The Dragon’s Journey: East to West

Step 1 Story

The Old Dragon Drinks from the Sea

The Old Dragon Head (Laolongtou) at Shanhaiguan is where the Great Wall makes its dramatic plunge into the Bohai Sea. The name comes from a Ming Dynasty legend: the wall, stretching thousands of kilometers from west to east, resembled an enormous dragon — and at its eastern terminus, the dragon lowered its head to drink from the sea.The Engineering ChallengeBuilding...

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Step 2 Map

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Find the exact point where the Great Wall meets the Bohai Sea. What do you notice about the construction method used here?

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Step 3 Quiz

Why was Shanhaiguan called the "First Pass Under Heaven"?

A It was the first pass built during the Ming Dynasty B It controlled the critical corridor between mountains and sea C It was the highest point on the Great Wall D It was the easternmost point where the wall touched the ocean

Step 4 Story

The Silk Road and the Jade Gate

Yumenguan — the "Jade Gate Pass" — was not just a military checkpoint. For over a thousand years, it was one of the most important commercial and cultural gateways in human history.Why "Jade Gate"?The pass was named for the white jade from the Kingdom of Khotan (modern-day Hotan in Xinjiang) that passed through its gates. Chinese civilization valued jade above...

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Step 5 Map

Explore the map

Locate the Jiayuguan fortress on the map. Notice how it sits at the narrowest point of the Hexi Corridor. Why was this location strategically critical?

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Step 6 Quiz

What was the primary commodity that gave Yumenguan its name?

A Silk from China B Jade from Khotan C Tea from Sichuan D Horses from Mongolia

Step 7 Challenge

Challenge

Draw or describe the route of the Great Wall from east to west. Identify at least 3 major passes and explain why each was strategically important.

The Dragon’s Journey: East to West

The Old Dragon Drinks from the Sea

Explore the map

Why was Shanhaiguan called the "First Pass Under Heaven"?

The Silk Road and the Jade Gate

Explore the map

What was the primary commodity that gave Yumenguan its name?

Challenge

Quest Complete!

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The Old Dragon Drinks from the Sea