TARGET 120718

LAOLONGTOU
(THE HEAD OF THE OLD DRAGON)

^{The dragon's head}

Quick. What's the biggest statue in the world? Don't know? Here's a hint. It's a statue of a dragon.

How big is it? Don't know? Don't worry. Very few people know the answer. It's size is 8850 km (5499 miles) long, with an average height of 10.5 meters (33 feet) and an average width of 4.6 meters (15 feet).

It's name is the Great Wall of China.

That's right. The Great Wall of China is a very long, very protective, very un-slayable, and very old dragon.

And the head of the old dragon lies on its eastern end, where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea sea near Shanghaiguan in Qinhuangdao City, which is about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Beijing

^{An aerial view of the wall leading to the Old Dragon Head}

Laolongtou was built in 1579 in the Ming Dynasty. In July 1904, Japanese troops landed at Shanhai Pass, prior to marching on Peking (now Beijing). A pre-landing bombardment of the area, which was totally unnecessary as few Chinese troops were present, destroyed this section of the wall. What stands today is a 1980s effort by the authorities to replicate the original.

^{The head "drinks from the sea"}

This section of the Wall extends about 23 meters out into the Bohai Sea, and it is possible to walk out onto the Wall and look over the edge directly down into the water below.

^{The surrounding area}

Laolongtou was originally used for military defense. It is now a museum. The entire area around it is now a large park and recreation area where tourists can come and walk this part of the Great Wall, ride amusement rides, visit museums, and learn more about Chinese history. To the left and right of the Old Dragon Head is sandy beach area, and up the hill from it is the Changtai Tower and the Temple to the Sea Goddess that sits in its center. The temple was originally built in 1579, but is now a museum covered with replica soldiers in Qing Dynasty costumes.

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If you got impressions for which this feedback is insufficient, more information,
pictures and videos can be found at the following web sites:

Travel China Guide - Laolongtou
Travel China Guide - More on Laolongtou
Travel China Guide - Great Wall Info, history, photos, etc.
Travel China Guide - The Great Wall's construction