Sold Out but Empty: First Beijing–Pyongyang Train Raises Questions

A historic moment six years in the making. The first train from Beijing to Pyongyang departed fully sold out, but arrived after 24 hours entirely empty.

For the first time in six years, a train departed from Beijing to Pyongyang, North Korea. Although the service was reported as fully sold out by the Chinese operator, it arrived in Pyongyang after a 24-hour journey with no passengers on board, according to The Straits Times.

On Thursday, March 12, the train from Beijing to Pyongyang ran for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. On board train K27 were government officials, journalists, and railway enthusiasts. However, according to The Straits Times, none of them had purchased a ticket all the way to the final destination.

Passengers wanted to witness the restoration of the connection between the two communist countries, but most of them would not have been eligible to enter North Korea. According to The Guardian, the train is currently intended only for those travelling for work, study, or family reasons.

🇨🇳 🇰🇵 China and North Korea reopen passenger train service

Railway enthusiasts have flocked to join the first train from China's capital Beijing to North Korea's capital Pyongyang, six years after the international rail service was suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/TUUfWvB3YU

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 15, 2026

Restoration of China–North Korea Rail Link

"The railway connection between China and North Korea has been restored for the first time since the pandemic," a 17-year-old student told The Straits Times. He had travelled 700 kilometres from his hometown just to see the train depart.

The reopening of the railway is also a symbol of strengthening diplomatic ties between the two communist regimes, with China being North Korea’s most important trading partner. "It is an important event and will help strengthen relations," said another passenger, who boarded the train only for about an hour to experience the atmosphere and take photos at the Beijing platform. He admitted he would not meet the requirements for entry into North Korea.

Daily Rail Connection Between China and North Korea

According to Reuters, train K27 on the Beijing–Pyongyang route will operate four times a week in both directions on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. At the same time, it will still be possible to travel between China and Pyongyang by rail every day, as the Dandong–Pyongyang service will run daily in both directions. The city of Dandong in north-eastern China lies close to the North Korean border, and the train journey to Pyongyang from there takes approximately eight hours.

Rail connections between the two countries were suspended in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. While China has fully reopened its borders, North Korea remains cautious. According to The Guardian, the country resumed rail and air links with Russia last year and is now reopening its borders to Chinese travellers.

Chinese citizens working or studying in North Korea can now purchase train tickets to the diplomatically isolated country. The connection is also available to North Koreans travelling to China for work, study, or family reasons. However, it remains unavailable to tourists.

Tourism Still Restricted

Travel to North Korea, a country governed by a strict totalitarian regime, has always been highly limited. Tourists wishing to visit have traditionally been required to join organised group tours.

One of the agencies specialising in travel to North Korea is Young Pioneer Tours. It offers trips for groups of up to 24 people, typically travelling by train from Beijing to Pyongyang. In addition to the capital, tours include destinations such as the North Korean coast or Mount Myohyang, home to the International Friendship Exhibition displaying gifts received by Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

As noted, since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, the country has remained closed to tourists. An exception applies only to certain travellers holding Russian citizenship, according to Young Pioneer Tours.

Although North Korea has not officially announced the reopening of its borders to tourists, the agency states it is ready to resume operations at any time. Some hope is linked to the restoration of rail services from China and the planned launch of regular flights between Beijing and Pyongyang from 30 March this year.