Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head)

Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head), located 4km south of Shanhaiguan, once supposed to be the easternmost end of the Great Wall, stretches 23 meters into the sea like a dragon drinking water, hence its name.

Standing at Laolongtou, looking northwest you can see the Great Wall as it zigzags over the rolling mountains like a giant dragon to the north; looking south you can see the vast expanse of sea stretching far to merge with the sky. You can imagine the scene in this very spot more than 2200 years ago. The story is told of Qinshihuang (221-207 BC), the first emperor of China pushing people into the sea right here to find a drug that would give him immortality. Years later, in 1570, this portion of the Great Wall was constructed and in 1668 it was considerably enhanced.