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Voykit pocket guide · China
Ji'an
集安
Spend 1–2 days exploring Goguryeo heritage sites; skip if you have only a few hours.
Ji'an is a border town in Jilin Province with UNESCO‑listed Goguryeo ruins, a riverfront walk and easy access to nearby nature parks. One full day covers the main historic sites; a second day lets you add Wunüfeng National Forest Park or a relaxed riverside stroll.
- Country
- China
- Local name
- 集安
- Best months
- Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (very cold)
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- CNY
- Money
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones are free), and per-payment and yearly caps apply — check the app. Keep a second way to pay.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥120–180 excl. bed · Mid ¥180–300 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- A roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C, I · 220 V · 50 Hz · Many sockets take flat two-pin (A), round two-pin (C) and angled three-pin (I) plugs; UK plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.; Taxis and DiDi: No tip.; Tour guides and drivers: Expected on organised tours: about ¥100–200 a day for a guide, ¥50–100 for a driver.; Hotel porters: Not expected; ¥10–20 in luxury hotels.
- Water
- Not for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5, and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or tea.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls. Carry tissues — many have no paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ji'an rice wine (2.5 L) | ¥25 |
| Goguryeo heritage park ticket | ₩70 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ¥20–30 |
| Bus fare (city) | ¥2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TNH · Tonghua Sanyuanpu Airport
- Check flight schedule; about 100 km (62 mi) from Ji'anCheck flight schedule; about 62 mi (100 km) from Ji'an
Typical fares
- Tonghua Airport → Ji'an bus
- about ¥35, 2 h (check)
- Taxi city centre → museum
- ≈¥20
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
City buses link the railway station, museum and riverwalk; taxis are cheap and convenient; walking works well in the centre; bicycles optional for nearby parks.
See and do
Known for
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (UNESCO)
- Wunüfeng National Forest Park
- Yalu River border walk
- Korean‑style hot pot
Sleep
- Ji'an Yingbin Hotel
- Budget; near railway station; ¥80–120 per night
- Ji'an International Hotel
- Mid‑range; river‑front; ¥300–450 per night
- Ji'an Yalu River Peninsula Hotel
- Splurge; five‑star garden hotel; ¥800–1500 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 对不起duìbuqǐ |
| Thank you | 谢谢xièxiè |
| How much is it? | 多少钱？duōshǎo qián? |
| Where is the museum? | 博物馆在哪里？bówùguǎn zài nǎlǐ? |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？kěyǐ shuākǎ ma? |
| To this address, please | 请到这个地址qǐng dào zhège dìzhǐ |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and a nod; use surnames with a title; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses
- Face: Disagree privately and indirectly; avoid: Correcting or embarrassing someone in front of others
- Gifts: Give with two hands; expect the gift to be refused once or twice and opened later; avoid: Clocks, umbrellas, white flowers, sets of four
- Business cards: Present and receive with both hands, read it, keep it on the table; avoid: Writing on it or pocketing it at once
- Queues and crowds: Hold your ground politely in scrums at buses and lifts; avoid: Taking pushing personally
- Temples: Walk clockwise around Tibetan stupas and prayer wheels; remove hats; avoid: Touching statues or photographing where signs forbid
- Politics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Raising Tibet, Taiwan, Xinjiang, 1989 or the party leadership
- Numbers and colour: Red and 8 are lucky; red envelopes carry money gifts; avoid: Writing names in red; the number 4
Scams and watch-outs
- Border crossing to North Korea is regulated; check visa requirements if you plan a side trip.
- Winter temperatures drop below –10 °C; dress warmly and expect limited bus frequency.
- Some heritage sites are a short taxi ride away; plan for extra travel time.
Ji'an is generally safe; keep an eye on border‑area security alerts and dress warmly in winter.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ji'an yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom (UNESCO)
- Wunüfeng National Forest Park
- Yalu River border walk
- Korean‑style hot pot
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- UNESCO – Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom: whc.unesco.org/en/list/1135
- Wikivoyage: Ji'an, revision 5203149 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5203149
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/jian). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.