The Liaodong Peninsula belongs to the Celestial Empire, hespread over 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
With its coasts the Liaodong Peninsulacuts 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 southwest coast from the side of Guandong isriasic character. The landscape of the peninsula is represented by hilly plains and low mountains. On its territory is the mountain peak Buyunshan. Soils here are tightened with forests and shrubs.
Часть южных земель занята крупным городом Далянь.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 - "lyodun" 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 title 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 basaltic 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 rangesridge Qianshan, flowing into the plateau of Changbai Mountain, leaving for Manchuria, to the North Korean lines. Mountain ranges of the ridge, running in parallel, are formed by ancient slates and granites.
Atmospheric phenomena have turned mountain ranges intoPeaked peaks and bizarre ridges. Mountain peaks often take off skyward 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.
Mountainous Liaodong Peninsula in China coversa large river network. The rivers that cut it feed Yaluzian, whose ribbon curls along the eastern lands, Liaohe flowing through the western territories, and the Yellow Sea.
River valleys and alluvial plains are quitenarrow. 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. Due 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 cultivates 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 covered with reeds, which are used as fuel.
The fauna of Liaodong is impoverished because of its densely populatedterritory, the destruction of forest tracts and a large share of plowed land. The Liaodong peninsula is inhabited by hares, squirrels, marmots, chipmunks, ferrets, caresses and other animals, characteristic for these latitudes. In the north there are roe deer, migrating from the East Manchurian forests.
Climatic conditions
Зима на полуострове более мягкая, в отличие от adjacent to it northeastern regions of the Celestial Empire. Annually here falls to 500-700 mm of precipitation. 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,known since ancient times. Once it belonged to Inzhou - one of the twelve regions, to which the territory of China was traditionally 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.
Однако такой поворот событий не устраивал Россию, 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.
Вынужденная аннексия Ляодунского полуострова occurred in November 1895. For the return of the land, 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 for rent to USSR
March 27, 1898 was signedSino-Russian agreement on the lease of the Liaodong Peninsula. At the disposal of the Russian Empire passed ports with non-freezing waters: Port Arthur and Dalian. Together with the ports, the lands surrounding them and the adjacent waters were transferred. Port Arthur was strengthened, turning it into a naval garrison.
From Harbin to the southern part of the peninsula, whichbegan to be called Kvantunsky area, built YuMZhD. The branch line, stretched across Manchuria, allowed Russia to influence North China, preventing the Japanese from realizing frank expansionist intentions toward the Middle Kingdom. China and Russia agreed that they would provide mutual military support if the Japanese attacked them or Korea.
The Japanese left no plans to take over thisterrain. Realizing that the Russian Empire had virtually taken away the conquered lands from them, the Japanese government shook the new wave of militarization in the country. The ruling elite traditionally pursued an aggressive foreign policy, calling on the nation to bravely survive substantially increased taxes.
She promised to send all means forThe new military revenge, during which she intended to get the lost territory. In May 1904, the Japanese troops landed on the Liaodong Peninsula. They cut off from the mainland and settled in the port of Dalian. Russian troops had to retreat. The warriors retired, as it was believed, to the inaccessible garrison of Port Arthur. The Japanese launched an attack and conquered a powerful fortress.
Portsmouth Peace concluded in 1905.According to the peace treaty, the Russian Empire transferred Liaodong to Japan. Under the Japanese rule, Manchuria spent 40 years. Only in 1945, Russian and Chinese troops jointly ousted the Japanese from the lands that belonged to the Middle Kingdom.
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 into the possession of the PRC, which took place in May 1955.
