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Ben and Rian take a bullet train from Dalian to Dandong, China’s largest border city with North Korea. Their arrival becomes difficult when two hotels refuse to accommodate foreign guests without Chinese ID cards. With help from hotel staff and translation, they eventually book a Holiday Inn through Trip.com. They settle in, order dinner through a hotel robot and take a walk to buy drinks. The account also covers train amenities, hot water for tea and noodles, and practical planning for hotel bookings and local communication.
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A difficult hotel check-in in Dandong
Ben and Rian travel by bullet train from Dalian to Dandong, a border city near North Korea. The train ride itself is smooth and comfortable, with first-class seats arranged two by two and hot water available for tea or noodles. On arrival, their plans become complicated: the first hotel says it cannot accept foreign guests without Chinese ID cards. An employee tries to help them find another place, but the next hotel also turns them away. The couple spend about an hour dealing with failed bookings and refund concerns while trying to understand the requirements.
They eventually book a room at a Holiday Inn through Trip.com. A staff member helps translate and guide them through the process. The room is clean and modern, and the successful check-in brings relief after a stressful start. Their experience shows that hotel requirements can cause unexpected problems for foreign travelers; it is prudent to confirm directly with a property that it can accommodate your passport before arrival. Rules and processes can change, so the account should not be treated as current official guidance.
Dinner and an evening walk
After settling in, the couple order local food through a delivery robot at the hotel. The robot is an unexpected part of the evening and gives them a simple dinner option after the travel day. Rian then goes out alone to buy beer and yogurt. She describes feeling safe during the night walk, even in an unfamiliar city. That reflects her experience on this particular evening and should not be generalized to every situation or destination.
The video closes with excitement about exploring the North Korean border area the next day. The journey combines a comfortable train ride, a challenging hotel search and small moments that help the couple recover from the arrival. Practical tips from their experience include arriving early for trains, using translation tools for Chinese text, carrying hotel tea or coffee for hot water on board and checking a hotel’s foreign-guest policy in advance. Their story captures the uncertainty of travel logistics alongside the interest of visiting Dandong.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Why did the first hotel refuse the couple?
- A: The hotel said it could not accept foreign guests without Chinese ID cards. The couple understood this as a public-security requirement and recommend confirming current policies with a property.
- Q: How did they eventually find a hotel?
- A: An employee directed them to another hotel, which also declined the booking. They then booked a Holiday Inn through Trip.com and were able to check in.
- Q: What was the bullet train like?
- A: The couple describe a smooth and comfortable journey with two-by-two first-class seating. They also appreciated the hot water available on board for making tea or noodles during the trip.
- Q: Was Dandong safe to walk around at night?
- A: Rian says she felt safe walking alone to buy beer and yogurt. That reflects her experience on that night and is not a guarantee for every traveler or situation.
