“兩京鎖鑰無雙地,萬裏長城第一關”。山海關為萬裏長城東部起點的第一座關隘,是明長城唯一與大海相交匯的地方,素有中國長城“三大奇觀之一”(東有山海關、中有鎮北台、西有嘉峪關)。明洪武十四年(1381年)築城建關設衛,因其依山襟海,故名山海關。山海關城周長約4千米,與長城相連,以城為關,城高14米,厚7米,有四座主要城門,多種防禦建築,牆體高大堅實,氣勢宏偉。最為引人注目的是關城東門的鎮遠樓,也就是天下第一關城樓。城樓所懸的“天下第一關”匾額是明代書法家肖顯手跡。城樓聳立於長城之上,雄視四野。登上城樓,可俯視山海關城全貌及關外風光。
老龍頭位於山海關城南5公裏的渤海之濱,是萬裏長城東部的起點,是長城與大海唯一的一處交匯點。萬裏長城恰似一條巨龍,而入海石城猶如龍首探入大海,因而得名老龍頭。老龍頭伸入渤海中約20餘米,以巨石壘成,一半位於海平麵之上,一半在水下,建於明萬曆年間,由戚繼光修築。由寧海城、入海石城、澄海樓、南海口關、龍武營、海神廟等組成。老龍頭不僅是伸入大海,建造十分機巧的軍事設施,而且又是萬裏長城中唯一兼有關、山、海、色等諸多景觀的絕佳之處。從明初洪武年間到明末崇禎年間的260餘年中,老龍頭不斷修建,逐步完善。直至清代長城內外成為一統,老龍頭從此失去了軍事防禦的作用,成為帝王將相、文人墨客觀光覽勝的佳境。
寧海城是老龍頭軍事防禦體係的重要組成部分,是我國現存最完整、規模最宏大的明代軍營。城內有兵營區:龍武營;武官府邸:守備署、把總署;有祭祀先驅將領的顯功祠,也有請神護佑的龍王廟和關帝廟。當年這裏駐守著三個營的水師,有戰船百餘艘。澄海樓矗立於高昂的龍頭之上,猶如點睛之作,有“長城連海水連天,人上飛樓百尺巔”之稱。自清朝開國後,康熙、雍正、乾隆、嘉慶、道光都多次到過老龍頭,其中乾隆皇帝4次來此登樓觀海,留下了大量詩文墨寶。站在澄海樓城樓上,極目遠眺,海天一色,可盡賞波濤洶湧,天海茫茫的壯美景觀。老龍頭的西側修建了海神廟、北海神廟、媽祖廟、龍王廟等四座廟宇,為求神靈保護船戶漁民出海平安。1900年八國聯軍從老龍頭登陸,四座廟宇毀於炮火。現在的海神廟是1988年重新修建的,它綜合了原有四座廟宇的特點,重新構思設計,延伸入海124米,是旅遊觀光、臨風休憩的好去處。
天下第一關城樓。
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寧海城是老龍頭軍事防禦體係的重要組成部分,是我國現存最完整、規模最宏大的明代軍營。
6)
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澄海樓高踞於老龍頭之上,是老龍頭的絕對製高點。
35)
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38)
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老龍頭西側的海神廟。
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