Liugong Island

Liugong Island is located at the mouth of Weihai Bay. It is the birthplace of the Beiyang Fleet, China's first modern navy, and the site of the decisive battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. The island is home to extant Qing Dynasty architectural sites such as the Naval Office and the Naval Academy, forming one of the largest clusters of modern coastal defense facility sites and First Sino-Japanese War sites in the country.

The core visiting area is concentrated in the western part of the island. The Naval Command Office, built in the 17th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1891), was once the command institution of China's first modern navy and is one of the relatively well-preserved military yamen in the country. Several halls inside have been restored to their historical appearance, displaying replica classical furniture and historical artifacts. The Jiawu War Exhibition Hall features "National Tragedy · 1894–1895" as its basic exhibition, displaying hundreds of historical photographs and precious artifacts, comprehensively presenting the course of the Beiyang Fleet from its establishment to its destruction. Nearby are also the Ding Ruchang Memorial Hall, the Weihai Naval Academy, the Dragon King Temple, and other Qing Dynasty buildings, as well as a 1:1 replica of the "Dingyuan" memorial ship, which can be visited one by one.

Liugong Island Expo Park unfolds around three themes: Liugong culture, the First Sino-Japanese War, and the history of the British lease. Among them, the Hall of the Sea Saint recounts the historical legends of Liugong Island through wall carvings, wood carvings, and other forms; the Whale Pavilion displays the complete skin and skeletal specimens of a stranded sperm whale; and the Museum of Weihaiwei under British Rule recreates the history of Weihaiwei being forcibly leased by Britain for decades. The Wanghai Tower within the expo park stands approx. 30 m tall and is the highest point in the park.

Heading north into Liugong Island National Forest Park, the trees are mainly Japanese black pine, and wild animals such as sika deer inhabit the area. The park also features the Beiyang Navy Loyal Souls Monument, erected to commemorate the centenary of the Beiyang Navy's establishment. Qiding Mountain is the highest point on the island, and from the Qiding Mountain Fortress ruins, visitors can enjoy distant views of the surrounding waters.

On the island, you can also take a sightseeing bus through the forest, or choose a round-island cruise to circle the island, experiencing the scenery of this island bearing profound history from different angles.