As dawn breaks over the Yalu River, the Weihao Farmers Market in Dandong, China”s largest border city in Liaoning province, is already coming alive with the bustle of early-morning trade.
The air is filled with the salty smell of fresh seafood, the earthy aroma of just-harvested vegetables, and the constant hum of morning trade.
Alongside piles of bright red Dandong strawberries and baskets of fresh yellow clams are neatly packaged pollack and specialty foods imported from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea located across the river.
The scene offers a vivid glimpse into the close economic and cultural ties that continue to shape everyday life along the border.
“This is simply everyday life for us,” said a resident while selecting fresh produce. “Dandong and Sinuiju (in the DPRK) face each other across the river. We share similar climates, so naturally our food, customs and ways of life also have much in common.”
A nearby vendor, arranging goods at his stall, said the similarities on both sides of the river are a major draw for visitors.
“Many people come here because they are interested in the border culture,” he said. “You can see those connections in the products people buy, the food they eat and the stories they share.”
A tourist from Shanghai, browsing the market, highlighted “a unique atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere else”.
“You can see products from both sides of the river, and it gives you a better sense of how closely connected the communities are,” he said.
Another visitor from Guangzhou said she had originally come to see the Yalu River Broken Bridge and learn more about the history of the area.
Beyond its commercial role, the market reflects the enduring people-to-people links that have developed over decades of interaction between communities along the Yalu River.
“The market was a pleasant surprise,” said the visitor from Guangzhou. “You can experience the local culture firsthand, talk to people and see what daily life is like. It makes the city feel very vibrant.”
The sense of familiarity that can be found in the market also extends into everyday life in Dandong.
A short walk from the market reveals storefronts where Chinese and Korean characters appear side by side.
Restaurants, grocery stores, trading companies and pharmacies alike often feature bilingual signs, reflecting the city’s long-standing connections with the DPRK.
For professors Huang Li and Lei Huisheng from Liaodong University in Dandong, a couple who spent years teaching Chinese in Pyongyang, that connection often brings them to Songtaoyuan, a Korean-style restaurant in the city.
“When we miss our days there (in the DPRK), we come here for cold noodles and other traditional Korean dishes,” Huang said. “The flavors are very authentic and remind us of our time there.”
For the couple, the restaurant is more than a place to dine. It offers a familiar cultural experience and a chance to reconnect with memories of the years they spent working in the DPRK.
Such everyday experiences, they said, reflect the close cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges that have long linked communities on both sides of the river.
Dandong’s significance extends far beyond trade and cuisine. It has long served as both a witness to and a participant in the evolving relationship between China and the DPRK.
The bustle of the Weihao Farmers Market, the familiar flavors of places like Songtaoyuan, and visitors’ observations all offer glimpses into the close ties that connect communities on both sides of the Yalu River.
Drawing on its unique geographical location and deep historical ties, Dandong remains an important gateway for cross-border exchanges.
As the river flows quietly, it carries not only memories of a shared past but also the enduring connections among the two peoples that continue to bring the two neighboring countries closer together.
