通化 sits on the Yalu River across from North Korea and has been a strategic border city since Qing times. It's the origin of
通化葡萄酒 — one of the oldest Chinese wine brands, established 1937 during the Japanese occupation. The surrounding
长白山 area is the source of
长白山人参 (ginseng) and a premier domestic ski destination. The city was also a major rear-area base during the Korean War.
