This article is for the location. For the episode with the same name, see "Lake Laogai (episode)".

Lake Laogai is a large body of water located within the Agrarian Zone of Ba Sing Se. It was stated by Joo Dee to be a vacation spot, but in actuality, it hid beneath it a secret underground prison created by Long Feng for his personal purpose of interning anyone there whose actions were contrary to his plans.[2] This hidden location eventually became the Dai Li's base of operations, where they organized their conspiracy through brainwashing and other illegal means;[3] however, it was abandoned due to its discovery by Team Avatar.[4]

History

Centuries before the Hundred Year War, Lake Laogai was used as a prison by the Earth Kingdom. Early in Avatar Kyoshi's life, the notorious waterbending pirate Tagaka was imprisoned under the lake after she was brought to justice.[5]

In the latter years of the Hundred Year War, a large underground facility operated by Dai Li agents and run by the Grand Secretariat, Long Feng, was hidden beneath the waters of Lake Laogai. It consisted of several chambers and tunnels, which held prison cells and training facilities for both Dai Li agents and Joo Dees, as well as chambers with equipment used to brainwash people who did not adhere to the rules enforced by Long Feng and his agents. Some of the rooms were spacious enough to hold a flying bison captive.[3]

The secret headquarters is presumed to have been destroyed, as discovered by Team Avatar when they tried to convince Earth King Kuei of Long Feng's conspiracy. In an attempt to expose the facilities, Toph's raising of the ground under the lake with earthbending uncovered only a destroyed entrance to the base.[4]

In 171 AG, Avatar Korra, Tenzin, and Jinora went to Lake Laogai at Mako's suggestion, believing the Dai Li had reestablished their base to hold captive airbenders for the Earth Queen. However, when Jinora projected her spirit to scout the place, she discovered that the underground base had long since been flooded.[1]

Trivia

The term Laogai is an abbreviation for Laodong Gaizao, 勞動改造 (simplified 劳动改造 ), which means "reform through labor", and referred to the use of prison labor in the People's Republic of China. The Laogai were a series of camps where opponents of the Chinese Communist Party were sent to work as slave labor.

(simplified ), which means "reform through labor", and referred to the use of prison labor in the People's Republic of China. The Laogai were a series of camps where opponents of the Chinese Communist Party were sent to work as slave labor. After the Hundred Year War, a pro-bending team named the Laogai Lion Vultures was formed. [6]

Lake Laogai was redesigned in The Legend of Korra to more closely resemble Lake Tahoe.[7]

References