日照 — Sunshine Coast — Beach Paradise on the Yellow Sea
Rizhao — literally "Sunshine Arrival" — is a charming coastal city on the southern shores of Shandong Province, where the Yellow Sea meets some of the finest beaches in northern China. The city's name derives from an ancient poem describing the sun's first rays illuminating the eastern horizon, and Rizhao lives up to its name: it receives an average of over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, making it one of the sunniest cities in eastern China. The city's 168-kilometer coastline features golden sand beaches, rocky headlands, and protected bays that have made it an increasingly popular beach destination, attracting visitors from Shandong's inland cities, Beijing, and beyond. In 2023, Rizhao was officially designated a "National Beach Tourism Destination" by China's tourism authority, cementing its status as one of northern China's premier coastal getaways.
Despite its reputation as a beach town, Rizhao offers remarkable natural and cultural diversity beyond its coastline. To the north and west, the city is backed by forested mountains and hills that provide scenic hiking, Buddhist temples, and ancient historical sites. Wulian Mountain (五莲山), rising 515 meters above the coastal plain, is a national forest park with dramatic granite peaks, ancient pine forests, and a Buddhist heritage dating to the Tang Dynasty. Further inland, Fulaishan (浮来山) is home to one of the world's oldest surviving trees — a 4,000-year-old ginkgo tree that has become a living monument to Rizhao's deep historical roots. The city's coastal wetlands and mudflats are among the most important bird habitats in eastern China, attracting thousands of migratory birds each year.
Modern Rizhao is a clean, well-organized city of approximately 3 million people that has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure while maintaining a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere. The city is famous for its green tea — Rizhao Green Tea (日照绿茶) is one of northern China's most prized tea varieties, grown in the hills behind the coastal plain and celebrated for its fresh, slightly sweet flavor. The city's seafood is among the freshest in Shandong — the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the southern Yellow Sea produce exceptional fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish that are served at the numerous seafood restaurants lining the coastal promenade. Rizhao is easily accessible by high-speed rail from Qingdao (1 hour), Jinan (2.5 hours), and Shanghai (5 hours), making it an ideal coastal extension to any Shandong itinerary.
Rizhao's most famous beach and the city's iconic seaside destination, Wanpingkou is a 2.5-kilometer stretch of golden sand beach along the Yellow Sea coast, backed by grassy dunes, palm trees, and a modern coastal promenade. The name "Wanpingkou" means "Ten Thousand Ping (a unit of area) Estuary," referring to the natural bay that shelters the beach, creating calm, swimmable waters with gentle waves — ideal conditions for families with children and casual beachgoers. The beach is regularly ranked among the cleanest and most beautiful in northern China.
Wanpingkou is divided into several zones, each with its own character. The main beach area features lifeguard-supervised swimming zones, beach volleyball courts, and equipment rental for surfing, windsurfing, and kayaking. The northern section has a more natural feel with rocky tidal pools that are excellent for exploring at low tide — children love searching for crabs, starfish, and shells. The newly developed Ocean Park area includes a marine life exhibition, an aquarium with local Yellow Sea species, and interactive exhibits. A paved cycling and walking path runs the entire length of the beach, offering panoramic sea views and connecting to the larger coastal greenway system that extends for dozens of kilometers. The beach is particularly magical at sunrise — Rizhao's name ("sunshine arrival") is most poetic at dawn, when the sun rises directly out of the Yellow Sea, painting the sky and water in shades of gold and pink. Evening strolls along the promenade, with the sound of waves and the glow of fishing boats on the horizon, are one of Rizhao's simple pleasures. The area is well-equipped with changing rooms, showers, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
Hours: Open 24 hours; main facilities 8:00–20:00
Admission: Free (beach access); paid activities ¥30–150
Located about 35 kilometers from Rizhao's coast, Wulian Mountain (Five Lotus Mountain) is one of Shandong's most beautiful and underrated mountain scenic areas. Named for its five main peaks that resemble the petals of a lotus flower when viewed from certain angles, the mountain rises to 515 meters and covers over 68 square kilometers of protected forest. Wulian Mountain has been a sacred Buddhist site since the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) and a destination for scholars and poets who came to draw inspiration from its dramatic granite formations, ancient pines, and sea of clouds.
