Hunchun

Hunchun (Chinese: 珲春 Húnchūn, Korean: 혼춘 Honchun) is in Yanbian in the far north east of China. It borders North Korea to the west and Russia to the east.

Understand
It has 250,000 residents, and is in a unique position between North Korea and Russia. Hunchun is being developed into a new economic hub in China's landlocked far north east.

It was the capital city of the Balhae (mixed Korean–Mohe) empire between 698–926 and known as 'Dongyang'.

By train
Hunchun is connected by a high-speed railway to Changchun (via Yanji and Jilin City). As of 2017, the schedule includes fairly frequent service to Changchun, with a few direct trains continuing to other major destination in NE China, such as Dalian and Beijing.

Although railway lines connect Hunchun with North Korea and Russia, as of 2017 there does not seem to be any cross-border passenger service on these lines.

Get around
Sign posts in Hunchun are in Chinese, Russian and Korean.

Do
There are hot spring spas around, with hot water from a local volcanic hot spring.

Buy
Automatic currency exchange machines are available.

Stay safe
In 2009, 2 American journalists were allegedly kidnapped here and dragged across the border by North Korean soldiers. (The North Koreans claim they had entered North Korean territory illegally.) Their release came only after a personal visit by former United States President Bill Clinton. Non-Chinese citizens should take every precaution not to get too close to the border, even if you are absolutely certain that you are in Chinese territory.