It was constructed on April Juche 61 (1972) then displaying only Kim Il Sung. Following the death of Kim Jong Il a new statue was unveiled in April 2012

This tower honours the North Korean philosophy of Juche, and was unveiled to mark the president’s 70th birthday in 1982

The Arch is the second tallest triumphal arch in the world. It is built to honour President Kim Il Sung's role in the anti-Japanese resistance

Chollima ("thousand-mile flying horse") is a symbol of Korean fast economic development after the Korean War. It symbolizes "heroism, the constant, fighting spirit of the Korean people..."

This statue is the symbol of the ruling Worker Party of Korea. As well as the iconic hammer and sickle, representing the proletariat and peasants, North Korea adds the symbol of a paintbrush as homage to the intellectual

It is the resting place for revolutionaries who fought against the Japanese rule for the freedom of the country. At each tomb there is a unique bust representing the hero, no busts are similar

North Korea's architecture is truly fascinating. The total destruction of Pyongyang during the Korean War gave Korean architects a great opportunity to build a capital in a Juche image.

Even though Pyongyang was almost completely destroyed during the Korean War in 1950-53, several important historical sites have survived

Pyongyang style!

The quality of the readitional Korean food in the restaurants of Pyongyang is usually good. Tourists can try pizza in newly opened fast food restaurants

Shopping is an as-and-when activity. If a shop has stock, then returning later is not an option as it will be sold out.

In North Korea, the Constitution provides for "freedom of religious belief"; the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an atheist state

It is Pyongyang’s central square where North Korea’s massive military parades normally take place. Opened in August Juche 43 (1954) it is the 3rd largest square in the world

It is the mausoleum for Kim Il Sung, the founder and eternal president of North Korea, and for his son Kim Jong Il. The palace was built in 1976 as the Kumsusan Assembly Hall and used to be Kim Il Sung's official residence

It is Kim Il Sung’s birthplace - a collection of traditional huts: a typical Korean peasant house with a thatched roof and a block of living rooms, as well as a small barn

Recently completely renovated museum shows struggle and mass heroism of Korean People during the Korean War 1950-53. Now the museum also displays spy ship USS Pueblo and captured enemy's heavy weapons

It was founded in August Juche 37 (1948) and covers the period from anti Japanese struggle to the transition to socialism

Displayed in this museum in a well-regulated order are historical remains and materials representing the history of Korean people from the stone age

Opened in 1954, this gallery traces the development of two millenia of Korean Art: it originates with 4 century tomb frescoes and ancient porcelain, and it culminates in socialist realism

Pyongyang Metro has its own museum. A large portion of the collection is related to President Kim Il-sung's providing "on the spot guidance" to the workers constructing the system

It shows Korean folk customs and displays varieties of materials. Opened in Juche 45(1956) it was moved to new building in Korean Folk Park in Juche 101 (2012)

It is a flower exhibition, perhaps the only of its kind in the world. The red begonias are actually Kimjongilia, named after leader Kim Jong Il, while the orchids are Kimilsungia - after his father Kim Il Sung

Three-Revolutions are revolutions in ideology, technology and culture. Exhibition halls include: Juche idea, heavy industry, new technology, light industry and agruculture.

It was completed in December Juche 53 (1964) with 4000 seats. The acrobatic routines are brilliant, hilarious, and a bit political (cunning Koreans versus stupid Americans)

Completed on May 1, Juche 78 (1989) with 3500 seats the curcus features multi-function stages for general feats, synchronized swimming, ice dancing and animal feats

Pyongyang circus poster for one of the performances

Recently opened new theatre it is used as a venue for major art performances

Opened in October Juche 65 (1976) it is the performance center featuring opera, choral and instrumental concerts. The government of the DPRK hosts anniversary banquets and State dinners here

Opened in Juche 35 (1946) it is home of National Symphony Orchestra. Here the joint meeting of representatives of political parties and public organizations of North and South Korea was held

It is a venue of cultural education, national and international conferences and other social events. It was opened in December Juche 63 (1974)

It was open in 1989 and in 2008 it was the site of the concert by the New York Philharmonic, which was the first significant cultural visit to North Korea by the United States since the Korean War

It was opened in August Juche 49 (1960) with 2.200 seats and featuring general performances including musical classics such as The Flower Girl and A Daughter of the Party

Opened in October Juche 64 (1975) it serves for cultural education and artistic activities of soldiers and people. It is also the venue of important national meetings, events and art performances

It runs local and foreign films. It has several cinemas, interview rooms, an international communication hall and dining rooms. It is the venue of Pyongyang International Film Festival held once two years

It serves as a social education centre for the youth. Completed in May Juche 78 (1989). Working youth and students conduct varieties of activities including political, scientific and literature lectures

It is one of the after-school education centres. It was completed in April Juche 78 (1989)and divided into computer, science, art and sports. It has over 200 circle and practice rooms, and 2000-sits theatre

Learn what Pyongyang schools look like

It is one of the extracurricular education centres established on September 30, Juche 52 (1963). It has over 200 circle and practice rooms for science, art and sports; a gymnasium, a library, an astronomical observatory

It was opened in April Juche 71 (1982). It is the largest schooling building in the world. It has 30 million volumes of books, 23 reading rooms with 6 000 seats, 14 lecture rooms, various information rooms, and music rooms

Learn what North Korean kindergarten looks like

It was founded on October 1, Juche 35 (1946) as the supreme base of training national cadres. Now it has three colleges, over 10 faculties, over 12000 students, 2000 lecturers and researchers, 1000 academicians

It is fine art works creating and producing centre. It was founded in November Juche 48 (1959). It produced the Grand Monument on Mansu Hill, the Arch of Triumph and the Grand Monument in Lake Samji

The two main focuses of the studio are the anti-Japanese and the anti-American war. The main complex features fake cities: ancient Korean town, a 1930s Chinese street, a Japanese street, a South Korean street etc.

