Rizhao, China
Region: Shandong
Geographic Coordinates: 35.416400, 119.433000
Temperature Range: -10.0°C to 40.0°C (14°F to 104°F)
Climate: Seasonal.
Population: 2968365
Language: Chinese
Rizhao is a stunning coastal city located in Shandong province, China. It is known as the Sunshine City with an average of 2, 700 hours of sunshine per year, Making it one of the sunniest cities in China. The city covers around 5, 000 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 3 million people. The most remarkable feature of Rizhao is its beautiful beaches that stretch over 60 kilometers along the coastline. Wanpingkou Beach is the most popular beach among tourists and offers crystal-clear waters and soft white sand.
Visitors can enjoy various water activities such as swimming, Surfing, And boating or simply relax under umbrellas while enjoying local snacks sold by vendors. Apart from its stunning beaches, Rizhao also has many other natural attractions worth exploring. Wulian Mountain Scenic Area offers breathtaking views from atop its peaks with winding paths leading through lush forests and waterfalls. Taohuajiang National Forest Park is another must-visit place for nature lovers which spans over 500 hectares and features some rare species like Chinese yew trees.
The city’s history dates back to over two thousand years ago when it was part of ancient Qi State during Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). Today visitors can learn more about this rich history by visiting places like Ancient Qi City Ruins where they can explore ruins dating back to Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD) or visit Confucius Temple where they can learn more about Confucianism philosophy. Rizhao’s economy mainly depends on agriculture with crops like fruits, Vegetables, Rice being grown in abundance due to fertile soil conditions created by Yellow River delta sedimentation.
In recent years however tourism industry has been rapidly growing due to its natural beauty attracting both domestic and international visitors alike. Overall, Rizhao offers visitors a perfect blend of natural beauty, Rich history and culture along with modern amenities. Whether you’re looking for an adventure in nature or simply want to relax on the beach while soaking up the sun, Rizhao has something for everyone.
- Wanpingkou Beach
- Rizhao Seaside National Forest Park
- Rizhao Zhonghaitian Beach
- Wulian Mountain Scenic Area
- The Ancient City of Donggang
- Rizhao Museum
- Shahe Golf Course
- Sunshine Coast Water World
- Wulian County Museum
- Rizhao Olympic Sports Center
- Port and shipping: Rizhao Port is one of China’s largest ports, handling a variety of cargo such as coal, iron ore, grain, and containers.
- Chemicals: Several chemical plants in Rizhao produce chemicals like methanol, urea, ammonia, and PVC.
- Paper manufacturing: There are multiple paper mills situated in Rizhao that create various types of paper products.
- Agriculture: The surrounding area is well-known for its agricultural production of fruits (apples and pears), vegetables (cabbage and tomatoes), and livestock (pigs).
- Tourism: Due to its beautiful beaches and scenic spots like the Wanpingkou Scenic Area or Lighthouse Scenic Area, Rizhao has become a popular tourist destination.
- Renewable energy: Wind farms have been developed along the coast recently as there has been an increase in renewable energy development.
- Manufacturing industries: Textile production (clothing) also contributes significantly to the local economy alongside other manufacturing industries.
- Trade & commerce: With its port facility, Rizhao serves as an important hub for international trade & commerce.
- Rizhao was one of the earliest areas in China to be inhabited by humans, with evidence of human habitation dating back over 6,000 years.
- During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE), Rizhao was an important center for trade and commerce.
- In the late 19th century, Rizhao became a major port for exporting coal and other goods to Japan and other countries.
- The city played a significant role in World War II as a base for Chinese resistance forces against Japanese occupation.
- Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China and former president of the Republic of China, visited Rizhao in 1912 during his campaign to overthrow the Qing dynasty.
- The famous Chinese poet Xu Zhimo wrote several poems about Rizhao during his travels through Shandong Province in the early 20th century.
- In recent years, Rizhao has become known as a hub for renewable energy technology development and production, particularly wind power generation equipment.
- Renowned Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong spent his childhood in Wulian County which is part of present-day Rizhao City.
- Chinese Nobel laureate Mo Yan is from Gaomi County which is also part of present-day Rizhao City.
