Rizhao
Wanpingkou Beach · Coastal Forest Park · Rizhao Green Tea · Dongyi Old Town
Last updated 22 July 2026 · by the Walk Voyage Editorial Team
Visitor data snapshot
What travelers actually experience in Rizhao
Verified visitor numbers, ratings, and ticket prices from a third-party travel platform. Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03 · snapshot 2026-08-03.
12
Bookable attractions
4.42/5
Average rating
33K
Total reviews
8
Free entries
| Top attraction | Rating | Reviews | Ticket (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rizhao Senbo Resort | 5.0 | 3,257 | $0.00 |
| Rizhao Ocean Park | 4.8 | 9,480 | $0.00 |
| Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park | 4.4 | 3,638 | $0.00 |
| Wanpingkou Scenic Area | 4.3 | 3,696 | $0.00 |
| Lighthouse Scenic Area | 4.4 | 172 | $0.00 |
| Dongyi Old Town | 4.2 | 266 | $0.00 |
| Liujiawan Beachcombing Park | 4.1 | 916 | $0.00 |
| Sunrise of the East | 4.5 | 616 | $0.00 |
| Rizhao World Sailing Base | 4.2 | 481 | $0.00 |
| Taohua Island Customs Park | 3.7 | 144 | $7.39 |
Source: Trip.com international edition (USD pricing), snapshot 2026-08-03. Prices and review counts shift over time; check the source platform for current booking.
Rizhao at a glance
Travel snapshot- Province
- China
- Best season
- May-Oct (summer for beach; spring for tea harvest)
- Trip length
- 2 days recommended
- Avg budget
- $157 per person
- Top attractions
- 8 featured · 2 rated 4.7+
- Food picks
- 6 signature dishes
- Routes curated
- 3 multi-day itineraries
- Budget
- ¥2870 itemized
About Rizhao
Rizhao, on the southern coast of Shandong facing the Yellow Sea, is one of China's most-photographed coastal cities. The city is famous for the 6-km Wanpingkou Coastal Park (the most-sunrised beach in Shandong), the Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park (the only coastal forest park in China), the Senbo Resort theme park, the Dongyi Old Town cultural district, and the Rizhao Green Tea (a celebrated tea produced on the coastal mountains). The city sits at the intersection of the Yellow Sea and the mountains, with the 'sea of tea' (the coastal tea plantations meeting the sea) as the unique Rizhao view. The cuisine is centered on the Rizhao sea bream, the Xishi-tongue (a local shellfish), the Rizhao knife fish, and the local seafood noodles.
Best Season
May-Oct (summer for beach; spring for tea harvest)
Days Recommended
2 Days
Avg Budget
$157
Location
Shandong, China
Must-See Spots
Top Attractions in Rizhao
Wanpingkou Coastal Park
The 6-km urban coastal park, the most-sunrised beach in Shandong. The Trip.com 4.3/5, 3,696-review park has the 6-km white-sand beach, the 2-km sunrise promenade, the 100-meter coastal viewing platform, the 5-km cycling path, the Rizhao lighthouse, the Wanpingkou seafood market, and the iconic 'sunrise over the Yellow Sea' photo. The most-photographed Rizhao site.
Free entry. Best 5 AM in summer for the sunrise. Allow 3-4 hours. The Wanpingkou seafood market is the most-celebrated for the morning fresh-catch lunch. Pair with the Dongyi Old Town for a half-day coastal + cultural tour.
Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park
The only coastal national forest park in China, the 7-km forest-meets-sea park south of Rizhao city. The Trip.com 4.4/5, 3,638-review park has the 7-km coastal forest trail, the 1,000-meter silver-sand beach, the 1,000-meter sea-side promenade, the 30-meter viewing tower, the forest camping ground, and the 'sea of tea' coastal tea plantation view. The unique forest-coast-meets-tea landscape.
60 RMB entry. Best April-October. The 'sea of tea' coastal plantation view is the most-photographed. Pair with the Senbo Resort for a 1-day coastal forest day.
Rizhao Senbo Resort (Rizhao Sen Lin Du Jia Cun)
The Trip.com 5.0/5, 3,257-review family resort theme park and resort complex, the largest coastal resort in Shandong. The park has the indoor water park, the outdoor pool deck, the kids' adventure playground, the 100-room resort hotel, the multiple restaurants, the 5-km coastal trail, and the 1,000-meter private beach. The most-popular Rizhao family destination.
Free entry to the resort complex; water park 200 RMB. Allow 6-8 hours for the full day. Best summer for the water park. Pair with the Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park for a 2-day family trip.
Dongyi Old Town (Dongyi Xiao Zhen)
The Trip.com 4.2/5, 266-review restored old-town cultural district, themed on the Dongyi (Eastern Yi) culture - the ancient pre-Han ethnic group of the Rizhao region. The district has the 200+ restored Ming-Qing courtyard houses, the 100+ craft shops, the seafood restaurants, the night-time lantern market, the Dongyi culture museum, and the traditional Dongyi performance venue. The most-photographed Rizhao old town.
Free entry. The Friday-Sunday evening lantern market is the iconic photo. Pair with the Wanpingkou for a half-day old-town + coastal tour.
Rizhao Ocean Park
The Trip.com 4.8/5, 9,480-review modern aquarium, the largest in Shandong. The park has 50+ themed aquarium zones, the 100-meter sea tunnel, the dolphin and sea lion shows, the polar bear exhibit, the 4D theater, and the kids' marine touch pool. The most-popular Rizhao indoor destination.
100 RMB entry. Allow 4 hours. The dolphin show is the most-popular (3 shows daily). Pair with the Wanpingkou for a 1-day family trip.
