Events In Jinzhou (Dalian)

Over a millennia of ancient history remains preserved in Dalian, a little known fact to most tourists and locals.

Cheolli Jangseong, the Thousand "Li" (*) Long Wall, refers to two famous military structures in ancient Korean history. The 11th century defensive border wall built during the Goryeo Dynasty in modern-day North Korea is the most common reference for the name. However, the title is also used for the 7th century earthen structure built by the Koguryo (Goguryeo) Kingdom in Northeastern China.

* (1 Li = 500 meters, or half a kilometer)

The Great Wall of Korea in Dalian

This older wall from the 7th century stretched for 500 km from Northern Manchuria to the Bohai Bay, passing through Jilin and Liaoning Provinces. Bisa Fortress (known as Beisha in Mandarin) was constructed in the modern-day Jinzhou District of Dalian. Portions of the original ancient wall remain on and around Dahei Mountain, and can be viewed by those willing to make the extended climb.

Cheolli Jangseong was constructed by the Koguryo (Goguryeo) Kingdom to defend its Manchurian frontier territory against incursions by the Tang Dynasty from China. Ironically, the segments of the Great Wall of China were designed to protect against an invasion from the Machu (Jurchens) who inherited vast portions of the old Koguryo (Goguryeo) Kingdom in Manchuria.

A Brief Timeline:

Between 598 - 614
	The Koguryo (Goguryeo)–Sui Wars were fought between the Sui Dynasty of China and the Koguryo (Goguryeo) Kingdom. Several of the most intense campaigns took place on Manchurian soil.
From 614
	The Sui Dynasty of China captured Dahei Mountain in the Jinzhou District of modern Dalian.
From 618
	The Sui Dynasty had lost the war and collapsed, allowing the Koguryo (Goguryeo) Kingdom to solidify its expansion. At that time its territory encompassed the Northern and Central parts of the Korean Peninsula, including Southern Manchuria (Liaoning Province) and the Southern Russian Maritime Province (Primorsky Krai).
From 631
	King Yeongryu began construction of a defensive boarder wall along the Kingdom's frontier, to defend against incursions from the Northwest by the Tang Dynasty (who replaced the Sui Dynasty) from China.
From 647
	The defensive wall, known as Cheolli Jangseong (The Great Wall of Korea) was completed, with a primary fortification on top of Dahei Mountain in the Jinzhou District of modern Dalian. Bisa (Beisha) Castle is considered by historians to have been one of the possible capital cities of the Province.
From 668
	The Tang Dynasty of China was able to reoccupy East Liaoning and the area of Jinzhou came under its jurisdiction from that time.
From 1117
	The Jinzhou territory was upgraded from a county to a state by the Jin Dynasty.
From 1284
	The Yuan Dynasty established an Imperial Office of the government in Jinzhou. A garrison was stationed there in support, which also increased the households and population for the area.
From 1419
	The Ming Dynasty sent its East Liaoning Army to reinforce Jinzhou against Japanese incursions and prevented subsequent invasion attempts.
Between 1734 - 1843
	The Qing Dynasty continued to develop resources in Jinzhou, which had become a strategically important location and center of trade and commerce.
From 1894
	During the First Sino-Japanese War Jinzhou fell with little resistance. Because of this defeat, Japanese forces were able to quickly capture Dalian without firing a shot.
From 1895
	Japan was forced to relinquish its captured territories in Liaoning Province under terms of the War Treaty.
From 1898
	Russia was given a 25-year lease on Liaodoing Peninsula and established a forward naval station at Port Arthur.
From 1904
	The Russo-Japanese War began with many land conflicts across the Dalian region. The Battle of Nanshan in Jinzhou was a turning point in the conflict that allowed Japan to push Russian forces all the way South to Port Arthur.
From 1905
	Jinzhou became part of the territorial concessions to the Japanese, and became a colonial of Japan along with Port Arthur and Dalian.
From 1945
	Jinzhou was liberated by Russian forces and was co-administered until after 1955.
From 1987
	Jinzhou became the sixth administrative district of Dalian.
	Original Content written by SongLi, 2008 copyright © Discover Dalian. All rights reserved. Any public use of this information is forbidden.

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