- The Battle at Taierzhuang during Second Sino-Japanese War took place near Zhaoyuan County which is now under administration by Yantai but historically considered part of westernmost territory within jurisdictional boundary that now defines contemporary boundaries between Weifang, Rizhao, and Linyi cities respectively.
- Rizhao Seacoast Sculpture Park
- Wanpingkou Beach
- Rizhao Museum
- Rizhao Olympic Sports Center Stadium
- Taierzhuang Ancient Town
- Wulian Mountain Scenic Area
- Yufeng Mountain National Forest Park
- Shahe Scenic Area
- Zhonghai Beach
- China Salt Museum
- Rizhao is a city that doesn’t have any notable professional sports teams in its history.
- Nevertheless, it has several amateur and youth sports teams that take part in local and regional competitions.
- Basketball, football (soccer), volleyball, table tennis, badminton, and swimming are some of the popular sports played in Rizhao.
- The Rizhao Municipal Sports Center is a multi-purpose stadium that holds various sporting events and concerts throughout the year.
- The Rizhao International Kite Festival is an annual event that takes place in April, attracting kite enthusiasts from around the world.
- The Rizhao International Beach Volleyball Open is held in July and features top beach volleyball players competing on the city’s beautiful beaches.
- The China (Rizhao) International Water Sports Festival takes place in August and includes a variety of water sports competitions such as surfing, sailing, and swimming.
- The Rizhao Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the blooming of cherry blossoms throughout the city during March and April with cultural performances and activities.
- The Confucius Cultural Festival is an annual event that celebrates the life and teachings of Confucius through traditional music performances, lectures on Confucian philosophy, and other cultural activities.
- The Lantern Festival marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations with lantern displays, lion dances, and other festivities on the 15th day of the first lunar month (usually February or March).
- Dragon Boat Festival commemorates a famous Chinese poet who drowned himself by jumping into a river after being exiled from his homeland; it is marked by dragon boat races across China including Rizhao which has its own dragon boat race competition during this time.
- Rizhao Seafood: As a coastal city, seafood is a must-try in Rizhao. The city offers fresh and delicious seafood dishes at affordable prices.
- Laobian Dumplings: These dumplings are a specialty of Rizhao and are filled with minced meat or vegetables.
- Shandong Roast Duck: This dish is similar to Peking duck but has its own unique flavor.
- Qilu Restaurant: This restaurant serves traditional Shandong cuisine, including braised sea cucumber, fried shrimp with salted egg yolk, and more.
- Yiyuan Restaurant: This restaurant specializes in hot pot dishes and offers a variety of ingredients to choose from.
- Xinyuan Tea House: This tea house offers traditional Chinese teas along with small bites like steamed buns and dumplings.
- Fuyang Renjia Restaurant: This restaurant serves authentic Sichuan-style dishes like spicy hotpot and mapo tofu.
- Dongpo Pork Restaurant: This restaurant serves Dongpo pork, a famous Hangzhou-style dish made from braised pork belly with soy sauce and sugar.
- Yimeng Mountain Food Street: Located near the Yimeng Mountain Scenic Area, this food street features various local snacks such as sesame cakes, fried dough twists, sweet potato cakes, etc.
- Laiyang Pear Garden Restaurant: Located in the nearby town of Laiyang, this restaurant specializes in pear-based dishes such as pear soup, pear salad with shrimp or chicken strips.
- Rizhao Olympic Sports Center: This is a large sports complex that includes a stadium, swimming pool, tennis courts, and other facilities.
- Wanpingkou Scenic Area: This is a popular beach area with stretches of sand and clear water for swimming.
- Rizhao Forest Park: This park has hiking trails through lush forests and scenic views from the hilltops.
- Wulian Mountain National Forest Park: This park offers hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic views of the surrounding mountains.
- Rizhao Seaside National Forest Park: This park features beaches, rock formations, and scenic hikes along the coast.
- Shanhaitian Scenic Area: This area has a long sandy beach with water sports activities like surfing and windsurfing available.
- Xihai’an Wetland Park: A wetland reserve that provides habitat for migratory birds as well as recreational activities like boating and fishing.
- Juxian Ancient City Ruins Park – An archaeological site where visitors can explore ancient ruins dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE).
