Old Dragon's Head

The Great Wall's easternmost point, plunging into the Bohai Sea

Old Dragon's Head (Laolongtou) is the easternmost point of the Great Wall — the place where the long stone serpent reaches the sea and runs into the surf. The image of the dragon's head dipping into the Bohai Sea has been a defining symbol of China's defensive boundary for six centuries. The site is 5 km south of Shanhaiguan town, set on a low spit between the river mouth and the open sea.

The site is more than a wall: behind the main bastion is the Sea God Temple (Haishen Miao), a small Ming-era complex dedicated to the four sea gods of the cardinal directions; further inland are the Ninghai City garrison enclosure and a sequence of restored fortifications and barracks. The most affecting view is from the rocks below the dragon's head, looking back at the wall climbing out of the water. Allow two to three hours; the site is part of a paid scenic area with an entry fee.

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The wall here was destroyed by the **Eight-Nation Alliance** of foreign forces in 1900 during the **Boxer Rebellion**, and the present structure is a 1980s reconstruction faithful to the Ming originals. The original stone foundations — including the **Sea God Temple** at the tip — were preserved, and several Ming-era cannons stand in the courtyards behind the wall.