Lushun 203 Highland Scenic Area

Lushun 203 Highland Scenic Area

The 203 Highland Scenic Area is located within the Lushun National Forest Park, 3 kilometers from downtown Lushun, covering an area of nearly 500,000 square meters. The area preserves a vast evergreen black pine forest and a 33,000-square-meter cherry blossom garden. It is recognized as a national forest park and a provincial-level cultural heritage site.

The 203 Highland was the most intense main battlefield on the western front during the land battles of the Russo-Japanese War in Lushun. It earned the name "203 Highland" due to its elevation of 203 meters. Starting on September 9, 1904, the Japanese army deployed 64,000 troops, personally overseen by General Nogi Maresuke, commander of the Third Army, and launched over 70 assaults on the 203 Highland. After suffering 17,000 casualties, they finally captured the highland on December 5 of that year.

After capturing the 203 Highland, the Japanese army immediately set up a heavy artillery observation post there. From their elevated position, Japanese heavy artillery bombarded the Russian fleet in Lushun Harbor, sinking nearly all of the ships.

After the Russo-Japanese War, General Nogi Maresuke renamed the mountain "Mount Earling" (尔灵山), a homophone of "203." He also had a 10.3-meter-tall bullet-shaped tower cast from melted-down shell fragments and discarded weapons collected from the mountain after the war. The tower resembles a Japanese rifle bullet.

Climbing to the top of the 203 Highland and looking out, you can take in the graceful scenery of Lushunkou, the famous Snake Island, and the majestic Laotie Mountain. We can’t help but marvel at the breathtaking beauty of our motherland. Yet, when we turn back to gaze at the war-torn ruins and the "Earling Mountain" Tower that records the atrocities of the invaders, what are our feelings? May war never happen again, and may the world have peace. Address: No. 1 Changjiang Road, Lushunkou District, Dalian

Where Liaoning’s travel story begins

The 203 Highland Scenic Area is located within the Lushun National Forest Park, 3 kilometers from downtown Lushun, covering an area of nearly 500,000 square meters. The area preserves a vast evergreen black pine forest and a 33,000-square-meter cherry blossom garden. It is recognized as a national forest park and a provincial-level cultural heritage site.

The 203 Highland was the most intense main battlefield on the western front during the land battles of the Russo-Japanese War in Lushun. It earned the name "203 Highland" due to its elevation of 203 meters. Starting on September 9, 1904, the Japanese army deployed 64,000 troops, personally overseen by General Nogi Maresuke, commander of the Third Army, and launched over 70 assaults on the 203 Highland. After suffering 17,000 casualties, they finally captured the highland on December 5 of that year.

After capturing the 203 Highland, the Japanese army immediately set up a heavy artillery observation post there. From their elevated position, Japanese heavy artillery bombarded the Russian fleet in Lushun Harbor, sinking nearly all of the ships.

After the Russo-Japanese War, General Nogi Maresuke renamed the mountain "Mount Earling" (尔灵山), a homophone of "203." He also had a 10.3-meter-tall bullet-shaped tower cast from melted-down shell fragments and discarded weapons collected from the mountain after the war. The tower resembles a Japanese rifle bullet.

Climbing to the top of the 203 Highland and looking out, you can take in the graceful scenery of Lushunkou, the famous Snake Island, and the majestic Laotie Mountain. We can’t help but marvel at the breathtaking beauty of our motherland. Yet, when we turn back to gaze at the war-torn ruins and the "Earling Mountain" Tower that records the atrocities of the invaders, what are our feelings? May war never happen again, and may the world have peace.

Address:

No. 1 Changjiang Road, Lushunkou District, Dalian