Old Dragon Head, Military fortification at Great Wall eastern terminus in Qinhuangdao, China
Old Dragon Head is a stone fortress complex built where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea coast. The site features multiple watchtowers, temple buildings, and defensive walls that occupy a substantial area along the seacoast.
Construction began in 1579 during the Ming Dynasty under General Qi Jiguang, who designed it to defend against sea-based attacks. The fortress was developed as part of a broader maritime defense strategy to protect against invasion threats from the ocean.
The name originates from a Chinese legend about a dragon dwelling at the sea, symbolizing the connection between the wall and water in local imagination. Visitors encounter inscribed plaques and architectural details throughout the site that reflect how communities viewed this place as both a defensive barrier and a gateway.
The site is open year-round and covers a large area, so plan to spend several hours walking through different sections. Visitors can move freely along the fortifications and enjoy coastal views from multiple vantage points throughout the complex.
Iron cooking vessels called woks were embedded into the seawall foundation during construction, an innovative ancient technique for underwater structural support. This unusual engineering method reveals the practical ingenuity of Ming Dynasty builders.
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