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Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge中朝友谊桥
The operating road-and-rail border bridge over the Yalu between Dandong and Sinuiju, built by Japan 1937-43, US-bombed 1950, carrying China-DPRK traffic since.
Dandong · Visitor Guide2026-10-19
Quick Answer
Is Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge worth visiting?
The operating border bridge beside the Broken Bridge: Japan-built (1937-43), US-bombed in 1950 and still carrying rail traffic to North Korea. Closed to visitors — best seen from the Broken Bridge.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free — view from the riverside promenade; the bridge itself is closed to visitors (Broken Bridge ticket ¥30 covers the adjacent deck view) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Exterior viewable anytime (open daily); illuminated after dark |
| Recommended duration | 20-30 minutes as part of the riverside walk |
| Best time to visit | Dusk — the Friendship Bridge lights up in blue while the Broken Bridge beside it stays dark, the classic Dandong night frame |
| How to get there | Walk from Dandong riverside center |
| English signage | minimal |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
What to expect
What it is: the steel-truss bridge immediately downstream of the Broken Bridge, built by Japan between 1937 and 1943 to supplement the 1911 crossing. It carries a single railway line and one road lane, with traffic alternating direction. US bombing in November 1950 hit both bridges — the 1911 one stayed broken, this one was repaired and has been the main China-DPRK crossing ever since, carrying freight and the Beijing-Pyongyang international train (verify current schedules).
Seeing it: pedestrians cannot enter the bridge. From the broken end of the Broken Bridge (¥30) you get the classic broadside view; from the free riverside promenade you stand directly beneath its first span. After dark the Friendship Bridge is lit while the Broken Bridge stays dark, so night photos of a blue-lit Yalu crossing usually show this bridge, not its broken neighbour. Sinuiju's shoreline and its ferris wheel sit directly across.
Practical reality: there is no ticket booth or entrance of its own — it is a working border crossing with border police on both ends, so do not point long lenses at the DPRK-side sentry posts. Pair it with the Broken Bridge in the same visit; the walk between the two takes about two minutes. Guided Sinuiju day tours (resumed in recent years, verify current status) cross this bridge by coach.
How to get there
On Dandong's riverside promenade in the city center, immediately east (downstream) of the Broken Bridge entrance — walkable from most downtown hotels; from Dandong Railway Station it is about 15 minutes by taxi or bus 21 to the riverfront.
Best photo spots
- The broadside view from the broken end of the Broken Bridge deck
- The blue night illumination from the riverside promenade
- Both bridges in one frame from the promenade, lit and unlit side by side
- Sinuiju's shoreline and ferris wheel beyond the bridge
Tips
- Bring your passport — river cruises near the bridge may require ID
- Visit at dusk to catch the lit-versus-dark contrast with the Broken Bridge
- Do not photograph the DPRK-side border posts with a long lens
Frequently asked questions
Can I walk or drive across the Friendship Bridge?
No — it is an operating border crossing open only to documented freight, tour coaches and the international train. Tourists view it from the Broken Bridge or the riverside promenade.
Is this the same bridge as the Yalu River Broken Bridge?
No — they are two separate crossings side by side. The 1911 bridge ends mid-river (bombed 1950, preserved as a memorial); this 1943 bridge was repaired and still carries traffic.
What still crosses the bridge today?
Freight trucks, Chinese-DPRK tour coaches when routes are open, and the Beijing-Pyongyang international passenger train — the main rail link between the two countries (verify current service).
Read next
Other things to do in Dandong
Tiger Mountain Great Wall
The easternmost stretch of Ming-era wall, about 20km north of Dandong city center, where you can stare across the Yalu River at North Korean farmland and look back at a wall section that starts.
Yalu River Broken Bridge
Four steel truss spans left sticking out into the Yalu after US bombing in 1950, walkable in 30–45 minutes for CNY 30 (as of 2026), best at sunset.