Lake Laogai


 * For the episode with the same name, see "Lake Laogai (Episode)".

Lake Laogai is a small body of water located within the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. It is stated by Joo Dee that Lake Laogai is a vacation spot in the Agrarian Zone, though it is unknown if this is true or just was a lie to cover the conspiracy. Lake Laogai also plays disguise for a sinister compound - a base of operations for the Dai Li deep underneath the lake bed.

Dai Li Base


Hidden beneath the waters of Lake Laogai was an underground facility operated by the Dai Li agents and ran by the cultural minister Long Feng. It consisted of many chambers and tunnels which held prison cells and Dai Li and Joo Dee training facilities. These cells also held equipment used to brainwash people who didn't follow the rules set out by Long Feng and his agents. As it was absolutely forbidden to mention the War against the Fire Nation within the walls, those that did were usually arrested and re-educated using the brainwashing technique. The secret headquarters was presumed to be destroyed, as Team Avatar tried to show it to King Kuei as proof of Long Feng's conspiracy, but Toph's raising of the ground under the lake with Earthbending uncovered only a destroyed entrance to the base.

Trivia

 * The term Laogai is an abbreviation for Laodong Gaizao, 勞動改造, which means "reform through labor," and refers to the use of prison labor in the People's Republic of China. The Laogai were a series of work camps where opponents of Chairman Mao were sent.
 * Lake Laogai is one of the only lakes that are visible on the Map of the Avatar World.