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Dramatic landscape of Heaven Lake surrounded by rugged peaks under a clear blue sky.

Things to Do in Paektu, North Korea

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Plan language: English

Most popular attractions in Paektu, North Korea

1. Mount Paektu

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Paektu

4.2 (400)

Natural FeatureEstablishment

An epic volcanic mountain with a shimmering crater lake beckons adventurers. Experience mystical sunrises over radiant blue waters that stir ancient legends.

Quick facts: Vast and volcanic, this mountain rises to 2,744 meters and forms a natural border between North Korea and China. The crater lake at the summit is the largest crater lake in East Asia and reveals vivid emerald waters often shrouded by mist.

Highlights: Legends speak of divine births atop the mountain, and the lake's depth reaches about 213 meters, holding a mysterious, almost magical blue hue. The sunrise here paints the sky in breathtaking shades that photographers chase for hours.

Traditional Sweet Dishes

Sikhye

Sikhye is a traditional Korean sweet rice drink made from fermented malt and cooked rice, often served as a dessert or refreshment during festivals and holidays in North Korea.

Yakgwa

Yakgwa is a honey-flavored deep-fried sweet pastry, known for its chewy texture and rich taste, often gifted during celebrations and ancestral rites.

Dasik

Dasik are colorful, bite-sized pressed cookies made from sesame seeds, chestnut, or pine pollen powder, and are elegantly served with tea in North Korean ceremonies.

Traditional Savory Dishes

Naengmyeon

Naengmyeon is a popular cold noodle dish from North Korea, made with thin, chewy buckwheat noodles served in an icy broth, perfect for hot summers.

Pibimpap

Pibimpap, a mixed rice dish topped with various seasoned vegetables, meat, and a spicy chili pepper paste called gochujang, represents the harmony of flavors in North Korean cuisine.

Jjajangmyeon

Jjajangmyeon is a savory noodle dish topped with a thick black bean sauce, reflecting Chinese culinary influences adapted into North Korean food culture.

Traditional Beverages

Omija-cha

Omija-cha is a traditional tea made from dried magnolia berries with a unique sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy flavor profile, cherished as a healthful drink.

Maesil-ju

Maesil-ju is a plum wine made from fermented green plums, known for its sweet and tangy taste, frequently enjoyed during celebrations in North Korea.

Koryo Insam-cha

Koryo Insam-cha is a tea made from Korean ginseng, highly prized for its medicinal benefits and regarded as a symbol of health and vitality in North Korea.