Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

The North Korean border has been an interesting and fun adventure.
But now I’m over it…well, not actually 'over it’ over it or I’d be locked up.

I’ve had an awesome time this week with Suiyun and her son Suihong but sadly there comes a time for some good things to simply just move on. This week she’s taken me to a couple of caves (or in Chinese lime covered holes), to a very out of the way military border crossing known as the Roaring Tiger Sentry Post, the new Museum and the Wunu ‘Five Ladies Mountain Park’ along with more Korean style Beer & BBQ joints set along the river border.

This side, full of festive fun, lights and neon’s.
The other side, simply dark and sleeping.

Ji'an is a city is found on the border with North Korea in southern Jilin Province and many people may think there is nothing much worthwhile to see and do in the town for tourists but there is actually is enough to stay for several days. With the mountainous surroundings and the nearby Democratic People's Republic of Korea there is more than enough nightly Beers & Korean BBQ stalls to make it worthy of a visit.

As I wrote in my last blog Ji'an is one of China's major three main ports to the Korea Peninsular along with being one of the main ancient Koguryo Kingdoms so it has countless tombs and sites along with being a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In 37BC, the Chinese northern ethnic minority people of Kogury set up its regime in the middle reaches of the Yalu River and the Hunjiang River valley. In 3AD the Koguryo moved its capital to Guonei (today's Ji'an downtown) which served as capital for the Koguryo regime for four hundred and twenty five years and from what I believe they then moved onto North Koreas capital Pyongyang, but that is something I am uncertain of. It has abundant forest resources which include the rare tree species the purple pine along with famous herbal medicines such as Changbai Mountain ginseng.

Did I also mention more than four thousand years of history!

Ji’ans Ancient City Wall

Built from stone, in a large square layout and though now it is more than an eye sore, Ji’an still does have its ancient city wall which has been well preserved. It can be followed throughout parts of the city but I must admit for much of my time in Ji’an I simply thought the parts I first walked past were unused land and very much like an over grown parking lot. There is so much more this city could do with its walls and as both Chinese and foreign tourists alike are attracted to such things so maybe a bit of weeding and a bit of care would be a good thing. I’m not sure if it is the right thing to think, but I am thinking some Korean style BBQ stalls set up in the city proper parts would be a huge added attraction to the city.

Korean Food & BBQ

As Ji’an is situated near the North Korean border, you can sample both Korean and Korean influence food. The restaurant Xingang Shuishang Canting (which means ‘New Harbour Floating Restaurant’) is situated right on the river, serves delicious dishes and the tables face North Korea.

There's a small family run local restaurant at the southwest corner of Shengli Xilu and Dongsheng Jie selling delicious Korean cold noodles and bibimbap is a great choice and the bibimbap with squid is awesome! The restaurant also specialises in dog meat just in case Fido is on your menu!

Wunu ‘Five Ladies’ Mountain Park

Five Ladies Mountain is found in the enchanting Laoling Mountains, twenty one kilometers from Ji'an city. There are twenty six mountain peaks, seventeen are over one thousand meters above sea level, with the highest being over one thousand three hundred and the lowest six hundred and fifty.

The park is divided into ten scenic areas, eight are open to tourists.

The eight hundred and twenty meter Wunu Mountain has immense significance as the birthplace of the ancient Koguryo civilisation. The peak (outside the town of Huanren) was the first capital of the Koguryo, a Korean dynasty that ruled parts of the region from 37BC to AD668 and visitors can tour the partially excavated ‘Wunu Mountain City’. After a steep forty five minute climb to the mountain top, you can walk through the ruins of the town. There’s not too much to see, but the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys are worth the hike up alone.

Ji’an Museum

No longer found on Yingbin Road, the museum is now housed in Ji’ans river side Peoples Park and houses more than eleven thousand historical relics which show Gaojuli State's rich exquisite, unique culture.

Beers N Noodles toya…..shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was by Bjork
The album was ‘Post’
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