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

The Liaodong peninsula belongs to the Celestial Empire, it stretches along the northeastern lands of the state. On its territory is the province of Liaoning. The peninsula was an important object in the period of the military conflict between China and Japan. Residents of Liaodong have traditionally engaged in agriculture, fishing, silkworming, gardening, trade and salt extraction.

Geographical position

By its coasts the Liaodong Peninsula cuts into the waters of the Yellow Sea. It is washed by the water area of two bays - West-Korean and Liaotung. In the southwest to its territory is the Guandong Peninsula, considered to be its part.

Description

The territory of the Liaodong Peninsula is very extensive. The longest stretch stretched from the north-east to the south-west. Its length is 225 kilometers. The width of the territory at different sites varies in the range of 80-130 kilometers.

The southwestern coast of Guandong is riasic. The landscape of the peninsula is represented by a hilly plain and low mountains. On its territory is the mountain peak Buyunshan. Soils here are tightened with forests and shrubs.

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

origin of name

The Chinese call this toponym Lyaodongbangdao. The first part of the name - "Liodong" is taken from the Liao River flowing there. In the middle of the name the term "dun" is laid, which translates as "east". As a result, the name of the toponym is interpreted as follows: "the 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 sites with inclusions of gneisses and basalt covers. Most of the relief is low. Low-lying hills and plateaus are occupied by the southwestern lands of the peninsula.

From the southwest to the northeast stretch the mountain ranges of the Qian Shan ridge, flowing into the plateau of Changbai Mountain, leaving for Manchuria, to the North Korean borders. Mountain ranges of the ridge, running in parallel, are formed by ancient slates and granites.

Atmospheric phenomena have turned mountain ridges into pointed peaks and bizarre ridges. Mountain peaks often fly upward by 1000 meters or more. The highest peak is on Mount Buyun, its height is 1130 meters.

The southern extremity is shallow. 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. The rocks are enriched with iron ore, gold, magnesite and copper. In this area, boron and salt are harvested.

The mountainous Liaodong Peninsula in China is covered by a large river network. The rivers that cut it feed Yaluzian, whose ribbon winds along the eastern lands, Liaohe flowing through the western territories, and the Yellow Sea.

River valleys and alluvial plains are rather narrow. The areas of low-lying coasts (excluding the south-western extremity) change under the influence of tides. In the south-east and north-west coasts are low and straight, drying during low tides. In the Jinzhou isthmus, two bays are cut. Thanks to them the south-western extremity is isolated. This part is called the Port Arthurian Peninsula.

Fauna and flora

Plains are occupied by agricultural lands. They cultivate corn, millet, wheat, maize, rice and kaoliang. The population is engaged in the cultivation of tobacco, mulberry, cotton and vegetables. Lyaodun peninsula is lush with fruit plantations. Fruit cultivation traditions are sacred here. Most of all on its territory is broken apple orchards. On its lands grow grapes, peaches, apricots and pears.

Mountain slopes are covered with thickets of oak and hazel. Mountain oaks, turning the high-mountainous slopes, became an abode for wild silkworms. The local population collects their cocoons and receives natural silk. The river deltas are tightened with reeds, which are used as fuel.

The Liaodong fauna is depleted because of the densely populated territory, the destruction of forests and the large share of plowed land. The Liaodong Peninsula is inhabited by hares, squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, ferrets, caresses and other animals characteristic of these latitudes. In the north there are roe deer, migrating from the East Manchurian forests.

Climatic conditions

Winter on the peninsula is softer, in contrast to the adjacent north-eastern regions of the Celestial Empire. Annually, up to 500-700 mm of precipitation falls here. This is more than in the Liaohe Valley. Two-thirds of them account for the rains in July-September. The period of vegetation in this area is 200 days. However, in the territory of the extreme south, it lasts up to 220 days.

History

The area, located east of the Liao River, is known since ancient times. Once it belonged to Inzhou - one of the twelve regions, to which traditionally the territory of China was divided. This place during the reign of Qin and Han was called the Liaotong Prefecture. At that time the peninsula adjoined the north-western borders to Liaosi Prefecture.

Annexation

The Japanese-Chinese War of 1894-1895. Ended not in favor of the Celestial Empire. Japanese troops defeated the Chinese army and navy. When the peace was signed in Shimonoseki on April 17, 1995, the Qing Empire ceded the Liaodong Peninsula and some other territories 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. Having enlisted the support of the allied countries, she, putting pressure on Japan, forced her to return to China the land he had acquired as a result of the concluded armistice.

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

Transfer of Liaodong to the USSR

March 27, 1898, was signed by the Sino-Russian agreement on the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula. At the disposal of the Russian Empire, ports with non-freezing waters crossed: Port Arthur and Dalian. Together with the ports, the surrounding lands and the adjacent water areas were transferred. Port Arthur fortified, turning it into a naval garrison.

From the Harbin to the southern part of the peninsula, which became known as the Kwantung region, the South Caucasian Railway was built. The railway line stretching across Manchuria allowed Russia to influence northern China, preventing the Japanese from realizing frank expansionist intentions toward the Celestial Empire. China and Russia agreed that they will provide mutual military support if the Japanese attack them or Korea.

The Japanese have not left plans to take possession of this area. Realizing that the Russian Empire actually took away their conquered lands, 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 survive substantially increased taxes.

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

The Portsmouth peace was concluded in 1905. According to the peace treaty, the Russian Empire transferred Liaodong to Japan. Under the control of the Japanese, Manchuria spent 40 years. Only in 1945, Russian and Chinese troops by common efforts forced out the Japanese from the lands belonging to the Middle Kingdom.

The Soviet Army will leave Manchuria in 1946, leaving part of the troops on the Liaotung 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, held in May 1955.