WONSAN TRAVEL INFO

To and from Wonsan

Train There is a (night) train between Pyongyang and Wonsan, but it is more interesting to travel by road.

Bus/car The 200-km long ride from Pyongyang to Wonsan takes about 4 hours. The roads are mostly quite good. You will pass through agricultural areas, where among other things maize and rice are produced. Not many machines are used. You will see many ox-carts. Women carry stuff on their head, or work, along with children, in the fields. You will pass small, neat looking villages, with white-painted houses in straight rows. In the fields and on the slopes are political slogans. Propaganda also pours out of on the fields from the loudspeakers.

Usually a short stop is made near the Sinpyong Lake, in the Sinpyong Rest House. It is situated in a nice-looking area where a lot of honey is produced. Try the local Hwanggurongi (Yellow Serpent Wine), usually one glass is sufficient.

You will continue over the Ahobi Pass. Then is a spectacular part through 18 tunnels, of which the longest, the Muzigae (Rainbow) Tunnel, is 4½ km long. The tunnels are not lighted, for safety there are however reflectors.

Sometimes a lunch stop is made at the Sijung Lake. In the Sijung Teahouse the food is moderate, but the service is very friendly.

Boat

Wonsan-Nagasaki Once a month the North-Korean passengers ship Sam Jiyan sails between Wonsan and Nagasaki in Japan. It is meant mainly for Koreanen working and living in Japan, but the boat is also sometimes used by groups of young Japanese tourists and (although this is against the rules and very exceptional) has occasionally been used by Westerners.

Wonsan-Kumgangsan For a tourist group is used to be possible to hire a boat to go to Kumgamgsan, a 3-hour trip along the coast.

Shopping

Department Stores

Wonsan Department Store. Near Kaeson Square.

Songdowon Souvenir Shop. Songdowon, near the beach.