The Liaodong Peninsula in China: description, history and traditions. Territory of the Liaodong Peninsula

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The Liaodong Peninsula belongs to the Celestial Empire, it is spread over the northeastern lands of the state. On its territory is the province of Liaoning. The peninsula was an important object during the military conflict between China and Japan. The people of Liaodong are traditionally engaged in agriculture, fishing, sericulture, horticulture, trade and s alt mining.

Geographic location

With its coasts, the Liaodong Peninsula cuts into the waters of the Yellow Sea. It is washed by the waters of two bays at once - the West Korean and Liaodong. In the southwest, the Guandong Peninsula, which is considered part of it, adjoins its territory.

Description

The territory of the Liaodong Peninsula is very vast. The longest section stretched from the northeast to the southwest. Its length is 225 kilometers. The width of the territory in different sections varies in the range of 80-130 kilometers.

The southwest coast from Guangdong has a rias character. The landscape of the peninsula is represented by a hilly plain and low mountains. On its territory is the mountain peak Buyunshan. The soils here are covered with forests and shrubs.

Part of the southern lands is occupied by the large city of Dalian. There are three seaports in the metropolis: Port Arthur, Dairen and Dalyan-van. All the cities that occupied the Liaodong Peninsula developed rapidly from the end of the 20th to the beginning of the 21st century.

Origin of the name

The Chinese call this toponym Liaodongbandao. The first part of the name - "liaodong" is taken from the river Liaohe flowing there. In the middle of the name lies the term "dun", which translates as "east". As a result, the name of the toponym is interpreted as follows: “lands east of Liao.”

Relief

The area is part of a huge mountain belt. It is composed mainly of limestone rocks, shale and quartz sandstones. There are areas interspersed with gneisses and bas alt covers. Most of the relief is low. The southwestern lands of the peninsula are occupied by low hills and plateaus.

From the southwest to the northeast stretch the mountain ranges of the Qianshan ridge, flowing into the Changbaishan plateau, leaving in Manchuria, to the North Korean borders. The mountain ranges of the ridge, running in parallel, are formed by ancient slates and granites.

Atmospheric phenomena have turned mountain ranges into pointed peaks and bizarre ridges. Mountain peaks often soar up to 1000 meters or more. Mostthe highest peak is located on Mount Buyun, its height is 1130 meters.

South end is gentle. The heights of the mountain slopes here do not exceed 500 meters. The main part of the surface is covered with hills reaching a height of 300 meters. Rocks are enriched with iron ore, gold, magnesite and copper. Boron and s alt are mined in this area.

The mountainous Liaodong Peninsula in China is covered by a large river network. The rivers that cut it feed the Yalujiang, which winds its way through the eastern lands, the Liaohe, which flows through the western territories, and the Yellow Sea.

River valleys and alluvial plains are quite narrow. The areas of low-lying coasts (excluding the southwestern tip) change under the influence of low tides. In the southeast and northwest, the coasts are low and straight, draining at low tide. Two bays cut into the Jinzhou Isthmus. Thanks to them, the southwestern tip is isolated. This part is called the Port Arthur Peninsula.

Fauna and flora

The plains are occupied by agricultural land. They cultivate corn, millet, wheat, maize, rice and kaoliang. The population is engaged in the cultivation of tobacco, mulberry, cotton and vegetables. The Liaodong Peninsula is lined with lush fruit plantations. The traditions of growing fruits are sacredly revered here. Most of all on its territory there are apple orchards. Grapes, peaches, apricots and pears are grown on his lands.

Mountain slopes are covered with thickets of oak and hazel. The mountain oaks that covered the high mountain slopes became the abode forwild silkworms. The local population collects their cocoons and receives natural silk. River deltas are covered with reeds, which are used as fuel.

The fauna of Liaodong is impoverished due to the densely populated area, the destruction of forests and a large proportion of plowed land. The Liaodong Peninsula is inhabited by hares, squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, ferrets, weasels and other living creatures characteristic of these latitudes. In the north, there are roe deer migrating from the Eastern Manchurian forests.

Climatic conditions

Winter on the peninsula is milder, in contrast to the adjacent north-eastern regions of the Celestial Empire. Up to 500-700 mm of precipitation falls here annually. This is more than in the Liaohe Valley. Two thirds of them are due to rains in July-September. The growing season in this area is estimated at 200 days. However, in the extreme south it lasts up to 220 days.

History

The area located east of the Liaohe River has been known since ancient times. Once it belonged to Inzhou - one of the twelve regions into which the territory of China was traditionally divided. This place during the reign of Qin and Han was called Liaodong Prefecture. At that time, the peninsula was adjacent to the northwestern borders of Liaoxi Prefecture.

Annexation

Japanese-Chinese War 1894-1895 ended not in favor of the Middle Kingdom. Japanese troops defeated the Chinese army and navy. At the signing of peace in Shimonoseki on April 17, 1995, the Qing Empire ceded the Liaodong Peninsula and some otherterritory to the Japanese.

However, this turn of events did not suit Russia, Germany and France. The Russian Empire regarded the actions of the Japanese as a threat to their Far Eastern possessions. Enlisting the support of the allied countries, she, putting pressure on Japan, forced her to return to China the acquired land as a result of the ceasefire.

The forced annexation of the Liaodong Peninsula took place in November 1895. For the return of the lands, the Celestial Empire paid Japan 30 million taels. As a result of the annexation, the Japanese lost control of Port Arthur, which did not suit them at all.

Transfer of Liaodong to USSR for rent

On March 27, 1898, the Sino-Russian agreement on the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula was signed. The ports with ice-free waters: Port Arthur and Dalian were transferred to the disposal of the Russian Empire. Together with the ports, the lands surrounding them and the water areas adjacent to them were transferred. Port Arthur was fortified, turning it into a naval garrison.

From Harbin to the southern part of the peninsula, which began to be called the Kwantung region, the Southern Moscow Railway was built. The railway line, stretched through Manchuria, allowed Russia to influence Northern China, preventing the Japanese from realizing outright expansionist intentions regarding the Celestial Empire. China and Russia have agreed that they will provide mutual military support if the Japanese attack them or Korea.

The Japanese did not leave plans to seizethis locality. Realizing that the Russian Empire had actually taken away the conquered lands from them, the Japanese government stirred up a new wave of militarization in the country. The ruling elite traditionally pursued an aggressive foreign policy, urging the nation to endure significantly increased taxes.

She promised to send all the funds for a new military revenge, during which she intended to get the lost territories. In May 1904, Japanese troops landed on the Liaodong Peninsula. They, having cut it off from the mainland, settled in the port of Dalian. Russian troops had to retreat. The soldiers retreated, as it was believed, to the inaccessible garrison of Port Arthur. The Japanese launched an attack and conquered a powerful fortress.

The Peace of Portsmouth was concluded in 1905. According to the peace treaty, the Russian Empire transferred Liaodong to Japan. Manchuria was ruled by the Japanese for 40 years. Only in 1945 did the Russian and Chinese troops jointly oust the Japanese from the lands that belonged to the Celestial Empire.

The Soviet Army will leave Manchuria in 1946, leaving part of the troops on the Liaodong Peninsula. The Soviet Union and China will decide on the joint use of Port Arthur. The agreement will remain in force until the transfer of the peninsula to the possession of the PRC, which took place in May 1955.