Rizhao Lighthouse (Lighthouse Scenic Area)
The Trip.com 4.4/5, 172-review 35-meter white lighthouse at the Wanpingkou east end, the symbolic Rizhao landmark. The lighthouse was built in 1933 and is still active. The scenic area has the 100-meter lighthouse viewing platform, the 500-meter sea-walk connecting to the Wanpingkou, and the most-photographed Rizhao sunrise view.
Free entry. The sunrise from the lighthouse balcony is the iconic Rizhao photo. Pair with the Wanpingkou for a 1-day coastal tour.
Liujiawan Beachcombing Park
The Trip.com 4.1/5, 916-review coastal park on the southern Rizhao coast, with the 5-km mud-flat tidal zone, the 100+ fishing boats, the 1,000+ clam-picking sites, and the seasonal fishing-harvest experience. The most-popular Rizhao family outdoor activity, especially in summer.
Free entry. Best summer (June-August) for the clam-picking. Bring boots. Pair with the Dongyi Old Town for a 1-day coastal day.
Fantong Mountain (Fan Tong Shan) Forest Park
The coastal mountain with sea views, hiking through cypress forests, the 5-km mountain trail, the 1,000-meter summit view, and the 500-meter cypress forest walk. The Trip.com-mentioned Rizhao mountain destination, the most-photographed for the 'sea of tea' view (the coastal tea plantations visible from the summit).
Free entry. Best spring (April) for the new tea leaves visible from the summit. Pair with the Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park for a 1-day mountain + forest day.
Local Flavors
What to Eat in Rizhao
Rizhao Sea Bream (Rizhao Ji Yu)
The Rizhao signature fish - the Yellow Sea sea bream, pan-fried or steamed with ginger and scallion. The Rizhao sea bream is the most-flavorful in Shandong, with a sweet white flesh. Served at every Rizhao seafood restaurant, particularly the Wanpingkou seafood market.
Recommended: Wanpingkou Seafood Market (万平口海鲜市场), or any Rizhao harbor restaurant
Xishi Tong Clams (Rizhao Xi Shi She)
The Rizhao specialty - the local 'Xishi tongue' clam, harvested from the Rizhao mudflats and served steamed with ginger. The Xishi tongue is named for the legendary beauty Xi Shi and is the most-expensive Rizhao shellfish. Served at every Rizhao seafood market and restaurant.
Recommended: Wanpingkou Seafood Market, or Dongyi Old Town restaurants
Rizhao Green Tea (Rizhao Lu Cha)
The Rizhao specialty - the coastal-grown green tea, harvested in April-May. The Rizhao tea has a unique marine-mineral flavor from the coastal climate, and the 1,000-meter coastal tea plantation view (the 'sea of tea') is the unique Rizhao view. Served at every Rizhao restaurant and the Liujiawan tea plantation tours.
Recommended: Any Rizhao market, or the Liujiawan tea plantation village
Rizhao Knife Fish (Rizhao Dao Yu)
The Rizhao seasonal fish - the autumn-migrating knife fish, pan-fried and served with vinegar-garlic dip. The Rizhao knife fish is harvested September-October, with a delicate white flesh. Served at every Rizhao seafood restaurant in autumn.
Recommended: Wanpingkou Seafood Market, or any Rizhao harbor restaurant
Jianbing with Scallion (Rizhao Jian Bing Juan Da Cong)
The Rizhao breakfast - thin pancakes rolled with scallions (the famous Shandong scallion) and sweet bean sauce. The Rizhao version uses a local millet flour, slightly different from the Tai'an or Jinan pancakes. Found at every Rizhao morning market.
Recommended: Rizhao Wanpingkou morning market, or Dongyi Old Town breakfast stalls
Rizhao Seafood Noodles (Hai Xian Mian)
The Rizhao street specialty - hand-pulled noodles in a clear seafood broth with clams, shrimp, and squid. The Rizhao version uses the freshest same-day catch. Found at the Wanpingkou seafood market and the Dongyi Old Town food street.
Recommended: Wanpingkou Seafood Market noodle stalls, or Dongyi Old Town food street
Curated Itineraries
Suggested Routes in Rizhao
Rizhao Classic 2-Day Coastal + Forest Trip
A 2-day first-time Rizhao trip covering the Wanpingkou Beach, the Rizhao Coastal National Forest Park, the Senbo Resort, the Dongyi Old Town, and the Rizhao Ocean Park. Best May-October; summer adds the beach season, spring adds the tea harvest.
Rizhao + Qingdao 3-Day Shandong Coastal Trip
A 3-day combination trip starting in Rizhao (Wanpingkou + Senbo Resort + Dongyi Old Town), continuing to Qingdao (Tsingtao Beer Museum + Mount Lao + German concession). Best April-October; combines the southern coast with the Jiaodong Peninsula.
Rizhao 1-Day Weekend Beach Trip
A 1-day weekend trip from Jinan, Qingdao, or other major cities. The most-efficient first-time Rizhao visit: morning at Wanpingkou sunrise, afternoon at the Coastal Forest Park, evening at the Dongyi Old Town. Best May-September.
Trip Planning
Travel Budget for Rizhao
Transport
Food
Attractions
Accommodation
Total estimated budget: $157 per person
Actual costs vary by travel style, season, and booking choices.
Common Questions
Rizhao Travel FAQ
What is the best time to visit Rizhao?
May-Oct (summer for beach; spring for tea harvest) is generally the best season, with comfortable weather for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
How many days are recommended for Rizhao?
2 days is a practical baseline for first-time visitors covering major highlights.
What is a typical travel budget in Rizhao?
A common reference is around $157 per person, depending on hotel level, transport, and attraction choices.
Is Rizhao suitable for family travel?
Yes. Rizhao has diverse attractions, flexible route options, and accommodation levels suitable for family trips.
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