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Join traveler Live The Dash on an unforgettable 14-hour sleeper train from Beijing to Dandong, the Chinese border city facing North Korea. Despite a bumpy night with snoring roommates and a locked door, the journey reveals China's charming old-school train culture, cheap eats, and unique snacks. Once in Dandong, our traveler explores the Broken Bridge, gets close to the hermit kingdom, and hunts for authentic North Korean beer and cold noodles. This is a fascinating peek into a mysterious world, all without crossing the border.
More about the current video:(Published on 2026-05-12)
In this episode, traveler Live The Dash embarks on a 14-hour sleeper train from Beijing to Dandong, the Chinese city that sits directly on the border with North Korea. The journey begins at Beijing Railway Station, where the couple boards the old-school green-and-yellow train, sharing a soft sleeper cabin with two strangers. The train offers three classes: hard seats, hard sleepers, and soft sleepers. Our traveler explores the dining car, enjoying a surprisingly good meal of tapas-style dishes and a cheap beer, and notes the abundance of noodle pots and hot water on board. The night is rough—snoring, a locked door incident, and stale air make sleep nearly impossible. But upon arrival in Dandong, the experience transforms. Our traveler visits the Broken Bridge, a bombed-out structure from the Korean War, and walks to the very edge of North Korean territory. From a hotel room with binoculars, they spy on the quiet North Korean skyline. A $8 boat tour takes them into the Yalu River, offering close-up views of the secretive nation. They also explore local shops for North Korean souvenirs (some fake), try Dandong's famous strawberries, and find an authentic North Korean restaurant serving cold noodles and real DPRK beer. The evening reveals a stark contrast: the bright, lively Chinese side versus the pitch-black North Korean side. The summary captures a journey filled with personal insights, local interactions, and emotional moments, highlighting the uniqueness of this border city and the dream of one day crossing into North Korea legally.
