The steep climb
Tower after tower.
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The eastern end of the Ming-dynasty Great Wall, climbing Hushan, «Tiger Mountain», where rivers meet north-east of Dandong, right beside the border with North Korea, which lies just across the river. Ming records say this wall was built in 1479 against raids from the north-east; it then fell into ruin until surveys led by the architectural historian Luo Zhewen in the late 1980s and early 1990s identified its remains here as the wall's eastern end, and 1,250 metres were rebuilt in 1992. Visitors climb the wall past tower after tower on a steep ascent to 146 metres, look out over the rivers, fields and hills, then come down the far side on a narrow path along the cliff. Tickets cost CNY 60 from April to October and 55 in winter, half price for students; it is open from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, 8 am to 4.30 pm in winter, and tourist buses run from Dandong station square, or a taxi costs about 40, per visitor guides.
Tower after tower.
Over the rivers.
On the way down.
Hushan town, Kuandian County, about 15 km north-east of central Dandong, Liaoning
Dandong has a few restaurants run by Hui Muslims under the halal sign and is known for seafood and Korean cooking, while other restaurants may serve pork, so ask before ordering.