- Old Dragon’s Head Scenic Spot
-
The Great Wall, “With a history of over two thousand years, and stretching for over a hundred thousand Li”, looks like a huge dragon running on the land of China. It gallops from the afar Gobi Desert which lies in the western part of China, crosses rivers and deserts, and embeds its head into the vast Bohai Sea, which is described as “Dragon head stretches into the sea, stirring the waves and playing in the sea”. This is the scenic spot you are about to visit --- the eastern start point of the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty and the unique estuary of the world famous Great Wall --- Old Dragon’s Head
The Old Dragon’s Head section of Great Wall is the eastern start point of Jizhen Great wall of Ming Dynasty. It is the only section of the Great Wall stretching into the sea. This section of Great Wall was started construction during Hongwu Period of Ming Dynasty. It is called the “Great wonder in the history of human architecture”.
This section of Great Wall was started construction early in the fourteenth year of Hongwu Period of Ming Dynasty. The Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang dispatched General Xu Da to construct the Shanhai Pass guarding city in order to defense the invasion of remaining force of Yuan Dynasty. From the middle and later stages of Ming Dynasty, the key of defense turned from Mongolian nationality to Jurchen nationality, and from land to the sea route. As the offshore frontier, and based on the multiple times of optimizing and consolidating by important officials and famous generals of Qi Jiguang, Sun Chengzong, and Yang Sichang, the Old Dragon’s Head became the vital coastal defense protecting the capital then.
The dragon is the symbol of the traditional emperors. This place here is called “The Old Dragon’s Head”. No matter for which "dragon", all wanted to “raise head” here. A number of emperors in history came to this place. Only for Qing Dynasty, five emperors of Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing and Daoguang came here and ascended the tower for overlooking the sea for 12 times in total. This “Old Dragon’s Head” experienced two dynasties of Ming and Qing. It had different historical responsibilities in different periods. In Ming Dynasty, it was the vital sea and land military defense. And for the period from Shunzhi Period of Qing Dynasty to Jiaqing Period of Qing Dynasty, it was the best place for overlooking the sea. And for the period from 1840 to 1945 when the Japanese surrender, the Old Dragon’s Head again shouldered the responsibility of defensing invasion of imperialism. The unique geological position and military buildings make it have the military function that is irreplaceable by any other sections of the Great Wall.
At present, the scenic spot of Old Dragon’s Head, which is opened to the outside world, covers an area of 600 mu, consisting of 28 landscapes, including Ninghai City, Chenghai Pavilion, Stone Wall Extending to Sea (Fortifications), Southern Sea Pass, Longwu Barracks, and Temple of Sea God, etc. The only section of Great Wall stretching into the sea, the unique tower on the sea, and the first crenel, the first pass, and the first sea-watching pavilion of the Great Wall of Ming Dynasty, as well as the most completely reserved coast defense barracks gather here. In the scenic spot, tourists may take the sea yacht, ride a beach motorcycle, and ride the power delta wings. At the festivals, tourists can also sit in the large Chinese sedan chair of the Ming dynasty style and watch the "Soldiers city patrol" and other ancient programs here.