1. Travel to North Korea must be carried out in a group, which is determined by the special reasons of the country. Tours to North Korea are organized from cities such as Dandong, Shenyang, Beijing, and Shanghai, ranging in length from one-day to six-day tours. I opted for a six-day, five-night itinerary that made the trip seem neither rushed nor procrastinated, striking a relatively good balance.
2. At the beginning of the journey, the moment you enter the train station, Korean becomes the main theme of the surroundings. Looking around, it is found that the difference between North Koreans and Chinese is not as obvious as imagined. An easy way to identify North Koreans outside the station is to look at their luggage, which usually carries a lot of luggage, from fruit to electrical appliances. Once in the carriage, the badge on the chest of their coats became another sign of distinction.
3. After the train crossed the Yalu River, we officially entered the territory of North Korea. The inspection at the stop in Sinuiju took more than two hours, and since we were a small team, the inspections were particularly strict. Key checks include mobile phones, social apps, and photo albums. My photo album was carefully looked through, and my luggage was thoroughly checked, including my books. The young inspector was extraordinarily rigorous, scrutinizing every item without a hint of sloppiness.
North Korea has strict restrictions on photography, allowing only positive content to be taken. During the inspection, we were guided to the aisle to make room for the screening of other passengers. The North Koreans were subject to stricter inspections, and every piece of luggage was scrutinized, but despite this, all the North Koreans appeared very calm and cooperative, as if they were used to it.
4. In North Korea, most people do not have passports and cannot leave the country freely. Therefore, those who are able to take international trains either belong to the more affluent class or live a worry-free life! After the inspection of the train, it drove at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour to Pyongyang, 200 kilometers away, and the scene outside the train gradually felt like going back in time to the 70s of the 20th century.
Every scene you see makes you feel as if you have stepped into an old movie: solid-colored buildings, rooms without sealed balconies, like neatly arranged macarons. The golden rice paddies are full of slogans, bright slogans, low old wires and poles, and primitive sleeper rails......
5. The group tours in North Korea are all carefully designed, from the routes we have traveled to the natural and cultural landscapes we have seen! At night, once you step through the hotel door, you basically can't go out again. During the few days in North Korea, we were completely isolated from the outside world, mobile phones were not available, and only in the hotel phone hall we could pay for international calls in yuan, which cost about 16 yuan per minute. In addition, it is also possible to buy a mobile phone card for foreigners, which costs up to 1,700 RMB.
North Korean hotels are austere and have their own rules: for example, the toilets in hotel rooms do not have floor drains, and showers must be used carefully when showering to prevent splashes affecting the floor, otherwise they may face additional charges per square meter.
6. In recent years, the DPRK has significantly opened up its tourism sector. Compared to 10 years ago, the tourist areas that are now open have expanded significantly. Pyongyang is a major tourist destination, and places such as Myohyangsan, Mt. Kumgang, the West Sea Locks, and Panmunjom in Kaesong also attract the attention of many tourists. For me, Pyongyang is undoubtedly the most striking focus, and the in-depth experience of the city takes at least two days.
7. Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea and the window of the country to show the world its modern face. The city centre is home to a wide range of distinctive buildings, from sprawling landmarks to colourful residential buildings. The cleanliness of the streets is high, and the squares are empty and wide, giving a sense of rigor and order. However, it is worth noting that residents of rural areas cannot enter Pyongyang without a special letter of introduction. The countryside is mostly dirt roads with no paved roads, and once a vehicle passes by, it is a sight to behold.
8. When passing through the newly built Future Scientist Street, you can see the towering houses on both sides of the street, which are mainly inhabited by North Korean university professors, scientists and scientific researchers. On this street, you can hardly see clothes to dry. The tour guide explained that this is to maintain the beauty of the city, and flowers and plants can be planted on the balcony, but clothes are not allowed to be dried. It can be seen that to some extent, it reflects the great importance that North Korea attaches to the image of the city.
9. North Korea's electricity supply is not sufficient, and even in the capital Pyongyang, much of the city is plunged into darkness after 8 p.m. Shops usually close at 8 or 9 p.m., and residents have a very regular routine, mostly going to bed around 11 p.m.
10. In Pyongyang's life, there are three more and three less. The three more refer to: the number of people who pay homage to celebrities, the number of people walking on the street, and the number of military police, especially female traffic police. The three less: fewer shops, fewer goods in the store, and fewer vehicles on the street. In addition, cases of street begging and social policing are extremely rare.
