Colonial Dairen Tourism

As the Japanese military monopolized its interests in Manchuria, it used the South Manchuria Railway Company as a civilian entity to promote its policies. The SMR, as it was known, used its political control as a precursor to the formation of the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1931. The South Manchuria Railway Company was founded as a monument to Japan's victory over Russia in the race to own China's railway system. The Treaty of Portsmouth gave Japan control of the Liaotung Peninsula and the area's two major railways: the Russian-built Chinese Eastern Railway ran from Siberia through Harbin to the port of Vladivostok, and the South Manchurian Railway which ran perpendicular to it and further down to Dairen and Port Arthur. These samples are from business and advertising efforts used to promote Dairen as the center of commerce and tourism for Manchuria.

A tourism advertisement produced by the South Manchuria Railway Company to promote the city of Dairen.

A tourism advertisement produced by the South Manchuria Railway Company to promote the city of Dairen.

A luggage sticker from the Yamato Hotel (at present day Zhongshan Square), which was owned by the South Manchuria Railway Company.

A share of stock from the South Manchuria Railway Company, issued in Dairen.

Back to Historic Info