Rizhao, a small coastal city, where to go on a self-guided tour
Preface
The early autumn breeze is a bit chilly. Wrap up in a windbreaker and head to Rizhao to feel the seaside breeze. Every time I set out on a trip, I choose a theme: pink for flower viewing, green for mountain climbing... This time, Rizhao, without hesitation, chose blue.
Blue and the sea are inseparable, and Rizhao and Ocean Park are also linked. And so, a girl who refuses to grow up encountered the blue of Rizhao, the blue of Ocean Park, the blue of marine life, and the blue, lively and active self of her past. Choose a weekend and visit this blue city. Is it melancholy or lively?
Rizhao Ocean Park—Romance and Childlike Fun
Rizhao Ocean Park consists of the Sunshine Oceanarium, Four Seasons Flower and Bird Garden, Bird Show, Children's Kingdom, Waterfowl World, Ocean Theme Hotel, Ocean Theme Commercial Street and other major parts. It is recommended to spend 4-5 hours to explore the entire amusement park. Remember to slow down and don't rush.
Colorful Ocean and Dreamy Sea of Flowers – The world's leading theme park that perfectly integrates an oceanarium with a flower and bird garden
A dazzling underwater sun-drenched experience—one of the few aquariums in the world where over 60% of the water is illuminated by natural light
Unique and novel display method - indoor and outdoor three-dimensional integrated display of animals
A true-to-life display of the seabed ecosystem – a 5,000-ton water body and a 150-square-meter giant display window
A romantic and moving ocean date - Ocean Theme Hotel
丨Sunshine Aquarium
After entering Ocean Park and arriving at the Sunshine Aquarium, the first thing that caught my eye was the phrase "Light up the sea in your heart" and then the seagulls standing above the water... Before the actual tour begins, remember to check your bags.
After the security check, we first came to Shark Bay, which is composed of four display windows 4 meters long and 3 meters high. Swimming around in them are the most ferocious creatures in the ocean world: blacktip sharks, sand tiger sharks, hightip sharks, etc. They are all giants in the sea.
After watching the sharks, you pass through an arched passage and arrive at the Sky Waves. The Sky Waves simulate the most realistic sea form, with constantly circulating waves rolling over your head, making you feel like you are in the ocean.
Inside the display windows, you can see sea turtles, sharks, and other creatures swimming around. Green sea turtles are the largest hard-shelled sea turtles in the ocean, and you can occasionally spot fish like fathead fish clinging to them, looking quite comfortable.
After passing through the waves in the sky, you arrive at a large area called the Ocean Cube. The walls wind around and guide visitors forward. Each display window displays a variety of marine life and various fish, which are dazzling.
Follow the Ocean Cube to see the aquarium's first show, Silver Storm. Arrive a few minutes early to secure a good spot so you can continue viewing the marine life at the Ocean Cube after the show.
Silver Storm Feeding Show (Inside Sunshine Aquarium)
Before the Silver Storm performance, staff will sound reminders inside the venue. Remember not to miss the time.
The place to watch the Silver Storm is a large curved acrylic display window that is 13 meters long and 5 meters high and a 26-meter-long underwater tunnel, which displays a variety of schooling fish and animals such as hawksbill turtles, Chinese horseshoe crabs, leopard rays and various starfish, focusing on creating a rare and unique schooling fish display in China.
The Silver Storm showcases the most breathtaking schooling of fish in the ocean world, much like the migration of birds, with a large flock swarming in, making it a feast for the eyes.
Tips:
On weekends, there will be two performances at 9:30/11:00 in the morning and two performances at 13:30/15:20 in the afternoon.
Normal weekday times are a performance at 11:00 in the morning and a performance at 13:30 in the afternoon.
Sea Beast Island
After the Silver Storm show, you can walk through the underwater tunnel and greet the fish in the display window while going straight to the second floor. Of course, you can also go to the Sea Beast Island on the east side to explore another secret place.
The first floor of the island features a unique design: it's the first marine animal exhibition area in China to feature both indoor and outdoor displays.
The Sea Beast Island on the first floor not only displays three-dimensionally through traditional exhibition pools and large skylights indoors, but also has cylindrical exhibition tanks that are interconnected because sea beasts like to burrow. Perhaps in the blink of an eye, a seal will swim past the cylindrical exhibition tank next to you. This is also its peculiarity and fun.
