LIAOTUNG PENINSULA

Wade-Giles romanization Liao-tung Pan-tao, Pinyin Liaodong Bandao, large peninsula jutting out in a southwesterly direction from the southern coastline of Liaoning province, northeastern China. It partly separates the Po Hai (Gulf of Chihli) (west) from Korea Bay (east), and, with the Shantung Peninsula to the south, it delimits the Po Hai Strait. The Liaotung Peninsula forms a part of a larger mountain belt, with a southwest-northeast axis, which is continued in the Ch'ang-pai Mountains of the Northeast (Manchuria)North Korean border area. On the peninsula, the range is known as the Ch'ien Mountains. The backbone of the peninsula consists of a number of parallel ridges of mountains formed from very ancient granites and shales. They have been weathered into sharp peaks and ridges and are rarely more than 3,300 feet (1,000 m) in elevation, but the highest peak, Mount Pu-yn, reaches 3,712 feet (1,131 m). Most of the southern part of the peninsula is gentler in its relief, seldom exceeding 1,650 feet (500 m). The mountains are deeply dissected by a complex river system, which drains partly into the Yalu River to the east, partly into the Liao River to the west, and partly into the sea. The river valleys of the peninsula proper are narrow, with no large alluvial plains. The climate of the Liaotung Peninsula is somewhat warmer in winter than is the surrounding area of northeastern China. It receives 20 to 30 inches (500 to 750 mm) of precipitation annually, about two-thirds of which falls in the very hot summer months (July to September); precipitation on the peninsula is, however, rather more variable than the inland Liao River valley. The growing season lasts 200 days, and 220 days in the extreme south. The area is extensively used for orchard and fruit farming, especially apples; and wheat, corn (maize), and rice are grown. Chestnut-leaved oaks are grown in the highlands for use in tussah silk production. Mineral resources include iron ore, gold, copper, and magnesite. Boron and salt are also mined. Near the southern tip of the peninsula lies the major city and port of L-ta, which is made up of the ports of Ta-lien and L-shun (Dairen and Port Arthur). A north-south railway connects L-ta to Ying-k'ou, at the western base of the peninsula, and continues beyond the peninsula to Shen-yang. L-ta and other cities in the area grew rapidly in the late 20th century.