Vintage Era

More Than A Footnote:

Perhaps only remembered now as an item of historical trivia, Dalian's early history had a profound geo-political effect on the shape of our modern world. Americans cannot forget Pearl Harbor, but seldom hear about why that tragic event was set in motion. The reasons are many and complex, but they all have their roots in Manchuria. For decades, International powers fought for control of this region, as the gateway to Russia, Korea, and China. The strategic port of Dalian was where many key battles were fought and far-reaching decisions made. The results of which can still be felt today.

A Brief Overview:

The origin of Dalian dates back approximately 6,000 years ago when the "Sushen" people began to settle the area. Dalian was an important port as early as the 6th century AD. In early Tang Dynasty (640 A.D), Dalian was known as Sanshan Pu and later Qingni Pu. In 1371, the Ming Dynasty Emperor conquered the Port. Dalian was called "Qingni Wa", which is still the name of a downtown section near the Dalian Railway Station. It was occupied (1858) by the British and was fortified as a naval base by the Chinese in the 1880s. It was attacked and briefly held by the Japanese in 1895. Subsequently it was granted, with adjacent parts of the peninsula, to Russia as part of the Liaodong lease. While under Russian control (1898-1905), The area south of Dalian was renamed Port Arthur. It was valued by the Russians for its year-round access to the Pacific Ocean and was extensively refortified for naval use. Dalian was transformed during the same period from a minor fishing port into a modern commercial port and was given the Russian name Dalny (Distant), from the Dalianwan Gulf (Talienwan in historical literature). The battle of Dairen (Dalian) took place on May 30 ,1904 , during the Russo-Japanese War. The battle was won by Japanese forces under the command of general Hikato. The Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), transferred the Liaodong territory to the Japanese, who renamed it Kwangtung. The tactics used on the Russian Fleet, at anchor in Port Arthur during this war, would be modified and applied years later to the attack on the American Fleet at Pearl Harbor Port Arthur, renamed Ryojun, became an important Japanese naval base and was (1905-1937) the administrative center of the territory. Dalian, given the Japanese name Dairen (as the Kanji characters are pronounced), was enlarged and modernized. It became the capital of Kwangtung in 1937 and developed rapidly in the 1930s and early 1940s as the main port and logistical center for Japanese-controlled Manchuria. Following the defeat of Japan in World War II, the ports of Dalian and Lushun (Port Arthur) were placed under joint Soviet-Chinese control in 1945. They were returned to full Chinese sovereignty in 1955. Dalian and Lushun remained as two separate cities and later were combined into the City of Luda. In 1981, Dalian became the official name of the City of Luda. Dalian became a center of heavy industry in the late 1950s and 1960s. During the 1970s it was developed as China's leading petroleum port. Today, Dalian is the main commercial port for Northeast China.

A Note About History:

It is no secret that Sino-Japanese relations are at an all time low. And while history is based on facts, the interpretation of events is often colored to fit political perspectives. In this regard, Discover Dalian is mindful of the feelings pertaining to these historical tensions and remains a neutral entity. Information presented both here and on the tour refrain from making any moral judgments about past events. The accounts are offered without bias or political influence.

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