The water bodies on the first and second floors of the seal exhibition area are connected, which not only enriches the tourists' viewing methods, but also directly expands the space for seals to move around, allowing them to play freely and happily.
Coming to the second floor, there is an open outdoor courtyard where you can interact with the seals up close, feed them and watch them clumsily yet freely scramble for food. It's so fun. Such a 720-degree all-round animal viewing experience can only be experienced in Rizhao Ocean Park.
After interacting with the sea beasts here, it’s time to go to the second floor to watch the mermaid show.
Mermaids and Underwater Ballet (Light of the Undersea at Sunshine Oceanarium)
The area where the mermaid performance is held is in the Light of the Undersea exhibition area, which is a giant acrylic glass display window 21 meters long and 7 meters high. It has an ultra-large exhibition pool with 5,000 tons of sea water. It is one of the few ultra-large artificial water exhibition pools in China, with a water volume exceeding that of two international standard swimming pools. It displays swallow rays, sand tiger sharks, leopard sharks, nurse sharks, hammerhead sharks, groupers and dozens of small fish. Whale sharks will be introduced in the future.
The Sunshine Oceanarium's automatically opening and closing skylights allow natural sunlight to shine into the water. When the weather is good, beams of light will shine into the water, like dancing aurora, and animals swim freely in it, like a dream.
The Light of the Sea not only has a mermaid show, but also a Russian underwater ballet show. The second floor area has a large indoor cantilevered grandstand that is rare in China. The upper and lower floors can accommodate thousands of people at the same time to enjoy the performance and experience the wonderful performance with great artistic beauty.
The best place to take photos is on the first floor, and you can go down there to find a spot before watching. When the venue is crowded, tourists will spontaneously sit on the ground floor, which is also a kind of respect for the performers.
After the mermaid show, there is a short break before the underwater ballet show. Their performance only lasts a few minutes in total, so it is not recommended to leave.
After watching the show, you can go to the coral tunnel along the second-floor stand to experience the three-dimensional charm of the ocean.
Coral Tunnel
The coral tunnel is about 33 meters long and 5 meters in diameter, displaying a panoramic view of the magnificent underwater world. The combination of natural light and lighting, and more than ten types of corals make the coral tunnel colorful. The design connects the indoor and outdoor areas, and walking through the coral tunnel feels like swimming from the seabed to the surface. Dozens of fish species such as cownose rays and whitetip sharks swim freely in it. The keepers will also recruit lively and agile fish in the water to give tourists more novelty.
Walking through it, the azure water brushes against your skin, and adults and children alike open their eyes to explore. The various corals and algae coexist in perfect harmony, just like the friendly symbiosis between strangers at this moment. Oh, and don't forget to take photos here; it's like walking on the seabed, a truly delightful experience.
Dolphin show (inside the Ocean Theater of Sunshine Ocean Park)
The Ocean Theater, home to dolphin and sea lion performances, can accommodate 3,000 people. To achieve a more stunning viewing experience, a specially constructed 36-meter-long giant screen, coupled with stereo sound, provides a panoramic view of the animal performances.
The semicircular design of the center stage and the 180-degree semicircular seating area of the Ocean Theater allow visitors to enjoy the animal performances from all angles. During the performance, lucky audience members will have a rare opportunity to interact with baby sea lions and dolphins.
The sea lions interacted with the keepers and performed various tricks such as heading the ball and throwing rings, winning cheers from the audience.
After the sea lion show, it was time to see the dolphins. Dolphins are the darlings of the sea, far more intelligent than sea lions, seals, and many other marine animals. They are lively, clever, and playful, leaping out of the water and diving back in with a splash, making you want to get close to them.
Dolphin is a general term for many animals under the suborder Odontoceti of the order Cetacea, including approximately 20 genera and more than 60 species; the Delphinidae family is the largest family in the order Cetacea, and evolved in the Miocene epoch about 10 million years ago.
After the show, friends who are still not satisfied can take photos with the dolphins. Remember to treat them gently.
