(大连旅顺口)

Lüshun (大连旅顺口)

In Dalian we say that visiting here but not seeing Lüshun is like visiting Xiamen without seeing Gulangyu Island，or visiting Hainan Island without seeing Sanya.In other words it means the visitor has not been to Dalian.

Lüshun is recognized as the Museum of Chinese Modern History and has the name of“one Lüshun，half volume of modern history.”It has a closer relationship with modern Chinese and Asian history than other city.Lüshun's strategic location is very important.It is called“throat zone to Bohai Sea”and“the door to Beijing and Tianjin”.One hundred years ago，Lüshun was devastated by wars.Two big wars took place here-the Sino-Japanese War and the Japanese-Russian War.Both Russia and Japan took Lüshun as amilitary base and built a lot of sea and land defenses there.If you come to Lüshun today，many bullet-ridden fortifications and old memorials still can be seen.Everyone seeing this evidence of foreign aggression against China will be better able to compare the past with the present.

The Lüshun Museum is one of the earliest historical museums in China.According to the cultural relics collected in the museum，human civilization here started about5，000 years ago.Large scale sea walls and other defenses were built here during the Han Dynasty.After the Tang Dynasty，a road was built connecting northeast and central China.And the name of Lüshun is connected with this road.Lüshun was once called Lion's mouth.During the 4^th year of the Ming Dynasty's Hongwu Period，Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang sent two generals，Ma Yun and Ye Wang，to reclaim Eastern Liaoning from Shandong Province.The voyage was so smooth and pleasant that they changed the name of Lion's mouth to Lüshun，meaning the“smooth trip”.And it has held this lucky name for over six hundred years.I believe after your visiting of Lüshun，your journey through life will go smoothly.That is also Lüshun's best wish for every visitor who comes here.

Lüshun's historical sites and beautiful scenery attract millions of tourists.Speaking of the area's scenery，it is regarded as“Dalian's back Garden”and in 1988 was recognized as a National Scenic Spot by the State Council.Lüshun boasts big areas of bright cherry forests，flakes of dragon cypress，and seashore with soft，golden sand and wonderful reef.In addition to its natural setting，Lüshun has three special features.

The first special feature is its many towers.These towers include the White Jade，Friendship，Victory，Liberation，and Soviet Union Martyr Memorial Towers.Among them，the oldest is the Laotie Hill Lighthouse，which has been on for over 100 years and was recognized as one of the top ten lighthouses in the world.The most unique feature about these towers is that unlike most towers in China，none of these was built for religious worship.These towers have various shapes and speak of a long history as they stand in the sunlight and moonlight.

Second，there are many hills here.Although not very high，the hills in Lüshun are numerous and picturesque，with colorful names such asWhite Jade Hill，Golden Hill，Silver Hill，Laotie Hill，and the like.

Third，there are many unique scenes and wonders.The first important one is the dividing line between Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea.It is formed by the Liaodong Peninsula，with the Yellow Sea to its east and the Bo hai Sea to its west.Laotie Hill cape is located just on the tip of Liaodong Peninsula，extending into the sea.The water on the east of this line is deep blue while that on the west of it is light yellow，forming an obvious dividing line in the middle.The tide of the Yellow and Bohai Seas pours from both sides of Laotie Hill，forming several deep and turbulent whirlpools which bang loudly and make other shocking sounds.Two other unique sites are the Snake and the Bird Islands.Snakes and birds are natural enemies，but here they inhabit separate islands，enabling both species to flourish.The Snake Island is in the Bohai Sea and located northwest of Lüshun.It is a National Nature Reserve and has thousands of vipers，so it is also called the kingdom of vipers.The Bird Island is three nautical miles away from the Snake Island.Every spring and autumn，flocks of migrating birds flying south and north stop here，turning the island into a bird paradise.

