Yanggakdo International Hotel

Yanggakdo International Hotel

The Yanggakdo International Hotel is a significant landmark in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea. It is the largest operating hotel in the country and is located on Yanggak Island in the middle of the Taedong River.

Overview

The Yanggakdo International Hotel was built by a French company, Campenon Bernard Construction Company, and was completed in 1995. The hotel stands 170 meters tall, with a total of 47 floors. It is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in North Korea and is managed by the Korea International Travel Company.

Facilities

The hotel offers a variety of facilities for its guests. These include several restaurants, a revolving restaurant on the top floor, a bowling alley, a casino, a swimming pool, a karaoke club, and a billiards room. The hotel also has a bookstore that sells North Korean literature and souvenirs.

Location

The Yanggakdo International Hotel is located on Yanggak Island, which is a small island in the Taedong River. The island is connected to the mainland by a small bridge. The hotel's isolated location provides a unique perspective of Pyongyang's skyline.

Accessibility

The hotel is primarily used by foreign tourists and delegations visiting North Korea. It is one of the few places in the country where foreigners are allowed to stay. The hotel is also one of the few places in North Korea where foreign guests are allowed to roam relatively freely, although they are generally not allowed to leave the island without a guide.

Notable Events

The Yanggakdo International Hotel has been the site of several notable events. In 2015, it gained international attention when American tourist Otto Warmbier was arrested for allegedly stealing a propaganda poster from one of the hotel's restricted floors.

See Also

• List of hotels in North Korea
• Tourism in North Korea