Jellyfish Wonders Exhibition Area, Penguin World
Go to the unique fantasy jellyfish display area, where there are dozens of species and more than 3,000 rare and special jellyfish. With the help of lights of different colors, the colors of the jellyfish change constantly, showing the dreamy jellyfish shapes and display space.
In the middle of the exhibition area, there is a spherical jellyfish display tank with a diameter of 2 meters, and 8 hemispherical convex mirror display tanks are arranged around it. With the help of light projection and the lifelike and vivid projection effect of the jellyfish kaleidoscope, jellyfish swim past and make visitors feel like they are in the sea; the distinctive jellyfish ring display tank, combined with the mirror, brings a shocking viewing experience of the "Jellyfish Corridor"; a special creative photo-taking area called "Jellyfish Kaleidoscope" is added, and the picture changes with sound. Being in it is like traveling through time and space, which brings rich playability and is deeply loved by tourists.
After viewing the jellyfish, you can go to the Penguin World exhibition area in turn, where temperate penguins such as Magellanic penguins, black-footed penguins, and Humboldt penguins are displayed outdoors. The penguins swim in the water of the open courtyard and can interact with tourists. On the first floor, you can also watch the penguins swimming at 0 degrees through the pool, and look up at the penguins swimming at 90 degrees through the skylight, giving tourists an unprecedented viewing and interactive experience.
In addition, there will be some entertainment projects in the venue, such as the Fantasy Garden, which is a maze setting. Before entering, the staff will distribute a small wooden stick to prevent you from hitting the glass while walking in the maze.
In just one morning, you can enjoy the various exhibition areas and performances of the Sunshine Oceanarium. If you are still unsure about the specific route, you can plan your route again based on these two pictures.
丨Four Seasons Flower and Bird Garden
Bird Show
After enjoying the various performances at the Sunshine Oceanarium at noon, take a short break and head to the outdoor bird show. This joyful open-air bird show will also give you a unique and happy time.
The bird show mainly includes bird shows and Russian exotic performances. Birds of prey, parrots and other "air elves" with extraordinary abilities and intelligence sometimes spread their wings and soar, sometimes hover at low altitude, bringing you a joyful and interesting viewing and interactive experience. The bird show also has performances with a strong Russian national flavor. Russian girls and boys who come from afar present wonderful exotic performances.
Waterfowl World
Following the route, you'll reach Waterfowl World, an interactive animal paradise where you can interact with animals up close and personal. Over ten species of animals, including ring-tailed lemurs, kangaroos, Dodge rabbits, mandarin ducks, seagulls, and black swans, roam freely within the water. This is one of our favorite exhibits, offering visitors a chance to interact with them and have fun.
Four Seasons Flower and Bird Garden
Next, you can go to another indoor venue second only to the Sunshine Ocean Park: the Four Seasons Flower and Bird Garden.
This is a world of flowers and birds. When you enter the garden, you will first be greeted by the fragrance of the flower hall and the sea of flowers in the sky. Different exhibition areas inside display nearly a hundred species of rare birds, fish, cute pets and more than a thousand species and tens of thousands of plants.
Not only can you enjoy the sea of flowers, but you can also interact with small animals and experience the fun and wonders of nature. Such an all-encompassing garden where people and nature coexist harmoniously is a place that makes you linger.
Go to the Cute Pet Park where you can interact with animals up close. The Cute Pet Corner displays more than ten species of parrots, including macaws and sun conures, as well as capybaras, toucans, fennec foxes, Sulcata tortoises and other animals. Visitors can interact and take photos with them. It has become a big paradise for tourists to interact with animals and is one of the tourists' favorite exhibition areas.
Among them is a domestically advanced AR riding amusement facility. AR travels through time and space through advanced augmented reality technology, taking tourists into the magnificent history of Rizhao in myths and legends, exploring the mysterious underwater and ice and snow world, and exploring the microscopic world from the perspective of ants, which is thrilling and exciting.
Spend the night on the seabed
Ocean Park also has an amazing overnight program, no wonder I met so many elementary school students when visiting the park.
A wondrous ocean journey begins on a beautiful evening. Children will spend a magical night in the tented Undersea Lights exhibit, home to the mermaid show. Leaving their parents behind, they join friends and marine life to dream a beautiful dream...
