The peninsula's territory comprises three prefecture-level cities of Shandong: Qingdao in the southwest, Yantai in the north and centre, and Weihai at the eastern tip.

Instead of restoring Chinese sovereignty over the area, the treaty transferred the leased territory to the Empire of Japan.

This resulted in popular dissatisfaction in China with the outcome, known as the Shandong Problem, and led to the May Fourth Movement.

Eventually, Shandong was reverted to Chinese control in 1922 after mediation by the United States during the Washington Naval Conference.

Due to geographical reasons, the Shandong Peninsula is closely connected with Northeast China and South Korea.