For a chance to clamber over the Great Wall, without having to deal with throngs of tourists, this Ming-dynasty section, which runs along the North Korean border, might be your best bet.  Yibukua "one step across" near the entrance, marks a narrow point in the river between North Korea and China. Though it almost seem as if you could just hop the fence and be in the DPRK, we strongly advise you don't. There are armed soldiers hiding out, and if they catch you, they probably won't be awarding you ribbons for your fence-hopping technique. You get the drift.  A hike down the restored portion of the wall takes you to a small, but quality museum (RMB 10 admission). Once finished, there are three options to return to the entrance. Hike bike the way you came, take the riverfront path back, or catch a ride bike with the boatmen who hang out there during the s... more >>

For a day of hiking and viewing Tang Dynasty temples, pavilions and terraces, you might try heading out to Dagu Shan (Dàgū Shān, 大孤山), about 90 km (56 mi) southwest of town. The summit is a particularly nice spot, with views of surrounding peaks and the Yellow Sea. Also nearby is Big Deer Island, where you'll have the chance to dine on fresh seafood and enjoy one of the largest white sand beaches in Northern China. Liaoning guide | Dandong guide | Dandong attractions | Dandong flights Dandong hotels more >>

Pockmarked by shrapnel and half destroyed, first by a supposedly errant American bomb and then further by the North Koreans, the Yalu River Bridge (Yalujiang Duanqiao) stands as a memorial next to the Friendship Bridge, which spans the river and facilitates trade and traffic between North Korea and China.  Travelers who want to see the North Korean side of the border will find a visit to the bridge complements a boat cruise quite nicely. There are piers on either side of the bridge with both large boats (RMB 20, 20 minutes) and speedboats (RMB 35, 10 minutes) waiting to take passengers within 20 meters (60 feet) of North Korea.  You may be waiting for a bit as boats don't leave until they're full. Another option either before or after visiting the bridge, is just to wander around Yalujiang Park, it is directly across from the North Korean city of Sinuiju more >>

The official English name is a real stemwinder: The Museum to Commemorate the War to Resist American Aggression and Aid Korea.  As a monument to what Americans simply know as "the Korean War," this museum is as interesting for the lessons it offers in classic Chinese propaganda and party-line historical revisionism as it is for the actual insight it provides into the conflict as experienced from the Chinese (and North Korean) side of things.  Despite the awkward English translation of the museum's name, it is well worth a visit and offers non-Chinese speakers displays clearly labeled with English text. An impressive 53-meter cenotaph marks the museum's location, commemorating the 1953 cessation of conflict and the approximately  115,000-400,000 Chinese conscripts and volunteers (it depends on who's counting) who died executing Mao's "human wave"... more >>

About 50 kilometers out of Dandong, Pheonix Mountain (Fenhuang Shan) is, according to the Dandong local government, one of the top for scenic areas in Liaoning Province. Even if you're disposed to take their word with a grain of salt, Pheonix Mountain won't disappoint. The area, 216 square kilometers, is large and there's plenty to see. There are Taoist temples, inscribed stone tablets, dramatic landscapes, ancient towers, zipline rides and caves to explore. Hikes to the peak can take a while and be quite challenging, but there's a cable car if you'd like to forego the climb.    more >>

With historic sites from the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), caves, a temple to a goddess of the sea, monuments and one of the largest beaches in northern China, Big Deer Island makes for both a nice retreat from the city and a fascinating historical attraction.  Da LU Dao is not far from  Dagu Shan (Dagu Mountain), so you can follow up a day of hiking the mountain with a great seafood dinner by the water. Pack plenty of water before going, as it is quite expensive on the island itself. more >>