Weihai Liugong Island

A small island in Weihai harbour that served as the base of the Beiyang Fleet, China's first modern navy, and was the scene of the decisive 1895 naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War.

Liugong Island sits at the entrance to Weihai Bay and is accessible by a short ferry crossing from Weihai's waterfront. The island played a pivotal role in late Qing Dynasty history as the headquarters of the Beiyang Fleet, the naval force established by Li Hongzhang in the 1880s as part of the Self-Strengthening Movement. The fortifications, naval dockyard, and officers' quarters built during this period are remarkably well-preserved and form the core of the island's historical appeal.

The First Sino-Japanese War reached its climax here in February 1895. After a series of defeats at sea, the Beiyang Fleet retreated to Weihai harbour, where it was blockaded by the Imperial Japanese Navy and bombarded from land positions captured by Japanese ground forces. The fleet's commander, Admiral Ding Ruchang, chose death over surrender. The fall of Liugong Island effectively ended Chinese naval resistance and led directly to the Treaty of Shimonoseki.

Today, the Sino-Japanese War Museum on the island presents a detailed account of the conflict, with original artillery pieces, ship models, and archival photographs. The Beiyang Naval Commander Residence has been restored, and the original dockyards — still recognisably Victorian in their iron and brick construction — are open to walk through. The island's small size means it can be thoroughly explored on foot in a morning.

Beyond history, Liugong Island offers pleasant coastal paths, a resident deer population, and views back to Weihai city.