11. Nighttime entertainment is relatively limited in Pyongyang, and the main venues for activities are Giethoorn Hotel and Snow Peak Center. The top floor of the Giethoorn Hotel features a revolving restaurant with a rustic décor that still attracts businessmen and international students. Local sake is available, as well as snacks and beers imported from Japan. The dance hall on the ground floor plays popular songs from the seventies and eighties of the last century, and visitors can dance to the music. There is also a billiards room and a casino, but these entertainment facilities are closed to North Korean citizens.
12. North Korea has strict rules on dress and appearance. Jeans are banned in North Korea as a symbol of capitalism, and hairstyles are strictly standardized. There is freedom to dye your hair, but most people still opt for the traditional black color because it is considered the most appropriate choice.
In Pyongyang, you can see that many of the younger generation have changed a bit, especially women, who have gradually modernized their dress, no longer just traditional bows and knee-length skirts, but more perms, makeup, light lipstick, and fashionable short skirts. The social status of North Korean women, who are required to undertake all the household chores and take care of their husbands and children.
13. In North Korea, both men and women are generally not tall. Generally, a man's height of 1.7 meters and a woman's 1.6 meters is considered taller. In order to make their bodies appear more shapely, many Pyongyang women choose to wear high heels that are several centimeters high. At the same time, their faces are natural and not beautified by plastic surgery, and their natural beauty looks generous and decent.
14. North Korea's economic conditions are relatively weak, which can be seen from the average salary. Ordinary workers earn only about 400 yuan a month, while professionals such as scientists, teachers, doctors, or foreign-related workers earn slightly more, for example, tour guides claim that they earn about 600 yuan a month.
15. The currency of the DPRK has special regulations for foreign tourists. Tourists are not allowed to use Korean currency for shopping, and must use foreign currencies such as RMB, Euro or US Dollar at designated malls. The reason behind this is the lack of foreign exchange reserves in North Korea, which is alleviated by absorbing foreign currency. At the same time, North Korea does not allow the outflow of local currency, so when leaving the country, carrying North Korean currency may even be confiscated.
In North Korea, tourists are not allowed to enter the places where locals consume and can only shop in malls set up for foreigners. Most of the goods in these malls are imported, and the prices are naturally higher than those in the local market, such as pork, beef and daily necessities.
16. According to 2022 statistics, North Korea's population is 26.069 million, but the number of cars is only more than 200,000, which means that on average, every 100 people own only one car. Pyongyang is only half the size of Shanghai, and the number of vehicles is less than one-tenth of Shanghai's, so there is no congestion in the city.
In North Korea, most of the cars are so-called buses, and there are very few cars in the name of private individuals. This may be due to the fact that North Korea's national income is generally low, and the cost of using a car has risen due to the fact that it has been subject to economic sanctions for a long time and that oil prices are volatile and generally high.
In North Korea, taxis are relatively expensive, starting at US$2 for three kilometres, or about 14 yuan, and only a few people can afford to use a taxi in Pyongyang. For foreign tourists, even if there are taxis, they will not pick up foreign tourists.
17. North Korean society pays attention to traditional virtues, especially in marriage and love relationships, and young people have strict rules and etiquette when falling in love. Here, soldiers, college students, and party members are regarded as ideal marriage partners. Men and women will only formally meet each other's families at the time of engagement, and they will give each other cloth or other commemorative gifts that they need at the time of engagement.
18. Housing in the DPRK is exempt from taxation in both urban and rural areas, and housing is automatically allocated according to the size of the family. Only married men and women are eligible for housing allocation, and unmarried persons must live with their parents or siblings. In addition, when the house is exchanged, the household equipment must not be taken away and must be left for the next occupant.
19. In North Korea, divorce is very rare, and this is largely due to the strict requirements of the family and society for marriage. At the beginning of the marriage, the bride needs to prepare breakfast for her in-laws' family the next morning to show her responsibility and commitment to the new family.
20. North Korean children are cultivated to be independent and responsible from an early age. For example, girls begin to wash their shoes and socks around the age of nine, and by the age of thirteen, they are taught how to cook and do household chores. Pyongyang's primary school students also have a unique daily learning schedule, with cultural classes in the morning and practice in the afternoon for various interests and specialties, such as playing ball, singing, dancing and learning musical instruments. In addition, there is a need for regular participation in agricultural labour or service industrial production.
Visitors to North Korea have certain rules and taboos to follow, but it is undoubtedly an unforgettable travel experience, and if you are interested in North Korea, you might as well experience it for yourself.