We hope your passport is up to date, because you're about to depart PDX on the international journey of a lifetime. The reason? A rather common one — to visit family.

Portland has nine sister cities scattered around the world, representing relationships established between civic leaders to promote economic and cultural ties, often manifesting in exchange programs. Let's catch up with those distant relatives.

The Sapporo Snow Festival's largest ever sculpture reached 82 ft high, containing 30,000 tons of snow. | Photo by U.S. Navy

Sapporo, Japan

Population: 2,666,112
Sister city established: 1959
Must-see sights: Mount Moiwa, Sapporo Beer Museum, Odori Park, Nijo Market

Find it on a map.
See our itinerary.

Guadalajara is the home of mariachi music. | Photo by @visita_guadalajara

Guadalajara, Mexico

Population: 5,419,880
Sister city established: 1983
Must-see sights: Hospicio Cabañas, Mercado San Juan de Dios, Bosque Colomos

Find it on a map.
See our itinerary.

Ulsan is home to passionate soccer fans and lots of bridges. Sound familiar? | Photo via Scott Rotzoll

Ulsan, South Korea

Population: 912,734
Sister city established: 1987
Must-see sights: Ulsan Grand Park, Ganwoljae Flame Grass Road, Daewangam Park, Seongnamsa Temple, Taehwagang Bamboo Forest

Find it on a map.
See our itinerary.

Mediterranean waters meet sandy beaches in Ashkelon. | Photo by Lio Voo

Ashkelon, Israel

Population: 105,995
Sister city established: 1987
Must-see sights: Ashkelon National Park, Dlila Beach, Ashkelon Promenade

Find it on a map.
Departure gate: TBA

Fo Guang is home to the world's largest copper-cast Buddha statue, standing nearly 36 stories tall. | Photo by Zairon

Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Population: 1,519,711
Sister city established: 1988
Must-see sights: Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, The Pier2 Art Center, Love River, Liuhe Night Market, Dome of Light, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum

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See our itinerary.

Catch a tram at Khabarovsk Railway Station. | Photo by Raita Futo

Khabarovsk, Russia

Population: 641,128
Sister city established: 1988
Must-see sights: Dormition Cathedral, Dynamo Park, Museum of History, Far Eastern Art Museum

Find it on a map.
See our itinerary.

Slurp noodles along the Shantang River in Suzhou. | Photo by Vind

Suzhou, People's Republic of China

Population: 8,074,031
Sister city established: 1988
Must-see sights: Humble Administrator's Garden, Tongli Town, Pingjiang Road, Cloud Rock Leaning Pagoda, Suzhou Silk Museum

Find it on a map.
Departure gate: TBA

Mutare is Zimbabwe's third-most populous city and sits near the border with Mozambique. | Photo by Seabifar

Mutare, Zimbabwe

Population: 184,205
Sister city established: 1991
Must-see sights: Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral, Nyanga National Park, Prince of Wales View, Mutare Museum

Find it on a map.
Departure gate: TBA

With a compact core, Bologna is a very walkable city. | Photo by Steffen Brinkmann

Bologna, Italy

Population: 814,332
Sister city established: 2003
Must-see sights: Piazza Maggiore, Le Due Torri (Two Towers), Santuario Madonna di San Luca, Archaeological Museum of Bologna, Ducati Museum

Find it on a map.
See our itinerary.