Laolongtou

Chinese: 老龙头
Pinyin: Lǎo lóng tóu
English: Old dragon's head
Coordinates: 39°57'60"N 119°47'41"E

Laolongtou, or Old Dragon's Head, is where the main line of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall meets the sea at its traditional eastern end. It is in fact the only place where any Great Wall reaches the sea.

The name comes from the tradition of relating the Great Wall to a dragon; hence, this is the dragon's head.

The structure was destroyed in 1900 and rebuilt in 1984. The reconstruction is reasonably authentic.

Old Dragon's Head viewed from the beach to the south

Upon Old Dragon's head, you will find some interesting exhibits showing some of the original stones used to build the foundation of the structure where it enters the sea. Beneath, you will find a pass called Nanhaikou Pass. It was damaged in the late Qing Dynasty and eventually was covered with 10 meters of sand. This pass was restored in 1987.

Nearby, you will find Jinglu Watchtower, Wangshou Watchtower, and Chenghai Tower, all nicely restored and interesting to see.

From Old Dragon's head, the Great Wall leads to the northwest for about six kilometers (3.7 miles) before reaching the city of Shanhaiguan. It's possible to follow most of this Great Wall on foot; however, a few areas must be bypassed due to their condition. This wall is very impressive in its size. This area was considered particularly vulnerable to attack and was therefore built to be impregnable.

With its unusual construction, its many interesting places to explore, its long history, and its important location, Old Dragon's Head is a must for anyone visiting the Shanhaiguan or Qinhuangdao area.

Chenghai Tower at Old Dragon's Head

Location summary: Laolongtou is about 291 kilometers (181 miles) east of Beijing. The path of the Great Wall from Laolongtou to Shanhaiguan is about 6.4 kilometers (4 miles).

Driving directions: From Shanhaiguan, drive southeast on S266 for 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) to the end of the road to arrive at Laolongtou.

Shanhaiguan Laolongtou