Liugong Island lies in Weihai Bay at the eastern tip of the Shandong Peninsula, 2.1 nautical miles from downtown Weihai. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level and national patriotic education demonstration base. Covering merely 3.15 square kilometres, it earns the reputation of “the Unsinkable Warship” for its strategically vital coastal defensive position.
In 1888, the Beiyang Fleet, China’s first modern navy, was formally founded here. The Naval Yamen, the headquarters of the Beiyang Navy, still stands intact. This island witnessed the final battle of the First Sino-Japanese War, where the Beiyang Fleet was annihilated in 1895. Later, it was leased to Britain for nearly 30 years, leaving a cluster of well-preserved western-style villas and barracks.
Major highlights include the Museum of the Sino-Japanese War, ancient batteries such as Donghong Battery, the replica of the warship Dingyuan, and Liugong Island Expo Park. The island boasts 87% forest coverage, with tranquil woods and coastal views. Visitors must take a ferry to reach it. It is a solemn site reminding people of history and national rejuvenation, combining cultural relic sightseeing, maritime history education and island eco-tourism.