I originally thought Changchun was already beautiful, until I went to Yanji...
Summer in Yanji is refreshingly wrapped in the aroma of spicy kimchi. The streets here are filled with the lively atmosphere of the Korean ethnic group, with bright yellow walls, Korean signs, and Chinese characters intertwined. Walking a few steps feels like stepping into a small town from a Korean drama. No need for complicated plans—just follow the rhythm to eat and explore for three days, and you’ll carry this unique charm in your memory.
Where is convenient to stay?
If you want to explore the city center, staying near Yanbian University is the most comfortable. Right outside is a popular street, and it’s not far to walk to the West Market and Water Market. In the evening, you can stroll and enjoy the night view of the Buerhatong River. If you prefer quiet, hotels in Henan District are also good, close to the Folk Custom Park, with many restaurants around and great value for money.
Three-day food and sightseeing route, from local life to culture
Day 1: Taste Yanji’s flavors in the bustling streets
- Oriental Water Market
Get up early to catch the morning market, bustling from around 5 a.m. Freshly steamed rice sausages emit steam, cut into pieces with scissors, dipped in garlic sauce, soft and fragrant with rice aroma; the aunt at the rice cake stall pounds glutinous rice with a wooden mallet, and the freshly made rice cakes coated with soybean flour are sticky and sweet; then have a bowl of beef soup, clear broth with tender meat, paired with kimchi, warming your stomach.
- Yanbian Museum
After the morning market, visit the museum, which is free (closed on Mondays). It holds stories of the Korean ethnic group—traditional clothing, old farming tools, and relics from the anti-Japanese guerrilla period. The most interesting is the folk exhibition hall, which recreates an old Korean house with a heated bed, sauce jars, and weaving machines neatly arranged, like stepping into a farmhouse from decades ago.
- West Market
Go treasure hunting at West Market at noon. The counters on the first floor are filled with dried pollock, kimchi, and rice wine, where you can taste before buying; the third floor is the handicraft area, with exquisite Korean ethnic small drums, embroidery, and wooden tableware—great for souvenirs. When tired, have a bowl of cold noodles in the market, buckwheat noodles soaked in icy broth, served with kimchi and egg, cool and refreshing.
- Yanbian University’s popular wall & Buerhatong River
In the evening, head near Yanbian University, where the street signs mix Korean and Chinese, bright yellow walls with cartoon graffiti, any photo looks like a screenshot from a Korean drama. Buy a cup of coffee and slowly walk to Buerhatong River, where the lights along the river shine and reflect on the water, swaying gently. The evening breeze brings a bit of coolness, making it very comfortable to sit and daydream.
Day 2: Circle around folk customs and nature
- China Korean Ethnic Folk Custom Park
Wear a hanbok in the morning to the Folk Custom Park (you can rent one inside, with many styles). The old houses inside are all Korean style, with thatched roofs, wooden walls, and curved porch pillars. Sunflowers and cosmos grow in the yard. Choose a spot under a roof with steps or stand by a traditional wooden door, with sunlight filtering through the leaves—photos look like scenes from a historical drama.
- Mao’er Mountain National Forest Park
In the afternoon, hike Mao’er Mountain. It’s not high, about 40 minutes to the top. From the summit, you can see all of Yanji—red roofs, green trees, and winding rivers in the distance. On clear days, you can even see the distant ridges of Changbai Mountain. The newly built forest trail in 2025 is very comfortable, with pine trees shading the path, and you can hear birdsong, cool and pleasant. If you don’t want to hike, the lawn at the foot of the mountain is perfect for a picnic or lying down to watch clouds drift.
- Hailan Pearl Tower
In the evening, visit the new landmark Hailan Pearl Tower. The 181-meter-high “Eye of Hailan” observation deck is glass, and standing on it looking down, the whole city looks like an open map, with car lights crawling like little bugs. At sunset, the sky turns orange-red, casting a long shadow of the tower—perfect for photos.
Day 3: Visit the border and savor local flavors
- Tumen Port
Take the high-speed train to Tumen in the morning (only 15 minutes), then taxi to the port. Standing at the national border, you can see the North Korean village opposite, with white-walled houses, vast rice fields, and occasional pedestrians. Walk along the riverside boardwalk, with the boundary marker right on the shore. The river breeze is very pleasant. Two hours is enough for a visit, and you can return to Yanji by noon.
- Yanji People’s Park
In the afternoon, go to People’s Park, the favorite spot of locals. Elderly men play chess under the trees, grandmothers gather to play cards, and some people dance Korean ethnic dances in the open space. When the music plays, feet sway to the rhythm, lively and warm. The trees in the park are lush; sitting on a bench watching children run and birds fly is very relaxing.
- Yanbian University Campus
In the evening, stroll around Yanbian University. The campus is built along a hillside, with red brick teaching buildings covered in ivy, and lilac flowers along the paths still fragrant. At the top playground, you can see half of Yanji city. In the cafeteria, try the Korean ethnic stone pot bibimbap, with crispy rice crust mixed with spicy sauce—very flavorful.
What to eat? Don’t miss these flavors
- Barbecue: Local grilled beef is tender, eaten with sea salt and chili powder, original flavor; grill some sauerkraut too, which cuts the greasiness and goes well with rice.
- Rice sausage: Besides the morning market, restaurants serve rice sausage with dipping sauce, containing pig’s blood and glutinous rice, with a rich texture.
- Samgyetang (Ginseng chicken soup): A whole chicken stewed in soup, stuffed with glutinous rice and ginseng, very fresh broth, a bowl warms your whole body.
- Spicy rice cake strips: Stir-fried spicy rice cake strips coated with chili sauce, served with fish cakes and cheese, sweet, spicy, and chewy—once you start, you want more.
- Rice wine: Korean ethnic rice wine is sweet and sour, like a drink, best served cold, refreshing even if you can’t drink much, just a few sips.
Tips
- Portions in Yanji are large, don’t order too much to avoid waste.
- Bring mosquito repellent when hiking Mao’er Mountain in summer, as there are many mosquitoes in the woods.
- No need to bring a passport to Tumen Port; an ID card is enough to visit the scenic area. If you want to cross the border, you need to handle procedures in advance.
The charm of Yanji lies in the warmth of everyday life. The sourness of kimchi, the sweetness of rice wine, the laughter on the streets, and the signs blending Korean and Chinese all feel both familiar and fresh. Take your time to explore and eat, and you’ll understand the comfort of this small town.