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30 Best Panoramas of North Korea
April 26, 2015 Photography, Travel
Ever wondered how a secretive socialist country locked from the outside world looks like? Many of us who has never been to North Korea depicts the country with visuals of obsessive military parades, shouting strict army men and overly expressive newscasters. Well, there weren’t any public executions or starving children by the roadside. It was nothing like what Sony’s idiotic movie “The Interview” had portrayed. There were no fake cardboard fruits or fake fat kid in front of the store waving to tourists with a lollipop. I don’t want to sound very one sided. I try my best to show you what I saw through my lens directly without any censorship. This is my version of the beautiful landscapes and cities while I visited the DPRK back in September 2014. I have compiled some of my best panoramic shots of the country and you will understand why I have constantly told everyone that North Korea is a gorgeous country to visit. In this list, you will be experiencing North Korea like you’ve never seen it before (especially not in Western Propaganda Documentaries) and a chance to see some of the gorgeous places I’ve been to during my 12 day stay.
Although it was a tight tour trip and we couldn’t stop at many places to take proper landscape photos with my tripod and filters, I had to resort mostly on handheld settings and spontaneous solutions. I tried my best to experiment and find angles as much as I could while we stopped briefly at places without missing out on the explanations from my beloved tour guides. I was extremely fortunate to bring home these wonderful and scenic beauties of their country and showcase them to everyone. Here are my best 30 panoramic shots of the beautiful Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
1. Mansudae Grand Monument
Our first and foremost stop after we landed in Pyongyang Airport. Standing tall and majestic, the bronze statues of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il welcomes us to the beautiful country of North Korea. Behind the statues is a wall of the Korean Revolution Museum building, displaying a mosaic mural showing a scene from Mount Paektu. Two guards stand beside to keep watch over any threats or disrespectfulness towards the leaders’ statues. We offered flower bouquets to the leaders and bowed 90 degrees to pay our utmost respect. (Read more)
2. Sunset view overlooking The Grand People’s Study House
We strolled around the Mansu Park to stretch our legs after the flight from Beijing. It was here where I first saw how gorgeous the Grand People’s Study House was. At the park, we met a group of little school children waving to us while they were playing in the artificial waterfall. They were so happy to see us and we waved back. The park was so clean and all the locals who were there enjoyed the beautiful sunset. (Read more)
3. Juche Tower & Kim Il Sung Square
Gorgeous view of the Juche Tower in the center. From here we can see the Kim Il-Sung Square which is located in the center of Pyongyang at the west bank of the Taedong River. The square has a great cultural significance and is one of the most recognizable landmarks, as it is a common gathering place for rallies, dances and military parades and is often featured in media concerning the DPRK. It is the 30th largest square in the world, having an area of about 75,000 square meters (807,293 square feet) which can accommodate a rally of 100,000 people. (Read more)
4. Study hall in the Grand People’s Study House
Taken inside the study hall in the Grand People’s Study House. Two Kim portraits hang on the wall which overlooks the people who come here to study and read. This central library has a total floor space of 100,000m² and 600 rooms. The building can house up to 30 million books, of which it contains around 10,800 documents, books and “on the spot guidance” Kim Il-sung wrote. The building contains many rooms for education such as audio rooms, computer rooms, lecture halls, and more. The Grand People’s Study House often houses workshops, lectures, seminars of various subjects. (Read more)
5. The city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK. Right in the center lies the Grand People’s Study House, overlooking the Taedong River. Here you can see how well developed the country is with a big number of apartments, high rises office buildings and hotels. The huge pyramid shaped building is the Ryugyong Hotel that is still under construction. (Read more)
6. Nampo West Sea Barrage
The West Sea Dam or most commonly known as the Nampo West Sea Barrage is located in the outskirts of Pyongyang. Built in the early 80s, the structure contains huge 8km long system of dams, three lock chambers, and 36 sluices, allowing the passage of ships up to 50,000 tons. The dam is considered a major accomplishment of North Korea and is often part of the itinerary when international tourists visit the country. Upon arrival, all visitors will be seated at the auditorium to watch a documentary about the history and construction of the dam. (Read more)
7. A Farmer and his child at Chonsam Cooperative Farm
Not to be mistaken for Chongsan Cooperative Farm near Pyongyang. This farm is in fact situated in Anbyon county, near to Wonsan City. We were enroute to Masikyrong when we pass by and visited this farm to have a look. We visited their farms, kindergartens, nursery and a farmer’s residence. The view was magnificent and the crops were all growing healthily. (Read more)
April 26, 2015 Photography, Travel
Ever wondered how a secretive socialist country locked from the outside world looks like? Many of us who has never been to North Korea depicts the country with visuals of obsessive military parades, shouting strict army men and overly expressive newscasters. Well, there weren’t any public executions or starving children by the roadside. It was nothing like what Sony’s idiotic movie “The Interview” had portrayed. There were no fake cardboard fruits or fake fat kid in front of the store waving to tourists with a lollipop. I don’t want to sound very one sided. I try my best to show you what I saw through my lens directly without any censorship. This is my version of the beautiful landscapes and cities while I visited the DPRK back in September 2014. I have compiled some of my best panoramic shots of the country and you will understand why I have constantly told everyone that North Korea is a gorgeous country to visit. In this list, you will be experiencing North Korea like you’ve never seen it before (especially not in Western Propaganda Documentaries) and a chance to see some of the gorgeous places I’ve been to during my 12 day stay.
