Border town diary: The DPRK city Sinuiju, in the eyes of Dandong residents

World
Europe

By CGTN's Zhao Lingfeng

Sinuiju is Dandong’s neighboring city, across the border in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. A DPRK Special Administrative Region with a population of about 360,000 according to the latest statistics, the SAR is a major connecting point between China and the DPRK.

Sinuiju, the DPRK’s fourth largest city with a population of about 360,000. /CGTN Photo

As the fourth largest city in the DPRK, it may appear idle in contrast to Dandong, especially to those who are only here visiting. But in the eyes of locals, changes are not hard to see on the other side.

24-year-old Shi Dan, born and raised in Dandong, now operates a small Korean-style eatery. Her restaurant is named after its location, the Riverbank. Having a grandmother who moved to Dandong from the DPRK decades ago to get married, Shi says the country over the river is not as different as you might think.

Shi Dan, a Dandong local, who has witnessed changes on the opposite side of the Yalu River. /CGTN Photo

“There have been changes in Sinuiju. They may not be obvious to you, but I went there when I was little and more recently,” Shi tells, “nowadays, you can see high-rise buildings and vehicles on the city's streets, which didn't exist in the past.”

A view of downtown Sinuiju from Dandong. /CGTN Photo

And her mother, who has lived her whole life in the Chinese border town, says the opposite side used to be more of an industrial area. As much as the Chinese side has been developing quickly, the DPRK side has been changing too, especially in terms of infrastructure to boost cross-border tourism and trade.

Trucks parked on the DPRK side of the riverbank. /CGTN Photo

But what about the people on the other side of the border?

A street in Sinuiju. /CGTN Photo

Bi Liaoning, who works at the restaurants and is also a Dandong resident, says the people from the DPRK are not that mysterious. He thought they would be until he got in contact with some of them. Apart from the language, he says, they are not that different from Chinese.

DPRK residents on a boat on the Yalu River /CGTN Photo

Despite apparent changes on the opposite side, there is one change that Shi wants to see. She hopes her relatives on the other side can come over more easily, following more development in the region. In that way, she says, her grandmother would be happy, and so would she.

Two DPRK residents on a bridge across the Yalu River. /CGTN Photo

It may still take some time to bridge that gap, even though only a river separates the two cities.