Rizhao

On the Yellow Sea, where "the first light of sunrise shines first," Wanpingkou, the Lighthouse area and the Sunshine Coast Greenway make Rizhao an outstanding-value seaside resort city in northern China.

Rizhao lies on the southeastern coast of Shandong, bordered by Qingdao to the north and Lianyungang to the south. Its name comes from the phrase "the first light of sunrise shines here first." With about 100 km of coastline, soft sand and clear water, it is a great-value seaside city in northern China, and is also known for its green tea (billed as "the finest tea north of the Yangtze") and Dongyi culture. The city (Donggang District) stretches north–south along the coast: the northern section has the Seaside National Forest Park, the middle has Wanpingkou, the Lighthouse area and the city center, and the southern section leads to the Liujiawan tidal flats. Inland are Wulian Mountain in Wulian County, and Fulai Mountain and the ancient Ju State town in Ju County.

The climate is temperate monsoon, moderated by the sea, so summers are cooler than inland. The best season is June–September (swimming and beachcombing), with July–August the peak, when hotel prices rise sharply; May and September–October bring fewer crowds and good weather for cycling and hiking; winter is windy but good for sunrise over the sea.

Suggested plan: Day 1 — Wanpingkou, the Lighthouse area and a bike ride along the Sunshine Coast Greenway (a coastal greenway with bike rentals). Day 2 — sunrise at the lighthouse at dawn, then head south in the afternoon to dig for clams at Liujiawan (check the tide table; 1–2 hours around low tide is best). Day 3 — Wulian Mountain, or Fulai Mountain in Ju County to see the "No. 1 Ginkgo Under Heaven," combined with the ancient Ju State town. Dongyi Town, north of Wanpingkou, is a heritage-style quarter for seafood and guesthouses.

Getting there: Rizhao West Station has high-speed trains to Qingdao (about 1 hour), Jinan, Beijing and Shanghai; Rizhao Shanzihe Airport has flights. City buses and shared bikes are convenient; Wulian Mountain and Fulai Mountain require self-driving or intercity buses. Allow 2–3 days. Swim only at designated beaches, watch the tide times when beachcombing, and don't take young marine creatures with you.

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