Yanggakdo International Hotel, 47-floor skyscraper hotel in Chung-guyok, North Korea.
The Yanggakdo International Hotel is a 47-story tower on Yanggak Island in the Taedong River in Pyongyang, North Korea. It reaches a height of 170 meters (558 feet) and holds more than 1000 rooms, accessible through eight elevators.
The building was designed by Baikdoosan Architects & Engineers in the early 1990s and opened in 1995. It was the first international accommodation of this size in North Korea and intended to signal the country's opening to foreign guests.
The building takes its name from Yanggak Island, where it stands in the Taedong River of Pyongyang. Visitors often gather in one of the restaurants in the evening, while the structure also serves as a self-contained space for international guests.
Visitors typically spend their time in the rooms and common areas, while the island location offers limited options for walking outside. The basement level contains recreational spaces such as a bowling area, a swimming pool, and game rooms.
A rotating restaurant on the top floor slowly turns on its axis and offers a changing view. The fifth floor remains closed to guests and is not served by any elevator, which has led to much speculation.
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