They can dine with the dolphins in the vibrant lights of Dolphin Bay, enjoying the opportunity to dine with them while watching them. It's an experience you won't get many times in your life! Say goodnight to the sharks, and on such a beautiful night, the nurse sharks will come out and wave goodnight to you.
Spend the night under the sea! Say goodnight to the sharks! Place your child's crib in the underwater world and let them grow up in a magical way.
Dongyi Town
When visiting a city, especially a coastal one, the most unmissable thing is the aroma emanating from its street kitchens...it's a scent that's uniquely local. For coastal cities, seafood is a must-try; for tourists, a snack street is the most straightforward experience. And when it comes to Rizhao, this small city on the Yellow Sea, I have to give a shout-out to the Dongyi town I visited a few days ago...beyond the delicious food, it also allowed me to delve deeper into the city's past culture.
Dongyi Town is arguably China's closest coastal tourist town, a vibrant blend of folk culture and leisure tourism. You might say this place is just hype... But if it weren't hype, who would know about it?
Dongjiatan Village was originally a traditional small fishing village. Thanks to the government's planning, this fishing culture theme island and folk culture experience island with an area of more than 70,000 square meters was built.
丨Shopping and eating
Entering town from the east, the first place I recommend is Haishadi Noodles. This established shop serves a unique Rizhao dish. Haishadi, a tiny shellfish, is simmered into a broth that's then used to make noodles. The noodles are incredibly delicious and nutritious. Combined with the chewy hand-rolled noodles and the rich white broth, they'll instantly whet your appetite.
丨Humanistic Architecture
Dongyi Town has delicious food, but it is also a town of antique buildings. On the Folk Culture Experience Island, in addition to the street of food shops, the folk culture buildings on another street are also worth exploring.
The Folk Culture Experience Island is mainly composed of four theme exhibition halls: Dongyi culture, fishing culture, pottery culture, and wine culture, as well as the Dragon God Temple, Yue Lao Temple, academy, prayer pavilion, theater, etc., giving people a unique seaside leisure experience.
The streets are dotted with opera stages, teahouses, and the Liuyi Academy. The "108 Shandong Craftsmen" showcase their talents, and the seaweed houses are a major feature. Cherry blossoms bloom outside the antique buildings, while bamboo forests and tulips occasionally catch your eye.
Dongyi Town is filled with the charm of ancient ethnic culture. Surrounded by water, with trade centers and connected by water bridges, it's said that where there is water, there is wealth, and the names of the bridges represent people's yearning for a better life. The town's construction likely stemmed from Dongyi culture, and "Liuyi Academy" showcases this long-standing pride of the people of Rizhao. Visit and learn more about it.
丨Intoxicating Night
As night falls, time quiets, and the small town of Dongyi becomes hushed. Compared to the bustling crowds of the day, this quiet Dongyi takes on a unique charm. The night can always bring to mind stories you wouldn't have imagined during the day.
What are the Dongyi people? I was a bit confused, and in Dongyi Town, I hadn't actually noticed it. Dongyi was a name given by the Central Plains dynasties of the pre-Qin period to the tribes east of the Central Plains, descendants of Baoxi, Taihao, and Fuxi. It's a general term for the inhabitants of the lower Yellow River basin, or a generic term for all tribes east of it. It's also one of the ethnic origins of the Han people. Archaeologically, it refers to the people who carried on the Houli culture, which dates back 8,300 years, through the Beixun, Dawenkou, Longshan, and Yueshi cultures.
Speaking of this, there are still tourists on the streets of Dongyi Town who have not returned. I wonder if they are all thinking about the origin of Dongyi... But the lights are flickering, and many past events can no longer be traced back, which inevitably makes people feel more worried.
That Sea
Having traveled extensively, I've stayed in numerous B&Bs and hotels. Initially, I didn't have high expectations for the ocean. But when I arrived at Rizhao Ocean Park, pulled my suitcase through the door, and saw the acrylic display windows showing marine life happily swimming, I suddenly realized this B&B wasn't as simple as I'd imagined.
Sure enough, two nights there completely overturned my initial impression. Suddenly, it seemed as if even this small coastal city of Rizhao had taken on a new kind of anticipation, a desire to seep into the subtle details of life, those details basking in the sun, suddenly blossoming.
