Korea, whether by car, train or plane, and there is not much time on the way. As a result, about 200,000 Chinese tourists have recently visited North Korea every year since North Korea liberalized its borders. A large number of Chinese tourists increase North Korea's foreign exchange earnings and promote North Korea's economic growth, so the North Korean side treats Chinese tourists very warmly and friendly, which makes European, American, Japanese and Korean tourists who travel to North Korea very envious, and even a little jealous.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

The most economical way for Chinese tourists to travel to North Korea is to take a train from Dandong, and after the tour group departs from Dandong, it crosses the Yalu River to the North Korean border city of Sinuiju, and then continues to Pyongyang by train. Chinese tour groups cost between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan per person, can travel in North Korea for four days, and food, accommodation and travel are all inclusive, and even Chinese tourists do not have to bring pocket money. Tourists from other countries who want to travel to North Korea must first go to China, and then transit through China to North Korea, so their travel costs are much higher than those of Chinese tour groups, about three times the cost of Chinese tourists to North Korea.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

From the moment they arrive in Sinuiju, Chinese tourists can feel the difference between how North Koreans treat themselves and tourists from other countries. During customs clearance in Sinuiju, Chinese tourists stay in the car to be inspected by North Korean customs and border guards, and these North Korean public officials come to the carriages of Chinese tourists, chat with Chinese tourists like a family and check their luggage, and they will even sit down to smoke a cigarette and joke with Chinese tourists when they are happy. The inspection is also carried by carelessly. Chinese tourists' mobile phones and computers are allowed to be brought into North Korea, and I even brought a telephoto lens to North Korea for filming, and Chinese tourists do not check their luggage when they return to China.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

Tourists from other countries, especially those from European and American countries and Japan, are not treated so well, and they have to enjoy some "special treatment" from the North Korean side. When the customs and border guards of the DPRK inspect their luggage, they not only take a very serious attitude and do not smile, but also very carefully check the contents of the boxes, especially the mobile phones, cameras and magazines they carry, and the North Koreans check them very carefully for fear of missing a single detail. North Koreans are mainly afraid that they will bring "unhealthy" and "reactionary" magazines and pictures into North Korea, and that they will take photos showing North Korea's backwardness out of North Korea on their return trip. In the karaoke room of the Giethoorn Hotel, I met several tourists from Germany, and when we talked, they also complained about such inspections in North Korea.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

Chinese tourists in North Korea during the tour, all aspects will be different from other countries tourists special care, such as in terms of food, North Koreans like less oil and light taste food, especially like to eat cooler food, such as North Korean cold noodles, but in order to take care of the taste of Chinese tourists, North Korean group meals add a lot of hot dishes, and each meal has meat or fish. For European and American tourists who are accustomed to eating hamburgers and fries, they can only follow Chinese tourists to eat these meals that are more in line with Chinese tastes.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

In addition to military bases, military and imitation leaders, North Korean tour guides are also more relaxed in taking photos of Chinese tourists, and for tourists from other countries, there are many very strict rules when taking photos. When shopping for tourism, North Korean tour guides and salesmen will also try to meet the requirements of Chinese tourists, North Korean tour guides will not force Chinese tourists to shop, buy or not, and even some North Korean tour guides will help Chinese tourists choose goods, as far as possible so that Chinese tourists spend less money to buy satisfactory souvenirs.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

Many North Korean tour guides are top graduates of Chinese departments in universities, they all speak fluent Chinese, and they love Chinese culture. The vast majority of North Korean tour guides have a very favorable impression of China and Chinese, and they are very convenient to communicate with Chinese tourists. North Korean tour guides can get along very well with Chinese tourists during the tour, Chinese tourists encounter difficulties during the tour, they will try to help and solve them, some of them will even invite Chinese tourists to taste North Korean ice cream. Although North Korean tour guides are polite and warm to them, they still maintain a sense of vigilance and vigilance towards those foreign tourists.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

Many North Korean tour guides not only speak Chinese well, but also Chinese experts, when introducing the customs and customs of North Korea, but also from time to time take some famous people and events in Chinese history and culture as examples, many North Korean tour guides even say a lot of current Chinese Internet buzzwords. On buses to other places, North Korean guides will also humorously tell jokes and interact with Chinese tourists, and the carriages are often filled with laughter.

Foreign tourists: The same tourists, why are North Koreans so enthusiastic about Chinese tourists?

On the way to Kaesong, my two male and female North Korean tour guides also enthusiastically sang us a few Chinese pop songs, and Teresa Teng's "The Moon Represents My Heart" won warm applause from all Chinese tourists. And this kind of harmonious and harmonious scene is difficult to see in tour groups in other countries, one is that it is more difficult for North Korean guides to communicate with them in English, and the other is that North Korean tour guides only regard Chinese tourists as friends who can understand each other and communicate with confidence. What do you think about the fact that North Koreans are very warm and friendly to Chinese tourists? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area.

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