Baekdu Mountains

Baekdu Mountains (Korean: 백두산맥) is a mountain range in the northern part of North Korea spanning the provinces of Ryanggang and Chagang.

This region takes it name from the Baekdu mountain range (also known as the Changbai Mountains) with spans both provinces as well as Manchu province of China. The area is highly mountainous with many peaks exceeding 2000 meters, the highest peak is Mount Baekdu which is as popular a tourist destination as they come in North Korea, and also what many Koreans consider their mythic origin. The region shares a long border with China, partly formed by the Yalu River and Tumen Rivers. While Chagang is rich in mineral resources, to the west Ryangang is one of the poorest provinces in an already poor nation, forming part of North Korea's very own Rust belt along with its southern neighbours.

• Hyesan
• Kanggye
• Huichon
• Manpo

• Myohyangsan
• Mount Baekdu

Air Koryo www.korea-dpr.com has regular charter flights to Samjiyon (삼지연군), for tours to Mount Baekdu, and thanks to tourist dollars they are a fairly regular occurrence. There is a combined military and "civilian" airport in Kangye, since it's also connected to Pyongyang by a highway and a railroad serves a transportation hub for the western part of the region.

The only regional transportation you are likely to do, involves stepping on a government provided bus at the airport in Samjiyon, and let yourself be shuttled up to Mount Baekdu.

• The International Friendship Exhibition Hall in Myohyangsan is one of the country's most infamous sights, containing gifts given to the two leaders of the republic by foreign dignitaries, presenting them to locals as the worlds most admired leaders.