[2025 Yanji Restaurant] Travel Guide for JIN LI (Updated Oct)

From cold noodles to skewers, from ginseng chicken soup to fried chicken, every bite is a taste of pure happiness. Here’s my personal list of recommendations! 1️⃣ Service Building Cold Noodles (Yanji) 🍜❄️ The cold noodle broth is icy and tangy, offering a refreshing and palate-cleansing experience. The toppings are abundant, including cucumber strips, beef slices, boiled egg, and chili paste, creating a layered flavor profile. The beef bone soup is warm and rich, with tender meat and a creamy, savory broth, perfect for pairing hot and cold dishes. The fried items are crispy yet not greasy, embodying the authentic flavors of Yanbian. 2️⃣ Grandma Yuan’s Rice Wraps (Yanji) 🥬🍖 The grilled pork belly is enticingly golden, with a thick yet evenly marbled texture, bursting with aroma. Wrap it with raw garlic, green chili, lettuce, and a special sauce for an incredibly satisfying bite. The ginseng chicken soup is also highly recommended, with a subtly sweet ginseng aroma and tender, flavorful chicken. 3️⃣ Zhengtan Fried Chicken (Yanji) 🍗🌶️ A must-try for Korean fried chicken lovers! Each box comes with two flavors: the sauced fried chicken is perfectly balanced between sweet and savory, with a crispy exterior and juicy interior; the cheese powder fried chicken is rich and salty with a hint of creamy cheese. It’s crispy when hot and still flavorful when cold. 4️⃣ Jinli Skewer Shop (Yanji) 🍢🔥 The charcoal-grilled skewers are irresistibly aromatic. The beef and lamb skewers are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, seasoned with cumin and chili powder for a distinct Northeastern flavor. Each skewer is grilled to perfection, locking in the juices without being dry. Pair them with cold side dishes and beer for the ultimate experience. 5️⃣ Micun Bibimbap (Changbai Mountain) 🍚🥘 Due to the cold weather, I opted for the spicy tofu soup instead of their signature bibimbap. The soup is rich and flavorful, with the aroma of Korean soybean paste and a mild spiciness. It’s packed with tofu and bean sprouts. The cold appetizers, such as tripe and enoki mushrooms with chili oil, are fragrant and appetizing. The portions are generous, making it a perfect warm meal for cold days. 6️⃣ Korean-Style Fire Pot (Changbai Mountain) 🥩🧄 Stir-fried beef and vegetables in an iron pot exude a mouthwatering aroma. Heated with a charcoal stove underneath, it stays warm for a long time. The beef is well-marinated and tender, complemented by onions and green peppers for added flavor. This is a representative family-style dish in the Changbai Mountain area. 7️⃣ Lao Chu Jia (Harbin) 🥣🍛 Specializing in Northeastern home-style dishes with exquisite presentation. The braised chicken is spicy and rich, paired with garlic stir-fried greens and heart-shaped scallion egg fried rice, offering a feast for the senses. The restaurant has a cozy atmosphere, evoking the warmth of a home-cooked meal. When the weather is cold, enjoying a bowl of hot soup or a few charcoal-grilled skewers is pure bliss. If you’re planning a trip to Northeast China, make sure to save this list!