It is a center for the production of traditional textile arts. The Institute has produced internationally award-winning tapestries. It was visited several times by Kim Jong Suk

Pyongyang Gold Lane - a North Korean bowling alley. The lanes gleam with polish. The American television journalist, Diane Sawyer, bowled a few frames here and featured this site during her October 2006 visit to the DPRK

The indoor gallery houses the 25-meter pistol range, 50-meter rifle range, archery ground, ray gun range and electron gun range. Visitors can also shoot at living animals at the outdoor range and take food prepared with them

Inaugurated on November 9, 2012 it has modern facilities for bathing, hairdressing, beauty and massage treatment and fitness exercises. It can serve 7200 people a day

Constructed in 1981 in the socialist modernist style it is one of Pyongyang's most distinctive buildings. Here the tourist can enjoy hot baths, swimming, Korean-style massage or visit the barber or beauty salon

Perhaps one of the most well known images of North Korea: mass dances. The Koreans know how to boogie, and boogie in style. A traditional Korean hanbok for the women, and a dress suit for the men

Completed in April Juche 73 (1984). Recently renovated it boasts new attractions such as rooler coaster and others. It is North Korea's answer to Disneyland

It was completed in April Juche 71 (1982), and it hosts 6000 seats to enjoy figure skating, hockey and speed skating games. The International Figure Skating Festival is held every February

It is a stadium with 100,000 seats. Originally it was called Moranbong Stadium, but later in April Juche 71 (1982) it was enlarged and renamed. Here Kim Il Sung delivered a speech on October 14, Juche 34 (1945) soon after liberation

It is the country's largest stadium with 150,000 seats. It was completed on May Day, Juche 78 (1989). It is the venue of Grand Mass Gymnastics and Artistic Performance "Arirang"

It was completed in Juche 62 (1973). The four-story box has over 20 000 seats. 18 kinds of sports games can be played at the same time. It is a venue of domestic sports games, mass games and varieties of events

The country’s commitment to sports can clearly be seen on Chongchun Sport Street where one can enjoy stadiums for soccer, handball, table tennis, taekwondo, weight-lifting, volleyball, basketball and swimming

On 28 February 2013 Kim Jong Un watched a basketball with former NBA player and Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman at Ryugyong Jong Yu Jong Indoor Stadium in Pyongyang

Convenienly located near Grand People's Study House in the center of the city it is popular with local place for meetings and walks

Situated in the city centre, it has been called as the "garden of the capital". It derives its name from the shape of peony blossom. Ulmil Pavilion, Chilsong Gate, Chongnyu and Pubyok Pavilions provide fascinating views

Mt. Taesong is one of the famous mountains with cultural remains of Koguryo dynasty. Preserved in the mountain are the 200-m rampart on Somun Peak, carp ponds which are the vestiges of the old military fortress on Jangsu Peak

Opened in November 2013 the park covers an area of 15 hectares (37 acres) with indoor and oudoor activities all year round: indoor/ outdoor swimming pools, a volleyball court, a rock climbing wall, a hairdresser, a cafe and a bar

It’s a hill set in greenery. The Koguryo-dynasty Pobun Monastery and the Ryonggok Academy, dating from 1656, are to be found there. At 292 m, Tae peak is the highest on Ryongak and gives splendid views of the city

The Rungna People's Pleasure Ground is an amusement park. It was opened in 2012 in a ceremony with Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol-ju. It has a dolphinarium, swimming pool, and a mini golf course

It is the biggest zoo in the country. It keeps over 650 species and 6000 local and foreign animals: an aquarium, an elephant cage, aviaries for predatory birds, cotes for aquatic birds and 50 cages of garden animals

It is an amusement park at the foot of Mount Taesong. This large park houses replicas of famous Korean buildings, exhibits on traditional Korean life, and other things to that effect

This impressive horse riding center has an indoor training facility, 7 outdoor riding courses, a pavilion, restaurants, and sauna. It was opened on October 25, 2013. There are 120 horses out of which 67 are Orlov Trotters from Russia

It is a modern medical center for women completed in March, 1980. There are departments of obstetrics, gynecology, ophthalmology, dentistry, ear, nose and throat, x-ray, physiotherapy, and cardiography

Recently constructed, this is one of the most modern medical facilities in the country, situated in the East of Pyongyang, it has a full range of in- and out-patient facilities

It was built as the Foreigners' Hospital in 1986. It is a modern hospital where diplomats and other foreigners residing in Pyongyang are taken for inpatient procedures and serious illnesses

It consists of two lines. Daily ridership is estimated to be between 300,000 and 700,000. Construction of the metro network started in 1965, and first stations were bult between 1969 and 1972

The station is the start of the Pyongbu and Pyongui Line. The Pyongui Line runs from Pyongyang to Sinuiju, while the Pyongbu Line runs through Seoul and ends at Busan. It is also served by the Pyongnam Line

Personal ownership of automobiles in Pyongyang is very rare. North Koreans rely mainly on public transport