大连有一种说法:不去旅顺就像到青岛没去崂山，到厦门没去鼓浪屿，到海南岛没去三亚一样，等于没来大连。可见旅顺在大连的地位是非常重要的。

旅顺被誉为中国近代史博物馆，有“一个旅顺口，半部近代史”之称。它与中国乃至亚洲近代史关系的密切程度是国内外任何城市都难以比拟的。旅顺的战略地位非常重要，素有“渤海咽喉”和“京津门户”之称。一百多年前，旅顺这片热土饱受战火的洗劫，曾经发生两次大的战争，分别是甲午中日战争和日俄战争。无论是沙俄还是日本，都把旅顺作为军事重镇苦心经营，在这里建了许多海防和陆防设施。今天去旅顺参观，仍可看到当年帝国主义留下的许多残堡旧碑，上面有累累弹痕。面对这些帝国主义的侵华罪证，抚今追昔，相信每一位朋友都会从中受到一定的启示。

旅顺博物馆是中国最早的历史博物馆之一。从它的馆藏文物可知，旅顺早在5000年前就有了人类文明。汉朝时，这里就建立了相当规模的海防城堡。唐朝以后，这里更成为东北地区与内地相联系的交通要道，而旅顺口名称的来历正是与这条交通要道有关。旅顺历史上曾叫狮子口，明朝洪武四年，朱元璋派马云、叶旺两位将军率军队从山东乘船渡海，收复辽东，因一路顺风顺水，遂将狮子口改名为旅顺口，以示纪念。这个吉祥的名字已经伴随这座别致的小城600多年了。相信朋友们去旅顺参观后，人生的旅途一定会一帆风顺，这也是旅顺这座小城对大家衷心的祝福。

旅顺众多的历史遗迹如今已经成为丰富的旅游资源，每年都吸引上百万游人前来旅游观光。旅顺之所以对旅游者有这样大的吸引力，不仅仅是因为它历史名城的身份，还因为它风光绮丽、清幽宜人，素有大连的“后花园”之称。1988年，旅顺被国务院确定为国家级风景名胜区。在这个名胜区里，有灿若云霞的大面积樱花林，有一片片像在熊熊燃烧的龙柏，有沙软滩平、布满奇礁异石的黄金海岸等。此外，在旅游资源方面，旅顺还有“三多”特别值得一提。

第一多是塔多。旅顺有白玉塔、友谊塔、胜利塔、解放塔以及苏军烈士纪念塔等。其中资格最老的要数老铁山灯塔，它已经亮了100多年了，曾被列为世界十大灯塔之一。旅顺的塔与中国其他地区的塔相比，最大的特色就是没有一座是属于宗教范畴的。这些塔造型各异，挺立于朝晖夕阳之中，每一座都向我们讲述着一段沉甸甸的历史。

第二多是山多。旅顺有许多山，虽然不高，但名字却很好听，如白玉山、黄金山、白银山、老铁山等。顾名思义，这些山很美，蕴藏也非常丰富。

第三多是奇观异景多。旅顺的奇观异景可谓数不胜数。第一奇景要数黄、渤海分界线。辽东半岛东临黄海，西濒渤海，而旅顺的老铁山岬角正好位于辽东半岛的尖端，直插入海，东面的黄海呈深蓝色，西面的渤海呈微黄色，中间形成一道明显的分界线。黄海潮和渤海潮从老铁山的两边涌来，在此处卷起几米深的急流旋涡，发出轰轰巨响，惊心动魄，煞是壮观。旅顺第二奇景要算鸟岛、蛇岛。蛇和鸟本是天敌，但在旅顺，这两种动物家族却同样兴旺。蛇岛位于旅顺西北面渤海之中，是国家级自然保护区。岛上有成千上万只蝮蛇，可谓蝮蛇的王国。鸟岛距蛇岛仅3海里，每年春秋两季，成群结队的候岛南飞或北往都要在这里停留，年复一年，这里便成了鸟的乐园。