How was the Liaodong Peninsula formed?

The Liaodong Peninsula was formed as a southward extension of the eastern highlands of Liaoning province. It is part of a larger mountain belt that shares a southwest-northeast axis with the Changbai Mountains located along the border of Northeast China and North Korea.12

The backbone of the peninsula is composed of parallel mountain ranges—known locally as the Qian Mountains—which were formed from ancient granites and shales. Over time, these mountains have been weathered into sharp peaks and ridges. The peninsula's topography is deeply dissected by a complex river system that drains into the Yalu River to the east, the Liao River to the west, and directly into the sea.2