The Napian Hai Theme Hotel features four white buildings with black outlines on the doors, windows, and eaves, interspersed with transparent glass, creating an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere. The hotel is also Rizhao's first high-end, affordable luxury family-friendly resort hotel themed around the sun, ocean, and other natural elements. Bring your children along for a truly unique holiday experience.
丨Comfortable experience
Upon entering the hotel, a leisure area is located on the right, perfect for children to play freely. A wooden children's room connects to a slide and a ball pool, allowing children to play here until they are exhausted. The small tent and doll chair nearby come in handy, and parents can enjoy a fairy tale from the bookshelf and spend quality time with their children.
The area opposite can be provided for parents to rest and read. It is so happy to read while watching the children playing opposite.
丨Warm sleep
The Napianhai themed hotel focuses on family-friendly accommodations, offering a refreshing natural ocean vibe and signature Lego slide rooms. Rooms are also hard to come by, so be sure to book in advance if you're interested.
The hotel has a total of 24 guest rooms of different types, including special king-size rooms, premium twin rooms, special parent-child rooms, premium courtyard rooms, and supreme courtyard parent-child rooms. You can freely choose a room with a balcony, family courtyard, luxury bathtub, etc.
The room is equipped with smart surround speakers, which can be connected freely via Bluetooth on your mobile phone. When you turn on and select a song, your ears will be surrounded by the sounds of waves or forests. Falling asleep accompanied by the refreshing sounds of nature is also an ultimate enjoyment.
The smart lighting, smart curtains, and smart air conditioning in the room can be controlled by voice, providing convenience and comfort. The smart air purifier also provides a natural oxygen bar, making it comfortable and environmentally friendly.
The hotel's toiletries all feature a starfish design, complementing the items on the sink. The slippers in the desk drawer are all for the whole family, a truly thoughtful touch.
Practical Guide
Transportation
External transportation:
Airplane: Rizhao Shanzihe Airport is located 19 kilometers northwest of the city. It takes one hour to take the airport bus from Rizhao city and about 50 minutes to drive to Rizhao Ocean Park.
Train: Jinan → Rizhao West High-speed Railway takes more than 3 hours. Rizhao West drives to Rizhao Ocean Park for about 30 minutes.
Internal transportation:
the bus:
Rizhao currently has over 30 bus routes, covering all of the coastal scenic areas. The fare is 1 yuan, with no change provided. Most buses to the scenic areas start operating at 6:00 AM and end earlier.
① From the railway station: Take bus No. 33 to Wangjiazao, get off at Dongyi Town Station, and walk east to the destination;
② From University Town: Take bus No. 32 to Dongyi Town East Bus Stop and walk east to the destination.
③Rizhao West Bus Station: Take bus No. 22 to Rizhao Bund direction, get off at "Railway Station South" bus stop, walk 400 meters to the Railway Station bus stop, take bus No. 33 to Rizhao Ocean Park stop;
④ From the Old Town: Take Bus No. 6 and get off at Wanpingkou Station, then transfer to Bus No. 33 or the tourist bus and get off at Rizhao Ocean Park Station; take Bus No. 49 and get off at Dongyi Town Station, then walk east to Rizhao Ocean Park.
丨Food
Seafood is a major attraction in Rizhao, so a visit to Rizhao Ocean Park is a must. If seafood isn't your thing, there's also a wide selection of Shandong and Sichuan cuisine, as well as buffets to suit every taste. Follow the locals' lead or choose a spot that suits your taste.
In the Ocean Characteristic Commercial Street, there is a Lu Yujia specialty restaurant. We ate here for a few days. The seafood is fresh and the taste is suitable. I recommend it.
丨Cost
Rizhao Ocean Park Ticket
Dongyi Town Ticket: Free 100 yuan for eating all you can eat in Dongyi Town.
Napianhai Boutique B&B: 400-1000 yuan/room, please consult the store for specific prices or order online.
Conclusion
The early summer wind blew, and I encountered my former self who was not yet eighteen years old. I was melancholy but lively at the same time... Every city has its own specific color. The one I met was blue... Maybe, what you see is colorful.
