The Guo Men Dandong New Urban Area, which is often called the “Dandong New City” is a newly developed residential and business area on the outskirts of Dandong.
It was originally set up to benefit from the New Yalu River Bridge Wirth North Korea. This led to a relative property boom before they decided to not open the bridge and things went a little tits up!
So, what is the story with the place?
What the Dandong New City?
When we say Dandong New City just assume we are talking about the Guo Men Dandong New Urban Area. Quick anecdote I typed Gay Men Dandong New Urban Area into Google and was given the history of gay China. You truly do live and learn.
OK, so the new city, or area began to be built at the same time as proposals for the New Yalu River bridge. This was in 2011 and meant new government customs and immigration buildings also had to be done. Developers and indeed the Dandong government decided that a new area would also be built. Said area would be a hub for all the new business that was going to appear.
And slowly but surely people purchased here which led to a bit of a boom in 2017 and 2018. Sadly this did not go on forever and people stopped purchasing.
The reason for this was partly the bridge, but also that Dandong does not really have housing issues with others such as Moon Island being older and far from sold out.
Dandong New City Today
As things stand the estimate is about 50 percent of hones have been purchased with our driver insisting it was not a “Ghost Town”, but in fairness they said the same thing to me in Kangbashi.
This is also evident with the commercial side with the are littered by empty business locations. This is of course a little chicken and egg because people don’t want to move where there are not enough things, but businesses cannot survive without punters.
It is though still a really interesting place, particularly if you are just stopping to look at the bridge, or going on further to Hwanggumpyon Island the almost SEZ of North Korea, not to be confused with Rason.
Personally this is a place I would live, particularly whilst the prices are cheap, particularly when North Korea reopens. I will though have to insist that get some hawkers doing Jian Bing as well as other Dandong Street Food favorites.