Rizhao Travel Guide: Wanpingkou Beach, the Lighthouse and Rizhao Tea
Rizhao, whose name means "sunshine", is a quieter beach city on the southern Shandong coast, about an hour and a half by train from Qingdao. The main draw is Wanpingkou Beach, a long stretch of sand with coastal parkland, with the lighthouse headland as a short photo stop nearby. Much of the shoreline is free to walk, and sightseeing buses link the beaches in summer. Inland, a ginkgo tree thousands of years old and Rizhao's own green tea make a good second day.
Rizhao compared with Qingdao
Qingdao has the German-era old town, the beer and the crowds. Rizhao has fewer sights and more space: wide beaches, seafood restaurants and an easy pace. If you want museums and architecture, stay in Qingdao. If you want a couple of days of sand and sea air, Rizhao is the better choice, and it is easy to do both by train.
Places worth visiting
Wanpingkou Beach
Wanpingkou combines open sand with park paths, facilities and marked areas for paid extras such as umbrellas, loungers and showers. Beach access itself is commonly free where posted. Swim only where flags and lifeguards say it is safe. Come in the morning or late afternoon; at midday the glare is strong, shade is scarce and summer weekends are crowded. Half a day covers a swim and a walk through the park; stay for sunset if you can. The Wanpingkou Beach page has more detail.
Rizhao lighthouse headland
The lighthouse scenic area is a headland walk with viewing decks and the lighthouse as the focal point. One to two hours is enough, and softer light in the late afternoon or early morning photographs best. Wind is much stronger here than on the sheltered beach, and sea fog in early summer can hide the horizon completely, so check visibility before going if the view is the point. Some approaches are open parkland; others have ticketed entrances. See the lighthouse page.
The coast road and other beaches
Rizhao's coastline runs for many kilometres, with coastal bike and walking paths linking several beaches. Riding a bike between Wanpingkou and the headland is a pleasant way to spend a morning when the weather is good. One good beach is usually enough; collecting every named stretch adds little.
Fulai Mountain and the old ginkgo
Inland in Ju County, Dinglin Temple on Fulai Mountain is home to an enormous ginkgo tree, promoted in China as the oldest ginkgo in the land and estimated at several thousand years old. In autumn, around November, its leaves turn gold. Bus C202 runs to Fulai Mountain. The temple is also linked to the scholar Liu Xie, author of the literary classic "The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons".
Wulian Mountain and the tea country
Wulian Mountain, a granite range with temples and trails, is the outdoor alternative to the beach, reached on buses C305, C309 or C315, with a direct bus from Wanpingkou in the summer holidays. The hills around Rizhao grow Rizhao green tea, one of the most northerly green teas produced in China. Tea gardens near Fulai Mountain welcome visitors, and tea houses in the city let you taste before buying.
When to come to Rizhao
June to September is the swimming season, with July and August the warmest and busiest. May and October are best for walking the coast without heat or crowds; spring and early summer can bring sea fog. Winter is cold, windy and very quiet, good for empty beaches and little else. For the ginkgo in its autumn colour, aim for November.
Getting in and where to stay
- From Qingdao: trains from Qingdao Station to Rizhao Station take about 1 hour 35 minutes. Rizhao West is the other station, on the line inland.
- To the beach: bus K1 runs from Rizhao West to Wanpingkou in about 40 minutes. In 2026 a sightseeing bus line also ran to Wanpingkou during the day, with tickets valid for several days; check the current timetable.
- Inland buses: C202 to Fulai Mountain; C305, C309 or C315 to Wulian Mountain.
- Where to stay: near Wanpingkou if the beach is the point; downtown for cheaper food and a short taxi to the sand.
Lianyungang and its Huaguo Mountain are just south across the Jiangsu border; Linyi lies inland to the west.
Eating in Rizhao
Seafood is the reason to eat out: steamed fish, clams, prawns and crab in season, simply cooked. Restaurants full of local families are a better bet than the ones on the beachfront. Seafood is often sold by weight, so ask the price per jin and agree the total before it is cooked. Finish with a cup of local green tea.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: train from Qingdao, Wanpingkou Beach in the afternoon, seafood dinner, sunset walk.
Day 2: morning at the lighthouse headland or a bike ride along the coast, afternoon at Fulai Mountain and a tea garden, or Wulian Mountain if you prefer hiking.
Day 3 (optional): a second beach morning, then train onward to Qingdao, Lianyungang or Linyi.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, keep Wanpingkou and dinner. The lighthouse is the first extra to drop if the weather is foggy; the inland mountains are for a second day.
Things to confirm before you go
- Beach flags, swimming notices and water conditions.
- Lighthouse area tickets and fog conditions.
- Sightseeing bus timetables, which change by season.
- Summer weekend crowds and hotel prices.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Qingdao to Rizhao?
By train from Qingdao Station to Rizhao Station, about 1 hour 35 minutes.
Is Wanpingkou Beach free?
Beach access is generally free where posted. Umbrellas, loungers, showers and activities are paid extras.
Rizhao or Qingdao?
Qingdao for architecture, beer and city life; Rizhao for quieter beaches and seafood. The two combine easily.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 16, 2026, and rechecked on October 20, 2026.
- Rizhao https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizhao
- Rizhao (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/日照市
- Qingdao Daily, new Rizhao Station and Qingdao trains https://www.dailyqd.com/guanhai/382583_1.html
- Rizhao scenic bus guide (Rizhao channel, June 2025) http://rizhao.subaoxw.com/wl/2025/0610/214737.html
- Rizhao by bus guide (The Paper) https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_22919193
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts, so check the official notice for your date.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- rizhao-3.jpg from File:Wanpingkou, Rizhao.jpg, by Leiem, CC BY-SA 4.0
- rizhao-1.jpg from File:Lighthouse Scenic of Rizhao.jpg, by 风之清扬, CC BY-SA 3.0
- rizhao-2.jpg from File:Beach in Rizhao.jpg, by Leiem, CC BY-SA 4.0