Nature
Wanpingkou Beach
Rizhao premier beach, stretching over 5 km along the coast. Known for its fine golden sand, clear waters, and excellent facilities. The beach is free to enter.
Open all day
Free
Before the 1980s, Rizhao was a small fishing and agricultural county under the administration of Linyi. The area had a long history of fishing, salt production, and farming, but remained relatively undeveloped.
The turning point came in 1985 when Rizhao was designated as a county-level city. In 1989, it was upgraded to a prefecture-level city, gaining administrative independence. This coincided with China coastal development boom, and Rizhao quickly capitalized on its natural advantages.
The city invested heavily in developing its coastline for tourism. Wanpingkou Beach was transformed from a simple fishing beach into a modern seaside resort. The "Sunshine Coast" brand was created to market Rizhao as a premium beach destination. Steel and port industries also developed, providing employment and economic growth. In just three decades, Rizhao transformed from an obscure fishing area into one of Shandong most visited tourist cities.