Although it was a tight tour trip and we couldn’t stop at many places to take proper landscape photos with my tripod and filters, I had to resort mostly on handheld settings and spontaneous solutions. I tried my best to experiment and find angles as much as I could while we stopped briefly at places without missing out on the explanations from my beloved tour guides. I was extremely fortunate to bring home these wonderful and scenic beauties of their country and showcase them to everyone. Here are my best 30 panoramic shots of the beautiful Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
1. Mansudae Grand Monument
Our first and foremost stop after we landed in Pyongyang Airport. Standing tall and majestic, the bronze statues of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il welcomes us to the beautiful country of North Korea. Behind the statues is a wall of the Korean Revolution Museum building, displaying a mosaic mural showing a scene from Mount Paektu. Two guards stand beside to keep watch over any threats or disrespectfulness towards the leaders’ statues. We offered flower bouquets to the leaders and bowed 90 degrees to pay our utmost respect. (Read more)
2. Sunset view overlooking The Grand People’s Study House
We strolled around the Mansu Park to stretch our legs after the flight from Beijing. It was here where I first saw how gorgeous the Grand People’s Study House was. At the park, we met a group of little school children waving to us while they were playing in the artificial waterfall. They were so happy to see us and we waved back. The park was so clean and all the locals who were there enjoyed the beautiful sunset. (Read more)
3. Juche Tower & Kim Il Sung Square
Gorgeous view of the Juche Tower in the center. From here we can see the Kim Il-Sung Square which is located in the center of Pyongyang at the west bank of the Taedong River. The square has a great cultural significance and is one of the most recognizable landmarks, as it is a common gathering place for rallies, dances and military parades and is often featured in media concerning the DPRK. It is the 30th largest square in the world, having an area of about 75,000 square meters (807,293 square feet) which can accommodate a rally of 100,000 people. (Read more)
4. Study hall in the Grand People’s Study House
Taken inside the study hall in the Grand People’s Study House. Two Kim portraits hang on the wall which overlooks the people who come here to study and read. This central library has a total floor space of 100,000m² and 600 rooms. The building can house up to 30 million books, of which it contains around 10,800 documents, books and “on the spot guidance” Kim Il-sung wrote. The building contains many rooms for education such as audio rooms, computer rooms, lecture halls, and more. The Grand People’s Study House often houses workshops, lectures, seminars of various subjects. (Read more)
5. The city of Pyongyang
Pyongyang, the capital of the DPRK. Right in the center lies the Grand People’s Study House, overlooking the Taedong River. Here you can see how well developed the country is with a big number of apartments, high rises office buildings and hotels. The huge pyramid shaped building is the Ryugyong Hotel that is still under construction. (Read more)
6. Nampo West Sea Barrage
The West Sea Dam or most commonly known as the Nampo West Sea Barrage is located in the outskirts of Pyongyang. Built in the early 80s, the structure contains huge 8km long system of dams, three lock chambers, and 36 sluices, allowing the passage of ships up to 50,000 tons. The dam is considered a major accomplishment of North Korea and is often part of the itinerary when international tourists visit the country. Upon arrival, all visitors will be seated at the auditorium to watch a documentary about the history and construction of the dam. (Read more)
7. A Farmer and his child at Chonsam Cooperative Farm
Not to be mistaken for Chongsan Cooperative Farm near Pyongyang. This farm is in fact situated in Anbyon county, near to Wonsan City. We were enroute to Masikyrong when we pass by and visited this farm to have a look. We visited their farms, kindergartens, nursery and a farmer’s residence. The view was magnificent and the crops were all growing healthily. (Read more)