The mountain's scenic area features a network of well-maintained hiking trails that wind through dense forests of pine, cypress, and bamboo, past natural stone bridges, waterfalls, and cliff-side pavilions. The most famous landmark is the Guangming Temple (光明寺), a Buddhist temple complex dating to the Ming Dynasty that clings to the mountainside at an elevation of 400 meters. The temple's main hall houses impressive Buddhist statues and offers panoramic views of the coastal plain and the Yellow Sea in the distance. The "Stone Dragon" rock formation — a 200-meter-long natural rock wall that resembles a coiled dragon — is another iconic feature. Wulian Mountain is particularly beautiful in spring (March–April) when wild peach blossoms carpet the slopes, and in autumn (October–November) when the foliage turns brilliant shades of red and gold. The mountain's relatively low elevation makes it accessible to hikers of all fitness levels, while still offering enough challenge and scenery to satisfy experienced trekkers. The combination of mountain scenery, Buddhist heritage, and proximity to the sea — unique among Shandong's mountains — makes Wulian Mountain a perfect day trip from the Rizhao coast.
Hours: 8:00–17:30 daily
Admission: ¥75; cable car ¥50 single, ¥90 round-trip
One of the most historically significant natural landmarks in Shandong, Fulaishan is a small but culturally rich mountain located in Ju County (莒县), about 45 minutes from Rizhao's coast. The mountain's fame rests primarily on one extraordinary natural wonder: the "World's Oldest Ginkgo Tree," a ginkgo biloba estimated to be nearly 4,000 years old. Planted during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) — according to tradition, by the Duke of Ju State — this magnificent tree stands 26 meters tall with a trunk girth of 15.7 meters, requiring eight adults holding hands to encircle it. The tree is still alive and productive, producing golden leaves each autumn that carpet the ground in a shimmering blanket of yellow. It is widely regarded as one of the oldest living organisms in China and has been protected since ancient times as a sacred tree.
Beyond the ginkgo tree, Fulaishan offers several other attractions. The Dinglin Temple (定林寺), built during the Jin Dynasty (265–420 AD), houses the tomb of Liu Xie (刘勰, 465–520 AD), the author of "Wenxin Diaolong" (文心雕龙), one of the most important works of literary criticism in Chinese history. Liu Xie spent his final years as a monk at this temple, and his scholarly legacy adds profound cultural depth to the site. The mountain also features interesting geological formations including unusual conglomerate rock outcrops, ancient inscriptions carved into stone by scholars over the centuries, and pleasant hiking trails through forested slopes. The surrounding Ju County town has its own historical character, with an ancient city wall and several traditional neighborhoods worth exploring. Fulaishan is a perfect half-day excursion that combines natural wonder, ancient history, and literary heritage — a microcosm of Shandong's extraordinary cultural depth.
Hours: 8:00–17:30 daily
Admission: ¥55
One of Rizhao's most unique and enjoyable attractions, Liujiawan is a dedicated "tide-beach" (赶海) park where visitors can experience the traditional Chinese coastal activity of foraging for seafood at low tide. Located on the southern coast of Rizhao's Lanshan District, the park encompasses a vast tidal flat that is exposed twice daily as the tide recedes, revealing a rich marine ecosystem of crabs, clams, shrimp, sea snails, starfish, and small fish trapped in rock pools and shallow channels. "Ganhai" (赶海, literally "chasing the sea") is a time-honored coastal tradition that has been practiced by Chinese fishing communities for thousands of years.
The park is designed to make tide-beach foraging accessible and fun for visitors of all ages, especially families with children. Upon arrival, visitors receive a bucket, a small rake, and basic instruction on how to find and identify different types of shellfish and crustaceans. The best time to visit is during the lowest tides of the month (spring tides), when the tidal flats extend for hundreds of meters, exposing vast areas of sand and rock pools teeming with marine life. Experienced guides lead groups across the flats, pointing out the best spots and teaching foraging techniques. Common finds include various species of clams (dig them up by looking for their breathing holes in the sand), small crabs (lift rocks carefully), and sea snails (attached to rocks in the tidal zone). The park has basic facilities including changing rooms, freshwater showers, and a restaurant that will cook whatever you've caught — there's something deeply satisfying about eating seafood you've gathered with your own hands. The park also offers educational programs about marine ecology and conservation, making it both entertaining and educational for children.
Hours: Variable — check local tide tables; generally open 6:00–18:00 during low tide periods
Admission: ¥50 (includes equipment rental)
Rizhao's cuisine is defined by the sea — the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the southern Yellow Sea produce some of the finest and freshest seafood in Shandong. The city's coastal location ensures that fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish go from ocean to table within hours.