China, DPRK tourist route resumes

A tourist route between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been resumed.

A chartered flight carrying 71 Chinese tourists left from Yanji, in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture of Yanbian in northeast China's Jilin province, for Pyongyang in the DPRK on Sunday.

The route will run until Oct 17, with chartered flights on Thursday and Sunday. During a four-day or five-day trip in DPRK, travelers can visit Pyongyang, Panmunjom and Mount Kumgang. Myohyang-san Mountain has been added to the list.

"A four-day and five-day trip costs 4,080 yuan (about $658) and 4,480 yuan per person respectively," said Chi Jinnyu, general manager of a travel agency in Yanji, who added that the tickets of first three flights have already sold out.

The route between Yanji and Pyongyang opened in July 2012, but services were suspended last year due to tensions in DPRK.