I thought it was the official guide for the scenic area, but it turned out to be a Ctrip-produced guide. Shanhaiguan is magnificent, but the scenic area is average—not very large, and without much else to offer. The historical stories told by the guide were quite interesting. Shanhaiguan, also known as Yuguan, Yuguan, and Linluguan, is one of the northeastern passes of the Ming Great Wall. Before 1990, it was considered the eastern starting point of the Ming Great Wall. Known as one of the "Three Wonders of the Great Wall of China," "the First Pass in the World," and "the Throat of the Border Counties and the Guarantee of the Capital," it echoes Jiayuguan thousands of miles away and is renowned worldwide.
In 1985, Shanhaiguan was listed as one of the "Top Ten Scenic Spots in China."
Laolongtou, a National AAAAA-level scenic spot located 5 kilometers south of Shanhaiguan District, Qinhuangdao City, marks the eastern point where the Ming Great Wall meets the sea. It is the only section of the Great Wall that integrates land and sea defenses, including mountain, sea, pass, and city walls. The Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty spanned high mountains and steep cliffs, winding like a giant dragon into the Bohai Sea, so the first section of the Great Wall was called "Laolongtou".