Hyesan - City of North Korea

Hyesan is a city in the northern part of the northern Ryanggang province of North Korea. It is a hub of river transportation as well as a product distribution centre. It is also the administrative centre of Ryanggang Province.

Hyesan has lumber processing mills, paper mills and textile mills. Since the North Korean economic crisis that intensified in the mid 1990's the city has suffered from economic stagnation and some factories in the city are closed. Reports and pictures taken from the Chinese side of the river show a "Ghost City": there is almost no movement in the streets and in the night the city is dark and doesn't have electricity. Residents of the city reputedly wash their clothes in the river because homes have no running water.

Schools in Hyesan include Hyesan High School and Hyesan Girl's School. Higher education institutions include the Hyesan ?edical University, the Hyesan University of Agriculture and Forestry, Kim Jong Suk College of Education, the Hyesan College of Light Engineering, and the Hyesan University of Industry.

The countryside near Hyesan has various attractions, including the Kwaegung Pavilion, Naegok Hot Spring and Mount Baekdu.