Laolongtou Great Wall (Old Dragon's Head)

Laolongtou is where the Great Wall of China meets the sea and was once considered as where the Great Wall of China starts. Laolongtou means Old Dragon’s Head, so named because the Great Wall here resembles a dragon drinking water from the sea. Located three miles (five kilometers) south of Shanhaiguan and about 190 miles (305 km) away from Beijing; travelers can easily make a side trip from Beijing to Laolongtou Great Wall and Shanghaiguan by high speed train.

Laolongtou Great Wall

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The Laolongtou Great Wall was built in 1381 under the supervision of Qi Jiguang, a general of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). It was an important line of defense against enemies coming from both the land and the sea. After the founding of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911), its military function faded, and it turned into a great tourist destination, attracting numerous visitors to enjoy the seascape and surrounding constructions. Even emperors were regular visitors.

Laolongtou

Map of Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head)

Ninghai City is to the north of the Laolongtou Great Wall. Its north gate is also the main entrance to the whole scenic area. Inside the city, there are commanders' offices and a training ground, revealing past garrison life. In ordinary days, soldiers were housed and trained there. During wartime, the city became a fortress defending against enemies and also the command post for tactical maneuvers. Your visit can also include some temples and performances to enjoy. 
 

Chenghai Pavilion

This pavilion, at the southeast corner of Ninghai City, is a major attraction in the scenic area, leading to the Laolongtou Great Wall. It is a two-storey building built of bricks and wood. It has been a must-visit place of the whole area since the Qing Dynasty. Five emperors of that dynasty (Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang) were there for 12 times in total on their way to Mukden (Today's Shenyang) to worship their ancestors. Poems and inscriptions created by these emperors and renowned literature were carved on the tablets and can be seen here.

The second floor of the Chenghai Pavilion is the highest point of the whole area, providing the best view to admire the scenery. Seen from there, the Great Wall and the vast sea are closely connected with each other, and the sea joins the sky in the distance, looking like they are merged into one.
 

Walking south from Chenghai Pavilion, you will come to the Jinglu Beacon Tower. It was built in 1565, and is the only beacon tower that was built above the sea.
 

Passing the Jinglu Beacon Tower, you will reach the easternmost point of this section – the Estuary Stone Great Wall, which is also the east end of the Great Wall. Built in 1579 by Wu Weizhong, a military officer of the Ming Dynasty, and renovated in 1987, the wall extends approximately 24.5 yards (22.4 meters) into the sea. It is comprised of nine layers of large strip granite blocks with a height of 30 feet (9.2 meters) in total. Of these, the fourth, fifth, and sixth layers are the original works. Setting foot on it with the waves splashing on the battlements is like you are standing on the nose of the dragon, which is cleaving through the sea and stirring up layers of white sprays.

Reconstructed in 1988, the Sea God Temple is about 383 yards (350 meters) west of the Estuary Stone Wall, surrounded by the sea on three sides. If there is some mist or drizzle, the temple looks indistinct as if it is in a fairyland. You can see constructions like archways, the Hall of the Goddess of Heaven, and the Hall of the Sea God there. The last two are the main constructions of the temple for people to pay homage to the gods and pray for a safe voyage and a good harvest in past times. The utmost point of the Sea God Temple is the Sea-Viewing Pavilion, another viewing deck in this scenic area.

Sea God Temple

Sea-Viewing Pavilion