Liugong Island

many of them are pines, up to 2,700 mu. In 1985, it was listed as a State Forest Park.many of them are pines, up to 2,700 mu. In 1985, it was listed as a State Forest Park.

Why is it called Liugong Island? There are two legends. One is Liu emperor's family could not endure the persecution of the Caowei regime in the late years of Donghan Dynasty and moved to the island for refuge. Another is related to Liugong and his wife. A long time ago, there was a commercial ship sailing from south to north, which suddenly was attacked by rough wind and could not find land for several days, and was seriously short of food and fresh water. The people on the ship were frightened and did not know their fate. One night, a sailor accidentally found there was fire in front of the ship and he excitedly shouted: 'We have hope, we have hope!'; He knew there were persons where there was fire. This hope gave them great courage to sail to the fire spot. Finally they saw clearly there was an island where an old man was standing there with a torch in his hand to guide the route. The ship drew close to the shore. The people jumped to shallow water, rushed to the shore and fell down on the beach. The old man carried them on his back one by one to his straw house and introduced himself to them. 'My last name is Liu, you can call me Liugong.'; Liugong' s wife was also a kind woman who put a hand of rice into a pot. After a while, the rice boiled well. The people gobbled up the rice bowl by bowl, but the rice in the pot was always full. They suddenly understood they were met by lifesaving celestial beings, and they kowtow to Liugong and his wife immediately. When they raised their heads, they found the celestial beings had disappeared. Next day, the residents told them Liugong and his wife often did such kind things. Later on, these people jointly with the residents on the island built a temple to give thanks to Liugong and his wife and named this island Liugong Island.

It was verified through unearthed cultural relics that early in the Warring States Times, there were people living on the island. In Han Dynasty, Liu's family cultivated land and lived on the island. In the early time of Ming Dynasty, the residents in the island were moved out in order to evade Japanese invaders. In Jiajing years of Ming Dynasty, Wangxianwu led farmers in an uprising to occupy Liugong Island, and was suppressed later. In the late years of Wanli, Dengzhou government recruited people to the island for cultivation and sent soldiers to guard the island. During this time, seatransportation flourished in the south and north, Liugong Island was also thriving, and the residents increased. In the second year of Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (1663), an epidemic disease spread in the island. All the residents moved out. In 1690, Cong, Zou and Jiang families entered on the island. Another farmer uprising came to the island, later was suppressed, and evacuated. During the years of Guangxu, Qing Government set up the Beiyang Navy. Liugong Island was the navy base where many facilities were built, so residents increased. In the spring of 1895, Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 ended, Liugong Island was occupied by Japanese for three years. In1898, Weihai became the powerful area of British imperialism for 32 years. The British seized the original construction facilities and bought all the land from residents on the island and built the headquarters of the British navy, hospital, church and prison as well as tea room, sports ground, post office and navy graveyard. Liugong Island became the place for summer holidays and health care of the British navy. In 1948, Kuomintang occupied Liugong Island, and was liberated by the end of the year. After liberation, the residents moved in and out of Liugong Island four times. There are now two strange things, one is that there is no Liu family on the island, the second is no residents on the island make a living fishing in the sea.

Liugong Island suffered abasement most during the period of Sino-Japanese War in 1894-1895. According to Chinese modern history, Weihai is the place where the first navy in Chinese history was destroyed. Maybe we would ask why the conservative Qing government, which had no sense of guarding sea borders wanted to build a navy? In 1874, the Japanese invaded Taiwan. Qing government began to recognize the importance and urgency. In Mawei Sea War of Aug. 1884, Fujian sea troop was all destroyed. Mawei Shipyard and Jiangfang battery were seriously damaged. In Feb.1885, the Chengqing and Yuyuan warships of Nanyang sea troop were sunk by French warships. All these blows and abasements shocked the fatuous Qing government, which acknowledged that it was not enough to build a navy only relying on backward technology but must buy foreign-made warships to equal 60 large and small warships. The Beiyang navy was equipped with all the advanced warships with large tonnage and big horse power. That is why? When discussing to set up three navies including Beiyang, Nanyang and Yueyang (later Yueyang developed into Fujian and Guangzhou troops), the premier office thought the financial power was not strong, so first built Beiyang Navy. Qing government sent Lihongzhang to establish the Beiyang Navy. Li was a highly regarded officer who united the navy of northern provinces by his power, and Beiyang Navy was greatly developed. Lihongzhang held the power to buy foreign warships, but some advanced warships belonged to Beiyang Navy. Qing government bought 15 warships from Britain and Germany from 1875 to 1884. Beiyang Navy got 8 warships and some warships from other navies by means of borrowing and transferring.

The T dock which is the iron dock was built in 1889, and completed in 1891, with square columns made by thick steel plates and grouting with cement and inserting into the sea. The dock is 205 m long and 6.9 m wide, with rails for supplying coal to warships. This bridge was repaired several times, the T bridge approach was built on the original foundation.