Liaoning

Liaoning is a coastal province located in Northeastern China. It is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in this specific region.

The province sits on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea. To the south, it meets the Bohai Sea and the Korea Bay. The Yalu River marks the border with North Korea. The river empties into the Korea Bay between Dandong in Liaoning and Sinuiju in North Korea. The name Liaoning is derived from the Liao River, which flows through the province.

The geography of the province can be divided into three distinct regions. The western part consists of highlands dominated by the Nulu'erhu Mountains. These mountains follow the border between Liaoning and Inner Mongolia. A narrow strip of coastal plains called the Liaoxi Corridor connects the Liao River Basin to the North China Plain. This corridor ends at the Shanhai Pass of the Great Wall. The central region is a mostly flat, low-lying basin. It is drained by the Liao and Daliao rivers and their many tributaries.

The eastern part is characterized by hills and mountains. The Changbai and Qianshan Mountains extend into the sea to form the Liaodong Peninsula. The highest point in the province is Mount Huabozi, which reaches an elevation of 1,336 meters.

Liaoning has experienced a complex history involving many different ruling powers. Before 300 BC, the area was inhabited by the Donghu, Gojoseon, and Yemaek peoples. Around 300 BC, the state of Yan conquered the region. This led to the establishment of two commanderies: Liaodong, which means "east of the Liao River," and Liaoxi, meaning "west of the Liao River." Later, various states like the Xianbei and the Bohai expanded into the area. During the Liao dynasty, the region was divided into four different capital circuits: Eastern, Supreme, Central, and Lower. The Jurchen Jin dynasty also administered much of the territory through various routes.

The Ming Empire took control of Liaoning in 1371. To protect the agricultural heartland, they constructed a defense wall around 1442. This was known as the Liaodong Wall. Unlike the Great Wall of China, this was a lower-cost design. It was mostly an earth dike with moats on both sides, though some parts used stones and tiles. Despite this wall, the Jurchen people conquered eastern Liaoning in the early 17th century. This group established the Later Jin dynasty, which later became the Qing dynasty. They moved their capital several times, eventually settling in Shengjing, which is now known as Shenyang.

During the Qing dynasty, the population of the province changed significantly. The conquest led to a major loss of local residents due to fighting and flight. By 1661, a governor reported that most cities east of the Liao River were nearly empty. To fix this, the imperial government recruited migrants from places like Shandong starting in the mid-17th century. To keep other regions separate, the government built the Willow Palisade. This structure encircled the agricultural areas of Fengtian Province. It separated the land from the Manchu forests and Mongol grazing lands. Over time, these restrictive policies failed, and the population doubled between 1683 and 1734. By 1860, the region was reopened to more migration.

The 20th century brought intense conflict and political shifts to the province. During the Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905), Liaoning hosted major battles. The Battle of Mukden was the largest land battle fought up to that point. In 1931, Japan invaded and established the puppet state of Manchukuo. After the Japanese defeat in 1945, the Chinese Civil War saw major battles like the Liaoshen Campaign. The modern province was officially formed in 1954. This happened when the Liaodong and Liaoxi provinces were merged. Liaoning was also one of the first provinces in China to undergo industrialization. The city of Anshan became home to one of the country's largest iron and steel complexes.

Today, Liaoning is a vital center for both industry and scientific research. While heavy industry was once the main focus, the government has launched the "Revitalize the Northeast" Campaign to address economic difficulties. The province is also a global leader in science. According to the Nature Index, two of its cities rank in the world's top 100 for scientific research output. These cities are Dalian, ranked 42nd, and Shenyang, ranked 82nd.

Additionally, the province contains famous paleontological sites known as the Jehol Group. These sites include the Yixian, Jiufotang, and Tiaojishan formations, which are important for studying ancient life.