Panorama of the Main Square - Dalian (Dairen) in the Liaoning Province, China - 40km from Port Arthur (modern Lushunkou). In 1898, the Russian Empire succeeded in leasing the peninsula (containing Dalian) from the Qing Dynasty, and a modern city was laid out with the name of Dalny. Linked to the Trans-Siberian Railway's branch line, Dalny became Russia's primary port-city in Asia. The Russian government contributed more than 10 million rubles into the city's foundation and building.