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Dandong

geography Maturity 11-13

Dandong is a big city in China. It sits by a wide river. This river goes to the sea.

Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
The city is near North Korea. It is a busy place to trade. Do you want to see the river?

59 words

Dandong is a big city in China.

Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG

It sits by the Yalu River. This river is a border. It separates China from North Korea.

The city is by the sea. The river flows into a bay. This makes the city a good place for ships.

Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg

Many people live there. They come from many groups. Some people even speak Korean.

It is a busy place to trade goods. You can see a bridge over the water. It helps people travel between lands.

112 words

Dandong is a large city in China.

Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
It sits in the northeast part of the country. The city is on the edge of the Liaoning province. It sits right by the Yalu River. This river is the border between China and North Korea.
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG

The river flows into the Korea Bay. This bay is part of the Yellow Sea. Because it is near the ocean, Dandong is a great port for ships. The city is a busy place for trade. Many goods move across the border here. You can see the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge over the water.

Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg

Many different groups of people live in Dandong. There are at least 48 ethnic groups there. The Han and Manchu people are the largest groups. Some people in the city even speak Korean.

Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
You can even take a train from Beijing to Pyongyang by passing through Dandong.

181 words

Dandong is a large and busy city in the Liaoning province of China.

Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
It sits in the northeast part of the country right on the coast. The city is located on the northwest shore of the Yalu River. This river is very important because it marks the border between China and North Korea.
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Across the water, you can see the North Korean city of Sinuiju. The river flows southwest until it reaches the Korea Bay. This bay is part of the much larger Yellow Sea.

Because it sits by the ocean, Dandong is a major port city.

Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Ships can use the port to move many different goods. The city is also a big center for making things to sell. It is known for producing the Dandong Yellow Sea brand buses. Many trains connect the city to other places like Shenyang and Beijing. You can even take an international train from Beijing to Pyongyang. This train passes right through Dandong and over the river.
Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg

This area has a very long and changing history. People have lived in this region since the time of the Gojoseon kingdom.

Great Wall of China at Dandong.jpg
Great Wall of China at Dandong.jpg
Over many centuries, different groups like the Han and the Tang ruled here. In 1876, the area was known as Andong County.
Anto Station 02.jpg
Anto Station 02.jpg
During the Korean War, the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge was bombed by the United States. The city eventually changed its name to Dandong in 1965. This new name means "red east." Even today, you can see an old iron bridge that serves as a war monument.

Many different kinds of people call Dandong home. There are at least 48 different ethnic groups living in the city.

Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
The Han Chinese are the largest group, making up about 64% of the people. The Manchu people are the second largest group.
Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
You can also find Mongols, Koreans, the Hui, and the Sibe people there. In some parts of the city, you might even see signs written in the Korean language. This shows how many different cultures live together in one place.

If you visit Dandong, you will notice the weather changes with the seasons. The city has long, cold winters that last from November to March.

Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
The summers are often warm and humid because of the nearby sea. The city gets a lot of sunshine throughout the year.
Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
People often visit the area for its interesting history and its views of the river. In the past, the city even won awards for being a clean and beautiful place to visit. It remains a very important place for trade and travel in northeast China.

498 words

Dandong is a major coastal prefecture-level city in China. It is located in the southeastern part of Liaoning province. The city sits in the northeastern region of the country. It occupies a very important place on the edge of the land. Dandong is the largest Chinese border city in the region.

Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
It sits on the northwest shore of the Yalu River. This river acts as the official border between China and North Korea. Across the water, you can see the city of Sinuiju. The Yalu River flows southwest until it meets the Korea Bay. This bay is a part of the much larger Yellow Sea.
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG

The geography of Dandong is shaped by its access to water. The city has a coastline that includes several islands. These include Dalu Island, which means "great deer island." It also includes Xiaomai Island, which means "wheat island." The city's climate follows a humid continental regime. This means it has long, cold winters and humid summers. Winter lasts for about four months, from late November to March. The coldest temperatures usually happen in January. Summer heat is moderated by the nearby ocean. The city receives about 2,459 hours of sunshine every year.

Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
Dandong Short Bridge.JPG

Dandong has a very long and complex history. Evidence suggests people settled here during the Gojoseon kingdom. Many different dynasties have controlled the region over time. This includes the Han, Tang, Liao, and Ming dynasties. In 1876, the area was known as Andong County. The name "Andong" meant "pacifying the east." This name reflected China's power over Korea at that time. During the Manchukuo era, it was the capital of Andong Province.

Anto Station 02.jpg
Anto Station 02.jpg
In 1965, the city officially changed its name to Dandong. This name means "red east." The change helped the city avoid names that felt imperialistic.
Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12.jpg
Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12.jpg

The city has seen significant conflict during modern history. During the Korean War, the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge was targeted. The United States bombed the bridge between November 1950 and February 1951. An older iron bridge was also bombed during this time. Today, the remains of that Japanese-built iron bridge still stand. It now serves as a war monument for visitors.

Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
The city's location makes it a strategic hub for resources. It is a major export production center for Liaoning province.
Great Wall of China at Dandong.jpg
Great Wall of China at Dandong.jpg

Trade is a massive part of the local economy. Dandong is a vital link for commerce with North Korea. A large amount of North Korean international trade flows through here. In fact, about half of the bilateral commerce between China and North Korea goes through Dandong. The city imports about $468 million worth of products. The city's total GDP was approximately CN¥89.07 billion in 2022. The Port of Dandong is also expanding. The Chinese government announced a $7.1 billion expansion in 2011. This helps the port become a major international logistics center.

Dandong is a very diverse place to live. There are at least 48 different ethnic groups in the city. Han Chinese people make up about 64.59% of the population. The Manchu people are the second largest group at 32.43%. Other groups include Mongols, Koreans, the Hui, and the Sibe. You can see the Korean influence in many places. Many signs and advertisements use the Korean language. There are also many Korean restaurants and schools in the city.

Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg

Transportation connects Dandong to many other major cities. The Shenyang–Dandong intercity railway runs several times a day. You can also take night trains to Beijing or Shanghai. There are even international trains that link Beijing to Pyongyang. These trains cross the Yalu River using both Chinese and North Korean carriages.

Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
For road travel, several national highways and expressways serve the area. The city is also a popular place for tourists. In 2004, the city had 5.86 million tourists. This helped the local economy grow significantly.
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg

704 words
🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12.jpg
Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12.jpg
File:Great_Wall_of_China_at_Dandong.jpg
Great_Wall_of_China_at_Dandong.jpg
File:Anto Station 02.jpg
Anto Station 02.jpg
File:Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
Andong and Shingishu map circa 1930.PNG
File:Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12a.jpg
Txu-oclc-6614368-nk51-12a.jpg
File:Bridge from Sinuiju, North Korea across the Yalu River to Dandong.JPG
Bridge from Sinuiju, North Korea across...
File:Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
Train-Crossing-North-Korea-China-2014.jpg
File:Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
Mao Zedong Statue in Dandong.jpg
File:Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
Dandong Short Bridge.JPG
File:Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge as seen From Dandong, China 2002.jpg
Yalu River Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge...
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