Shanhaiguan, meaning “Mountain and Sea Pass,” is the eastern terminus of the Ming Great Wall. The most iconic feature here is the Old Dragon Head (Laolongtou), where the wall extends into the Bohai Sea like a dragon drinking water.
Built in 1381 by General Xu Da, this pass guarded the critical corridor between the mountains and the sea. It was considered the “First Pass Under Heaven” — a strategic chokepoint that controlled access between the Chinese heartland and the Manchurian plains.
Today, visitors can walk the restored wall, explore the Chenghai Tower, and stand at the exact point where stone meets sea.