Yanggakdo International Hotel, Hotel on Yanggak Island in Chung-guyok, Pyongyang, 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.
Built between 1986 and 1992 by France's Campenon Bernard Construction Company, the hotel opened in 1996 as North Korea's first luxury hotel. It stands 170 metres tall on Yanggak Island in the Taedong River, and its grounds once held a 9,000-square-metre nine-hole golf course, demolished in 2011 for a Chinese-funded health complex.
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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