Sisters who haven't come yet really need to heed the advice. 2024 August, an unforgettable trip to Changbai Mountain and Yanji In the busy life, taking four or five days to go to Yanji, Tumen, and Changbai Mountain for a relaxing and enjoyable trip is an excellent choice. Yanji - A Food Paradise Yanji's food is so abundant that it's overwhelming. Among the many delicacies, the spicy beef soup rice is a must-try. The rich broth and tender beef are unforgettable. The pig's trotters mixed noodles are also not to be missed, with soft pig's trotters paired with chewy noodles, offering a rich texture. The grilled skewers at Jinli Skewer Shop are another highlight, each skewer perfectly grilled and aromatic. Although the fried squid at Xingdou Restaurant is delicious, it's best not to eat too much as it can be greasy. Master Zhang's ginseng chicken soup, located opposite People's Park, offers a pleasant environment and attentive service. The chicken soup has a sweet ginseng flavor, and the perilla leaf pancake with radish chunks is simply a delicacy. Tumen - The Shock of the National Gate Take a bus from Yanji to Tumen, and then take bus No. 9 after getting off. Even if it rains, the first sight of the national gate is deeply shocking, an indescribable feeling. In just three or four hours, you can experience the unique charm of Tumen. Changbai Mountain - The Masterpiece of Nature Choosing to stay in Erdaobaihe Town is a wise decision. This picturesque town has complete facilities. Arriving the night before, you can ride a shared bike or walk with friends to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the town. There are many restaurants and milk tea shops to choose from. I once tried a barbecue restaurant recommended by a friend, and the small purple sweet potatoes were highly praised. The staff helped with the grilling, and the control of the heat was excellent. The next morning, head to Changbai Mountain with full energy. Eat appropriately before going up the mountain, but don't overeat, as the bumpy ride can cause motion sickness. It's recommended to go straight to Tianchi first, then take the car down to see other attractions, avoiding the hassle of backtracking. Regarding renting coats, there's no need to rent in advance. There are rental points at the ticket inspection center and Tianchi, with transparent and uniform prices. You can check the weather forecast in advance to estimate the temperature on the mountain (usually, the temperature drops by 0.6-1 degrees for every 100 meters of elevation, with Tianwen Peak at an altitude of 2660 meters). If the weather is good, there's no need to rent a coat. The beauty of Tianchi is mesmerizing. For photos, go to line B for a better view. The instant noodles at Green Water Pool are perfectly cooked, bringing a sense of happiness. As for the Valley Forest, if you're tired, there's no need to go to the end. It's a long shaded path ending in a large forest. New Attractions and Food Recommendations In Yanji, you can also check out the popular wall at Yanbian University for photos and feel the youthful vibe. For food, try the stone pot bibimbap and rice cakes; their unique flavors will surely satisfy your taste buds. In Changbai Mountain, besides the mentioned attractions, you can also visit Changbai Waterfall to feel its majestic momentum.

Yanji is not big, you can finish touring it in one day! Please accept this guide for a good day of eating, playing, and taking photos💕 💛One-Day Tour Itinerary💛 Water Market (Morning Market) - Yanbian University/Internet Celebrity Wall - Yanji Folk Park - West Market (Buy Specialties) 💛Attractions💛 ✅Water Market: Yanji's morning market! The market is super crowded at 6:00 AM, with the aroma of breakfast everywhere, and there are many agricultural and sideline local products ✅Yanbian University/Internet Celebrity Wall: Walls full of bilingual billboards, as if you are in a foreign country, it's very photogenic both day and night! ✅Yanji Folk Park: When in Yanji, of course, you have to become a Yanji Korean princess~ There's a street full of clothing stores outside the scenic area, and inside, there are beautiful princesses everywhere~ If it snows, you really feel like you've become the heroine of a Korean drama! It's super romantic! ✅People's Park: The park is not big, but the atmosphere here is very pleasant and relaxed, with people dancing to square and ethnic dances on the plaza from time to time~ ✅West Market: A large agricultural trade mall, where you can buy specialties and warm clothing! 💛Recommended Food💛 (These are all the no-fail foods I've tried!) ✨Jeonju Bibimbap ✨Jinli Skewer Shop ✨Big Exclamation Mark Barbecue ✨Dapokjip Barbecue ✨Shunji Cold Noodles 💛Yanji Specialties💛 (These are all the specialties I've bought and taken home!) 🔸Rice Wine 🔸Rice Sausage 🔸Small Fish Cake 🔸Mentaiko 🔸Spicy Kimchi 🔸Autumn Black Fungus/Mushrooms