3-Day 2-Night In-Depth Tour of Rizhao: Where Mountains Embrace the Sea, a Paradise of Fresh Flavors

🌞 3-Day 2-Night In-Depth Tour of Rizhao: Where Mountains Embrace the Sea, a Paradise of Fresh Flavors

📅 Best Travel Time: May-October (Summer for beachcombing & escaping heat, Autumn for plump seafood)

🚉 Transportation Guide

- Major Transport: Fly to Rizhao Shanzihe Airport (30 mins to downtown) or take high-speed rail to Rizhao West Station (taxi to coast ~¥30).
- Local Transport: Coastal sightseeing buses connect major attractions. Renting e-bikes for coastal greenways offers more freedom (~¥30/hour).

📍 Must-Visit Attractions & Activities

1️⃣ Wanpingkou Scenic Area (Free)

- Highlights: Rizhao's landmark "Ten-Mile Golden Beach", Gate 3 is an internet-famous photo spot (sky staircase, wedding park).
- Activities: Sunrise viewing at dawn🌅, sailing/speedboats (~¥100/person), sunset drinks at beach bars.

2️⃣ Rizhao National Coastal Forest Park (Free)

- Highlights: Where forest meets sea, with ultra-high negative oxygen ions!
- Activities: Cycling through metasequoia groves🌲, feeding elk (¥20), sea views from Ferris wheel, stargazing while camping.

3️⃣ Liujiawan Tide-Chasing Park (¥45)

- Pro Tip: Arrive 2 hours before low tide! Bring buckets + salt jars (razor clam catchers), dig clams, catch crabs🦀 for mudflat treasure hunting.
- Bonus: Open 7:00-18:30 daily, tools available for rent.

4️⃣ Dongyi Ancient Town (Free)

- Nightlife Hotspot: Lantern-lit alleys + seafood stalls. Must-try: Sea sand noodles🍜, mackerel dumplings, brown sugar pearl fresh milk.

5️⃣ Rizhao Ocean Park (¥199)

- Family Favorite: Underwater tunnel + dreamy jellyfish exhibits, mermaid shows at 10:30/15:00 daily.

🍽️ Seafood Lover's Guide

- 🦐 Steamed Seafood → Qiaokeli Fisherman: Live seafood steamed-to-order. Try seafood steamer pot + mackerel dumplings (Wanpingkou branch less crowded). → Must-visit: Third Bathing Beach branch with sea-view private rooms, abalone rice specialty.
- 🌮 Street Food → Dongyi Ancient Town: Sea sand noodles (divinely rich broth!), pan-fried mackerel, oyster omelets. → Shijiu Market: Legendary seafood tofu soup, tender cuttlefish + tofu.

🛏️ Accommodation Picks

- Luxury: Sheraton Rizhao (by Wanpingkou, infinity pool + sunrise views).
- Boutique: Antai Ocean Aesthetics Museum (bookstore B&B facing sea, insta-worthy).
- Fishing Village: Renjiatai Fisherman's Homestay (~¥80/person, all-inclusive, 5-min walk to tide-chasing).

⚡ Pro Tips

1. Tide-Chasing Safety: Wear anti-slip shoes near reefs, avoid undeveloped coastlines alone.
2. Seafood Pricing: Confirm market prices before ordering. Shijiu Market allows self-purchased seafood processing (~¥10-20/dish fee).
3. Ticket Deals: Search Ctrip's "Sunshine Coast Vibrant Rizhao" flagship store for 50% combo tickets + hotel packages.

💡 Hidden Gems

- World Sailing Base Bioluminescence: Summer nights when waves glow blue✨ (Free!).
- Egret Bay Town: Cherry blossom season (April)/autumn oil-painting vibes, art museum + cycling track.

Final Poetic Touch:

"In Rizhao, life is poetry salted by the sea—dawn's tangerine-hued ocean beneath the lighthouse🌅, noon's laughter rolling across sun-scorched sands, midnight clinking glasses to the symphony of waves."